Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-25

others, and TO the exclusion of street lamps 10
As the matter Of properly lighting the city is
one OF great importance to the community, L
would advise, to facilitate an extension of
avail itself Of the provisions Of the act Of
Congress Of February 23d, 1865, and avoid
what has heretofore been a great hindrance,
the of the consent Of Of
lighting q street. and that authority be given to
enter into a contract with the Gas Light Com
pany for lighting the city every nj Sht from
dark to daylight
GROWTH OF THE CITY.
An impression prevails that the present pros.
perity OF our city is the effect OF adventurous
causes arising out of the war, and will not
Justify an expectation of like development
in The future. Though tine extraordinary in
fiuences OF the past four years have undoubt-
eddy contributed to the prosperity o. Wash
the city was. and had been long amongst the
most prosperous of the Union, should not be
overlooked. Reference to the proper statistics,
as given in the census of 1860, will ests blush
that fact and correct this prevalent error.
The commonest criterion of prosperity is the
ratio of increase OF population and pro perty.
Upon this principle Washington exhibited
higher ratio IN 1860 than all other cities OF
the Union of equal or greater population but
seven, viz: BROOKLYN, Newark. N. j.. Phla-
delphia, and New York, IN the North; Chicago,
st. Louis, and Louisville, In the West.
The solidity Of the increase In population is
shown by its comparative regularity from
1900, when the District Of Columbia became a
separate Territory, up to 1860. or the old States
the District of Columbia has surpassed all but
New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
By the census of 1900 the population of the
District of Columbia, including Alexandria
and its contiguous territory, was 1903. In
1s46 the latter part Of the District of Columbia
was retroceded. In making the ratio of IN
crease, beginning with 1903 in 1890, and end
ing with the population in 1860 at rs ESQ., an al
lowanc &c should be made tor the number lost
by retrocession-these were 1852, that being
the population OF Alexandria county. But
without such allowance the ratio of increase
from 1900 to 1860 of the District of Columbia
will be found to be 432.75 per cent. while that
of the contiguous States was, Maryland 114.ss,
and Virginia 1882 per cent. during the same
period; the progress Of Massachusetts was but
225. O6 per cent
The tendency to still more rapid increase
is seen in the comparative rate OF the last three
decades, viz In the District OF Columbia from
1880 to 1910 the increase was 9.7i per cent,
from ls40 to 1850. 1924 per cent: from 1850 to
1850, As 20 per cent; while the increase OF the
United States at large for the last period was
but IS SO per cent.
But the other criterion of prosperity (the in
crease of taxable property we'll satisfies ali
doubts, if any exist, as to the solidity of the
growth of our city. In this respect the District
OF Columbia exclusive OF all public property
of whatever kind, exceeds all the States east
of the Alleghanles, all those of the South ex-
cept Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Florida,
and in the West the States of Indiana and
Ohio.
real and personal property in the District of
Columbia, which was S14,01S,S 74, was in 1860
S41,0s4,945; an increase of nearly two hundred
per cent. in ten years. (Sls3.06D the in
crease in the United States at large for
same period being only 1860 per cent, and in
Pennsylvania 96.05 per cent; in Indiana 100. 95
per cent; in Ono 1864 per cent; in Mary land
Il 90 per cent; in New York 1903 per cent;
and in Massachusetts AZ. per cent. 1t would
be, therefore, no exaggeratisn to assert that we
are growing rich more than twice a. fast as the
people of New England, New York, and
Pennsylvania.
These facts, all of which are taken from the
census, establish the fact of the prosperity OF
our city beyond contradiction, and repel any
impression that 1t is manly attributable to the
adventurous circumstances of the war.
HEALTH.
Our City for many years has enjoyed an en-
viable reputation for health, and though it is
ness it will compare mort favorably with any
other.
The great Interests committed to the gentle
men composing the Board OF Health have, as
far as their limited power would allow, been
guarded with vigilance, and their diligence in
discharging the duties committed to them, if
equalled, certainly have never been excelled,
by any former Board of Health.
The Improvement Of the Canal, So provided
for by the action OF the City Councils at an
expense OF over fifty thousand dollars, and the
tended and stencil traps introduced through
out the City, are measures from which much
general benefit may be expected.
These, and the well known efficiency of the
Board o. Health and Sanitary Police, will tend
to greatly lessen apprehensions Of an epidemic.
The indispensable necessity, and what is
most essential to the health OF the community,
as well as the removal of a source OF annoy
ance and discomfort to neighborhood, is
however cleanliness of individual premises,
and for which every citizen is responsible, and
will accomplish the removal of in most in
stan ces, the chief cause of disease in city.
More than upon the local authorities. there
fore, does the health OF the community de-
pend upon the individual citizen. Let me
again urge upon all in view of an apprehend-
ed epidemic, to look to their own premises.
WASHINGTON CANAL.
The Improvement Of the canal for sanitary
purposes authorized year ago, for which
S75.00O was appropriated has been success
fully prosecuted, and the results are highly
satisfactory.
The payments made on this work amounted
to S47, 967sS, less by S27,032 12 than the amount
appropriated.
All that Is now wanting to make the canal
navigable through Its entire length is to dredge
it to depth of some four feet below the line of
lowest tides. A channel of this depth and fifty
feet in width, extending from the causeway at
the foot of 18th street 10 the Eastern Branch
will cost about $4,000.
But in order to connect the city canal with
the traffic Of the Chesapeake and Ohio, it is
necessary that the eastern section of that canal,
the part east OF Rock Cre Elk and lying wholly
within the limits Of our city, should be opened
TO navigation either by that company or by
this city
The cost of putting this section in navigable
order will probably amount to $4,000, which
added to the foregoing make total of 100000,
equal to only about one.fOurth OF one per cent,
or twenty, FIVE cents on e. ch one hundred dol
lars of taxable property; and it is less than our
annual losses on cPrtage alone between this
city and Georgetown of such articles as might
be brought almost to our doors II the canal was
opened
And in addition to this saving annually of at
least 800 200, opening the canal for navigation
will also at once make 1t an important source
OF revenue to the city.
POTOMAC WATER.
During the last year the amount of main
water pipes laid was 2, 1851 feet OF which
1921 feet were Of inches and $40 fest OF 4.inch
diameter. The number OF fire. plugs erected
was 81, Of which IS were In place OF the same
number Of the under. ground fire. plugs, which
the experience OF the fire department has con.
demned, and in pursuance Of the act OF the
corporation are being removed. All the fire.
plugs erected are OF the kind knswn as the
Mcclellan plug, manufactured and patented
by Washington machinist, and. after three
years Of experience, recognized by the water
department and fire department Of the city as
better than any other. The branch pipe laid to
connect these fire. plugs with the nain pipes
amounts to !, 1898 feet, all Of 6.tnch diameter.
The rule adopted In the water distribution Is
to connect all intersecting mains and to control