Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-30
THE CANAL NUIeANcR.

discussed, both In the Councils and in Con-
mains open, II will be q plague spot and a
means OF engeudering disease all over the city.
Exyaience has proved clearly that il cannot
be kept clean in its present condition. After
all the expense incurred to renovate and
cfesnse it, il is there bearing ample testimony
10 all sensible minds that IL Is feste ring nui-
sence' sending forth from its beds OF filth and
scum its messengers of death to ouC popuIa-
ion. i can see no other way to dispose of it
than TO contract its width to, say twenty feet,
arch and cover n, Sc tina. it may serve the pur-
pose OF sewer for the city, and an outlet for
the waters of the Tiber. BY butkhead at A7th
street, and by paving or planking the bottom of
the arch, II could be daily cleaRsed by n flood
of water pouring through it from end TO end,
and thus the nuisance will be abated.
Ii may be said that this would require a
large outlay Of money, but, m nswer 70 that.
II Is safe 10 assume that the reclaimed ground
would sell for Eruch more than the cost Of the
work, to say nothing of the advantages that
would result from the abatement Of the nui-
sance.
for the consideration of the Councils. Ii they
prefer and shall agree upon any other feasible
plan of disposing of this troublesome matter, /
shall De glad 90 cooperate with them in the un.
derHklne. tntl system OF sewerage and
drainage be introduced and carried out-such
as the financial condition of the city will not
admit of our undertaking for several years to
conceive must use this channel for that mr.
pose; but the time will arrive when il will he
necessary only for drainage and for an outlet
as before stated, of the Tiber.
STREET RAILROADS AND REPAIRs.
BY the charter of the street railroads in 10 q
city the companies are required TO keep the
tracks, the space between the tracks. and tor
two feet outside the outer ra lis well paved and
IN good order. Ii is well known to all partic-
ulariy those who have occasion TO drive on the
streets where these roads are located, that very
little attention has been and is being paid 10
these requirements.
As 3.
justly complain, have deemed it my duty TO
call your attention TO It, and ask such action
III the premises as in your Judgment the case
requires. At the same time would suggest I
that these corporations should not be allowed
any special privileges from the city authori-
ties beyond those derived from their charters
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
recommend the abrogation or repeal of all
laws Of the Corporation requiring that work on
any OF the streets or sewers shall be done by
contract. Under the system of contracts as il
mas been carried out, the city has been robbed
OF hundreds Of thousands of dollars. Jobs
that would disgrace any city or people have
been passed and paid for as completed. accord
ing TO the requirements of the contracts. when
IN not single feature have the contracts been
complied with. Street pavements and side
walks have been laid IN mud, when the con-
tractors Were equired To lay them in nine to
twelve inches OF sand or gravel, thus receiving
pay for removing earth they never touched.
and for using sand hey never saw. Indeed,
II Is common remark that no one has seen
for years a Job done for the Corporation ac-
cording 10 the terms of the contract The con-
sequence has been that our pavements have had
10 be relaid nearly every year. Our sidewalks
have become quagmires after heavy rain and
when the frost Is coming out OF the ground in
the spring; our sewers have burst and tumbIed
in, carrying with them men, teams, and CARR.
ages, involving the city in litigation. dam
ages, ard costs. The streets .sgrayelled' with
mud, (as they have been in most cases,) have
been cut up into cutters, requiring constant
repairs. The materials used have been OF the
meanest and least valuable kind possible To be
procured: IN fact, everything that could be has
been done 70 swindle the taxpayers, and fill
the pockets of the contractors and their aiders
and abettors.
Such is the natural result of the system. such
the generalization that is sure 10 follow in It's
tram. To prevent itI would have ali work OF
the KIND performed by men hired by the day
or week, who should be placed under the
charge OF commissioners tor each ward, TO De
elected by the Councils and Mayor in Joint
convention, and the whole work to be con-
trolled by two competent engineers and SUPER
lnfendents OF streets and sewers, TO be chosen
IN the same manner and 10 be removable, a.
other officers now are, at the pleasure of the
Mayor. BY this means employment and
prompt pay will be given, and the benefits of
Corporation labor be distributed alike 10 II
classes, regardless OF race or color. Nor will
laborlng msn be subject 10 be defrauded of
their earnings by dishonest contractors.
STREET REPAIRS.
The great width of our streets operates as a
drawback on our ability to pave and keep
them IN good repair. The roadways in all OF
them, in my opinion, unnecessarily wide, and
they could be contracted from fifteen to twenty
feet without incon yenience and with very lit.
tie expense, by setting cubstones further into
the street, and using the space between the
pavement line and the curbstone TO set for a
grass plat and for planting trees. This is be.
ing done in many Northern cities, and am
satisfied that II could Be done here with ad van.
taGe 70 the streets, with economy, and ar the
same time it would add greatly TO the health
m N h0 0nfN
cases where streets are to be paved in future,
that authority be given to contract the width
OF the same as indicated.
The practice Of putting down gas and water
mains in the middle of the streets is, in NV
opinion, very Objectionable. II involves the
necessity OF opening the street to tap the mains
or repair the service pipes, as we'll as large
eessary length of pipe 10 reach from the foot.
walk 10 the centre Of the street All this can
be avoided by laying mains Of e-half the ca.
pacity Of those req uired 10 furnish a supply to
both sides Of the street near the curbstoae on
each side, which can readily be reached by the
occupants of the buildings without cutting IN to
the street, thus saving the cost of excavation
and from thirty to forty feet Of pipe to each
individual. Besides, the streets could then be
easily kept in good C condition, and not be sub.
]ect TO being trenehed every few feet by those
,sadins 70 9ns zap bne.s ne mans or repair the pipes
10 lay these two small mains than the large
one, and when the additional cost OF trenching
and pipe Is taken into the account il will be
readily seen that the TWO pipes would be a
matter OF great economy as well as convent
ence.
THE CITY HALL.
The City Hall building, all will agree, re-
quIres repairs, and the ofices and rooms occu.
pied by the officers of the Corporation REQ uire
furnishing. i recommend that appropria-
ton be made to paint and refit the west wing
of the building, and that the work be done as
early possible. The grounds around the
hall are also in wretched condition, and
should be improved at once.
THE NEW JAIL.
Legislation is now pending in Congress re-
lating 10 the construction of a new Jail for this
District, and involving the city IN heavy
debt in connection with il. II is important that
the subject should receive the attention OF the
city authorities, in order that il may not be
work Ia charge and for which IL is required TO
pay nearly one-half the expense.
OUR MUNICIPAL TROUBLES.
II is, perhaps, needless for me TO call your
attention 10 the fact, known TO you all, Of the
illegal and presumptuous action Of a portion
of the msm bers of the Board Of Aldermen and
Board Of Common Council since the regular
organization of the two boards on the Sth in.
slant. By a factious and revolutionary pro.
ceeding they have managed TO keep one OF the
boards without q quorum, thus preventing
legisiation and infiicting lasting INJURY upon
the city. BY an assumption OF power they
PRETENDED TO elect and went through the farce
OF lnauguratlng, a man whom they denominate
mayor al tnferan," and who mad the audacity
10 Call al my once and demand that i should
Nacate the Mayors rooms and turn over pos
session 70 him. This man had actually issued
O n afy5c