Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-07-20

regular, and to prevent the bursting of sewers
son,h Of Ss me
the backing up" Of the water from the canal
in'o the sewers.
or course, the authority of Congress will be
require to do this work, and the Government
Will Fay its share OF the cost.
This may be regarded by some as visionary,
but fun investigation OF the subject will
satisfy any practical person OF its utility aud
necessity. Although the proposed change will
involve heavy expenditure OF money, the ad :.
vantages TO be derived from 1t will amply COM
pensate tie properly holders and the city for
the outlay, Other cities have expended mil.
lions for raising the grades OF and widening
streets where the necessity was nothing COM
pared With this; ard the experiment IN every
case, SO far as is known, has not only proved a
public benefit, but has resulted in an en- haIce.
ment OF the value of the property affected by IL
more than dcubly sufficient to cover the cost
This matter is submitted for your sous idera.
ton. If you approve the suggestion, recon-
mend that Application be made to Congress at
the next s. ssion for authority and aid TO etiec,
the desired obltcr.
WASHINGTON CANAL
| have again 10 call the attention of the
| Councils 10 the condition OF the Washington
canal. The opinion i have here.ofor. ex.
pressed on that subject remains unchanged.
| but IL any thing better can be suggested am
ready TO assent To and approve ~. And IL it
be the dss re OF the people Of The city that II
| shall be cleaned out and rendered uavIgable
| and their representatives. so decide, I, Will ba
necessary tor them 10 impose a SPECIAL tax OF
the city 10 cover the expense. the same 10 be
| provided for this year: or that sun VIII have
10 be diverted from tie proposed and, a |
think more necessary, legitimate, and profi "a
bile WORK Of opening and repairing stree
We csn employ Just so many lsoOrers with
the money We raise. aud II they WORK on the
canal others cannot be employ ed on the streets.
So far, then. as tie labCrer cpucerned n GER
tan1y makes no difference with him whether
the canal Is ever cleaned or moi, unless the pso-
| pie are willing 10 pay enough extra tax TO foo,
q 10 r4N Nsx-er
for tie Councils TO deterD iUe, but | opine they
Will look we'll to their pockets before m ikiug
an inve> tment on which they can never hope
10 realize a dividend or the least profit l can
never consent that this property b. alienafed
by the Corporation and PLACED at the tender
mercy OF private company
The plan proposed in my last message, and
more recently IN effect by the late superiu-
tendent OF sewers. DC, TO arch the canal and
convert II into main sewer across the city, is
doubtless the most feasible plan OF sposlng of
hts troublesome and vexatious u beet: an as
the reclaimed land will more III Al cover the
COST, confess that am unable u see the force
OF ne directions urged against il. In its
present cendition the canal IS unquestionaDly
fostering nuisance. and trus. that some
action may be taken without celay looking TO
an abatement OF the EVIL: The Office OF COM
missioner Of the canal l deem unne csssary
The suIies OF such an OFF GER can be perform ID
by the SUI erintendent OF sewers, &, and |
recommend that authority be given him for
that purpose.
RIVER AND HARroR IMPROVEMENT.
Our river channels ana narb1r should AZ
once be improved. We have on both sides o.
the city sufficient depth OF water 10 float al
most any vessel. Miles of water front, which
in any other city would be converted INTO q
mine Of wealth, are entirely neglected, and
there 10 not a wharf worthy of the name az
which vessel can receive or discharge a car
go his can only be accounted tor by the fac
that our city until a recent date was cursed
with an Institution that biish everything it
touched as by fire. Bat that time has passed;
a new era has dawned upon us, and progress.
enterprise, energy, and activity should prevail
in lieu of the dead past. We must keep pace
with the progressive spirit of the age. or go
into bankruptcy and wind up.
REMOVAL OF SEA WALL.
i recommend that measures be immediately
taken 10 remove the sea wall on the west side
Of the Island to the channel, and that the space
be filled In, thus retaining a large area of
valuable ground. which can De used, rented or
sold fol- wharf sites, and made TO yield large
revenue TO the city, as well as 10 add materi-
ally TO It's commerce and other business. Con-
gress Will undoubtedly aid in the improve
ment Of our rIver and harbOr. when we sh wv
disposition 10 do what we can TO effect that
necessary object. This aid has been given in
the States. Is Il not unjust to withhold it
here where Congress has exclusive jurisdic-
ton
ADVERTISING THE TAX LIST.
a great cause OF complaint with our tax
payers who are not fortunate enough 10 have
the means of paying their taxes when due, is
the heavy cost OF advertising and sale. As
this profits neither the lot.hoider nor The Cor.
claim Oh either, suggest that the law be
changed as 10 avoid 1t as far as possible. The
wisdom OF the Councils Will enable them 10
devise some method 10 abate tnis great evil,
and save our property holders from such an
imposition.
In the meantime, the very large amount OF
taxes uncoIleced calls Tor some action hat Will
compel such as are able to pay aud will not.
to.discha their liabilities on THIS account
promptly.
There are on the books OF the Collectors
Office ger eral taxes uncollectei as follows:
Prior TO I,66, u, ning back to loiS. SIS l67 80
For the year 1865 MISREPRESENTATION. 6,I-6 3S
OF TIE year lch1. 5,65S %
For the year le6-. ................... 6n,695 y
Total uncollected. ......,,&lO7. 0s Is
The impossiblity OF collecting these taxes,
owing 10 the reluctance Of persons 10 purchase
property at tax sales, suggests the necessity Of
providing for the enforcement OF tax collec.
tons as far as possible, promptly each year.
This great and growing evil calls loudly for
|. legislative action by Congress. But as a means
OF present relief existing within the powers
OF the Corporation, and as IN inducements to
properly holders to pay their taxes without
delay, recommend that Ia the tax bill for the
present year there be in serted a clause author.
izing and requiring the Collector to add 10 each
bill a certain rate per cent. month on all sums
remaining unpaid after the first day Of Septem.
Der or October next. Such a measure has
proved salutary where it has been tried, ana it
is believed will induce tax. payers here to set.
tie uP as soon as possible.
MARKET HOUSE.
Your attention is called 10 the necessity of
erecting another market. house IN lieu of the
present Centre Market The plan proposed IN
the bill introduced by Senator Harlan, at the
last session OF Cor gress, appears to give very
general satisfaction, and is undoubtedly the
most feasible Of any yet suggested. recon-
mend. therefore, that efforts be made to induce
Congress TO pass paid BILL which Will give the
necessary authority for erecting building on
the site named, and another on the reservation
between 10Th and 18th streets, near the canal,
for the sale OF coarse articles and live stock,
that will be credit to the city and the sour ce
OF very large revenue. Indeed, II is believed.
that the rents alone Will be sufficient to paw the
expense of the building in five years, inciud.
ing the ex pen SEES of attendance and repairs.
PARKING THE AVENUES AND TRRRTs.
The great width OF our streets and avenues
renders ii proper, in order to save the useless
expense of keeping them clean and in proper
travelling condition, that portion Of them he
parked. Various plans have been suggested,
but II appears to me that II would be the wisest
and cheapest method to remove the curbstoue
on each side, say from ten to twenty feet, ac-
cording to the width Of the street, into the car.
OF trees in the centre, OF the space betwee the
foot pavement and the curb. This will not
only save the expense OF paving, cleaning and
repairing so much OF the street, but will add
greatly to the health, beauty and comfort of
the city. The experiment once tried, on a
single street or square, l am certain 1t will be
universally adopted. Before making this al.
teration, however, and especially before paving
any roadway, l would advise that q sewer.
with water and gas mains, be laid on each side
of the street near the Outer line OF the foot.