Evening star., 1870-02-01
CORPORATION AFFAIRS.


Beard Of Aldernsn. January slst.
The Chair laid before the Board several COM
munications from the Mayor, as follows:
One announcing his approval of sixteen acts,
&c, which originated in the Board Of Alder
one transmitting the account of the Corpora
ton with the First National Bank Of Washing
ton, showing a balance I'm favor Of the Corpora
ton at this date OF Sl0.5l2.I0.
One inclosing "a statement of claims held by
John Van Riswick against the Corporation, all
| Of which" the Mayor says, ''are for labor and
materials furnished prior to my Inauguration,
| and amount to S9 .583-3S, on which he Wan Ris-
wick claims interest to the amount of 81 200. A
judgment has been rendered for g, ,s6s.9i, and
| 81 ,056 Is now in suit. Mr.. Van Riswick Is de-
sir0us Of having the matter settled, but declines
to accept anything short Of principal and inter
est from the date of the approval Of the several
accounts L think the accounts are correct, and
they must be paid so far as the principal is
concerned, but have no authority to allow in
terest on any account, and therefore submit for
the consideration of the Councils the question
whether or not interest is to be paid, and if so,
from what date" Referred to Committee on
Finance.
One in answer to a resolution of the Board,
lnquiring as to the law under which Mr.. A. M
Green is employed as Assistant Commissioner of
| the Fourth Ward The Mayor states " There is
/ no such Office as Assistant Commissioner, and
that ofhcial designation is given to MT Green, as
/ i understand, because of his being the princi-
| cipal foreman employed by the Commissioner
| of the ward to oversee and superintend the
work in progress in that ward. Mr. Green is
paid the same rs other laboring men on the
| Streets" Accompanying the communication is
| a report Of the Commissioner of the Fourth
Ward, in reply to other portions OF the resolu-
| tion, giving a list of the laborers and horses
| and carts employed on corporation work in
december, showing Of laborers and So horses
\ and carts employed for an average OF tive days
| curing the month.
| One nominating James Donaldson for Secre-
| tary of the Board of Fire Commissioners, vice
| T.. l.. Corbin resigned. Referred to Committee
| on Fire Department.
| A communication was received from Gen. N
| Michler transmitting computation Of the num-
/ Der of cubic yards of excavation al ,356) and
| embankment ~, ,6H) required on X street north
/ between North Capitol street and Eastern
Boundary; also, i'm NJ street north, between
North Capitol and Eastern Boundary, GO ,0Os
cubic yards Of excavation and % ,4sS cabic yards
OF embankment) Referred to Committee on
improvements.
INApEQUATE sUPPLY OF POTOMAC WATER
The Mayor referred to the Councils, 'TMith
the recommendation that immediate action be
Bond, Water Registrar, calling attention to
the increasing consumption and inadequate
of the laying of new mains and the extended
distribution of water for domestic uses, well
as the largely increased consumption by the
General Government for fountains and mechan-
ical purposes within the past two years, the
supply in the more elevated portions Of the city
Is constantly growing less abundant, and even
at this season Of the year causes great incOnve-
nlence, so that unless some remedy shall be pro-
vided before the maximum consumption of mid
summer begins, this inconvenience will develop
into very serious disadvantage to some Of the
most eligible locations in the whole city, and
the value OF property in such sections will
thereby be deprecated. There is no lack OF
sufhcient supply or head of water at the source
from which it is derived, but the mains leading
from the reservoir to the city "a twelve-inciI
and thirty-inch main) are not large enough
to supply the great demand made upon them.
have no doubt but that il Potomac water were
used as sparingly and economically as if it were
to be paid for by the gallon the supply would
still meet all actual wants; but Notwithstanding
strenuous efforts to prevent waste, through such
consumers Of water where there is an abundant
supply cannot be made to appreciate the fact
that others less favOrably situated in this re-
spect are suffering great Inconvenience by rea-
son Of such, oftentimes willful, waste" Mr..
Bond suggests the passage of an act by the
Councils Compelling the use of water meters for
hotels, restaurants, breweries, stables and other
establishments where water is used in large
quantities, so as to check the waste or undue
consumption-the present law simply aliopcs the
prOrrietOrs Of such establishments to provide
meters at their option-and then says" The
laying of new main from the distributing res
eryoir (2k miles above GeOrgetOwn) to the city,
and through its northern section, is the desira-
BILE, sure and adequate remedy for our difficulty
and believe il is not too much to hope that II
the attention of Congress be properly drawn to
the subject by a memorial of the Councils, and
to pay part OF the expense commensurate
with its means, say One-half, the general Gov
ernment will aid US in this much needed i'm
provement, Should We fail i'm attaining such as
sistance, then the subject of a more adequate
supply and a more restricted use of water will
imperatiyely demand the most serious consider
alton Oh the Councils, for some OF those who are
able to get a supply only i'm the first stories of
their residences, and there only in driblets and
during certain hours, already complain at being
made TO pay equal water rents with those who
N MS wi
int tnat which costs so little. To stop the
laying OF new mains in the city would be to
greatly discourage building, as water is now re-
garded as an indispensable convenience to n
III hs:-class dwelling, so that solution of the dit
fculty is worthy of our best efforts, and should
not be underrated or Oyershadowed by any
question of less practical Importance. The
poor quality of the water after heavy rains is
caused by the incomplete condition of the dis
tributing reservoir, and as the subject il now
under investigation by committee of Congress
IT is to be hoped that both of these matters may
receive an early solution, and our water supply
be made such, both in regard to quality and
quantity, as to meet all possible requirements
OF the city for many years to come" Referred
to Committee on Drainage.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Chair laid before the Board a petition OF
property holders on the lire of X street north,
between 18th and 10th streets west, for improve
meBt Of said street according 10 accompanying
plan OF Clas. III. Bliss, Superintendent OF Sew
els, &c, submitted in accordance with a resolu-
ton Of the Board; referred ~ Committee on
improvements. Council joint resolution request
ing the committee before Congress TO use their
influence to have III passed by that body for
arching Tiber Creek, from Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to Massachusetts avenue, was passed. Sew
eral Council bills were referred.
POsTPONENENT OF TAX SALES.
Mr.. Connolly introduced bill ''tO pOstpone
the advertisement of tax sales, and for other
purposes" and moved a suspension of the rules
for its immediate consideration, urging the pass
age of the bill on the ground Of the scarcity of
money, and the consequent needy condition at
present OF many OF the tax payers.
Mr.. Moore opposed the motion, as two winter
months had already passed, and it would take "A
month or more to prepare the tax list, and then
property must be advertised several weeks be-
lore the sale. He cOntended that il was unir
TO those who had already paid their taxes to
grant the extension to those who had ..ot who
were not The poor men, as represented here but
the rich men, who were loaning their money at
II per cent. Besides, he objected to the clause
Of the bill for anticipating the revenue as not
only preposterous but contrary to the provisions
Of the charter.
Mr.. Emery also objected, as did EIr. McCatb-
eran and Mr.. Champion, to the clause Tor anti
cIpating the revenue.
After a long debate the rules were suspended
yeas II, NAYS 3, (Messrs. Emery, Moore and Nor
sell,) and the bill was taken up.
MI MOrsell offered a substitute AUTHORIZING
the collector of Taxes to continue the receipts OF
taxes now due on real estate until the lst day of
March next, so much Of the act as requires the
Collector to close his books on the 3ist dav of
january 10 the contrary not hsf anaino. re-