Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL INyESTkGATKON
OF DISTRICT MATTERS
Proceedings Before the House Com.
mittee To-day.

Proceedings Before the House Com.
mittee To-day.
The Congressional investigation into the
charges against the Board of Public Works and
the new District government was resumed thi
morning by the House Committee on the Dis
trict OF Columbia. Among the mem1rialist,
present today were Severson, Culver. Crane
Alexander, and A. Watson, the latter APP
pearing this morning for the first time. Crane
had his seat upon the lett OF Mr.. Riddle, am
Culver had his upon the right. Both seemed to
be acting As prOmpters.
CoMNUNicATIoN FROM wu FORSYTH.
in relation TO the Z street Improvement was
read:
"BoARp OF PUBLIC WORKS. District sf Col
umhia. Office OF Chief Engineer Washington
ID. c., February ., 1s72-W. T.. Chandfer ESQ.
CCuHSeSoT The District GOrernmsat.-Sir: In re-
Spouse 10 your request Tor Information as 10 the
Improvement on + street, have to state as iol-
lows:
The work on the inn fovement of F street wa
commenced under the order OF the city govern
ment ef Washington, in pursuance of tie oct OF
that corporation approved April 23t;I, ISL a.
appears by the CO pies OF papers in the two com
munlcations or Gov. Cooke To the District Lee
gislature OF May 31st, and June 10th, ISL
(JOurnal, vol. I, pages 9S and 1917
was superintendent OF streets under the CITY
government and also became the first assistant
engineer OF the Board of Public Works, May IT,
1e1 and prepared for the board the general
plan of Improvement submitted June 10Th, Isl |.
i took charge of the + street work when i,
commenced and IN accordance with the dlrec-
tons OF the board 1 instructed the contractor.
Mr.. Nandenburgh, 10 lower the line of the street
below the grade contemplated when the act OF
April 18Th was passed AT later period the
board decided to lower the line to the present
grade, and l gave directions TO the contractor
accordingly
The change of grade as finally determine
was thought advisable. among ether reasons in
order TO conform the grade OF 18th st. to the new
State Department buildings. 1t also relieves
the steep grades on 18th, 18TH 10TH 2Oth and Dist
streets, between street and the canal, by cut
ting down the SUBMITS and filling up the 10
grOunds'a at regular grade, thereby removing
in great measure the uGhealthfulIess of thai
section of the city. which has been an obstacle
TO all improvements for the % years during
which have resided there.
The change also greatly improves the surface
drainage of that vicinity. Ii does not interfere
with the sewers constructed by the city govern
government, which I had located below the
present grade line OF the streets, because from
my knowledge of the necessities of that section
i was certain that the grades OF the streets
would eventually be brought down to an inn
In my opinion the improvement will be sue
cess, and when finished believe the property
owners will be very glad it has been carried
through. as owners have been in other LOCALITIES
where they have made great complaints and
doleful predictions while the work has been 90
ing on; like the cases of the old improvements
under the city, while las surveyor, on 9th St
between ID and F; 18Th street, between and F;
It., between 9Th and 18th, and 18th street at
the Treasury Department.
No additional written instructions to or con-
tract with Fir. Nandenburgh appears to have
been issued.
The act of the city in terms authorized the
grading OF the street, and acting under direc
tons of tie Board OF Public Works which an.
thOrlZed and assumed the responsibility of ex-
tending the improvement, carried forward the
same substantially in accordance with their gem
the District.
The only estimates of the cost of improving F
street, west Of 18th street, made before the work
commenced. are those contained in the plan OF
JuLe 70, ISL.
The present estimate of the whole cost of the
lmprovem ent OF street, as now going torw ard
at board prices, at which the final settlements
will be made, is as follows:
l3e8 cubic yards excavation, at 4oc. s5i55 q
49, lineal feet curbng. at 90c...:.. IiI3 -
5,0l5 square yards brick paving, al 30 4O12 O.
l,293 told relaid) at &c 323 %
SlS,5A 80
On which has been paid to the contractor, j. Y.
W. Nandenburgh. - ,53i.45
. The estimate for PAVING street is lI,G6
has been paid SI4335.
Very resi- cctlnly, your obt servt,
WV. FORSYTH, Assistant Engineer
The following communications was also read:
WAsHINGTON, ID. G., November 10, ISL
me Hon. Governor ard Board Of Public Works
{. H.
dersigned owners of property, and residents ON
street, between 18th and 2Oth streets west. re-
spectfully state that in consequence of the ex-
cavation and grading on said square, being
about feet at the corner of and 18th. and
about feet on the corner Of F and 10Th we are
OF the opinion the slope should be made i'm pro-
portion to the excavation. The effect would be
to give US from IL to 10 feet from the building
line between 18th and Goth streets-a very ime
pOrtant convenience to occupants of houses and
without disturbing the general appearance OF
m Sfr
desire and respectfully request that a substap-
tial concrete street pavement be laid on street
between 18th and 10th streets, believing 1t TO be
street.
We have the honor to remain yours. ever.
acknowledgements Ray. j. H. q. Coffin,
Survivor of Matthews Il COiin.) A. Ross Raw
W. b. Webb, G. II. Crane, flor INNS Palmer.
Also the fellow ing:
"BoARD OF PUBLTC WORKS, District of Co
lumbia, Washington. Feb. 2, SILVIA e.
Chandler, Esq, Counsel for the District of Column
Lio:-Sir: In accordance with your request for
full statement OF the improvement and repairs
upon the roads and bridges of the District, /
submit SUI the ionowins;Ion the nth day OF May,
1871 was appointed by Board of Public Works
I'd assistant engineer and placed in charge of the
roads and bridges of the District outside of the
corporate limits OF the cities of Washington and
georgetown, and was instructed to examine into
their construction and prepare for putting them
in good order. l made eXamin ATOMS SURVEYS
end protiles for the improvement Of several Of
extended, Howard avenue, Bladensburg turn
pike road, and eth street road. The 7t6 street
road, formerly turnpike, had been the subject
Of controversy and litigation, and had at last
been purchased by the city and county, under
an act Of Congress approved March Sd, 1871.
establishing certain free public highways i'm the
District Although the most important road
leading from Washington into the country, /
found 1t in the worst possible condtionEthe
owners Of the turnpike having been indicted for
not keeping 1t in repair.
submitted to the board profile survey with
grade, recommended by me, and estimates OF
grading, and advised that the work be done by
day labor instead OF by contract, as the coun
try people wished the improvement promptly
made and TO participate in the work as they ha,,
been in the habit of doing.
August 18th, 1871, committee Of the board
With myself, examined the road and adopted the
grade, and was directed to proceed in accord
ance with my Recommendation; commenced
work on the 18th of August, and virtually
ST. pps on the 2sd OF December.
Tie Improvement begins at Boundary street,
and extends i've miles to the District line. In
stead Of billy, uneven road, badly out OF re-
lair, with chasms on each side, and in some
cases in the roadway, there will be road with
grades In no place exceeding4 feet to the 100.
filled out to the full width OF &C feet.
The carriageway is macadamfzed in the GEN.
ter, 16 feet wide and IL inches Deep and gray