Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-07
TEE DISTRICT GOvERSMENT IN.
vE9TIGATlON.
Proceedings Before the District Com.
Entttee Of the House To-day.

House; the memoT!alists being represented by
j. j. COMBS, j. Ii. Crane and b. T.. Green.
Ben. SeveTsOn, A. Watson. A. Grant, Holmes
and others were present during the whole Of the
proceedings.
Gen. George s.. Creme, late chief engineer
OF the Board of Public Works. was recalled
and examined by Mr.. Coombs. Witness testified
that the plan was to continue
The MISSOURI AVENUE SEWER
west TO the Potomac; il would reach the river
about Easby s wharf; by having gates at each
end the sewer could be flushed and kept clean;
that was practical thing now in operation in
Charleston and Jersey city; witness - now
To make plan for sewerage for Washington
and GeOrgetown; is to receive IS 500 for the
plan when completed; has not yet determined
upon the size of the Tiber creek sewer for the
whole distance of ii; has made TO estimate OF
the Missouri avenue sewer from Sd street 10 the
Potomac; the work at present is only laid out
TO 6tlI street.
F-sTREEr IMPROVEMENT.
By Mr.. ROOsevelt:-The F-street Improvement
asundeI direction of witness; the cutting down
OF the street, however, was commenced before
he came here; approved of lowering the street,
as advantageous 20 the drainage in that section.
Witness would ADVISE that
TIE WASHINGTON CANAL
be filed up entirely; it would cost 80 cents
yard Ia dredge IL out. The whole subject OF the
canal and river must be taken p some time tn
preserve the health of the city, the marshes
are increasing, and are detrimental 10 health;
sewer could have been put in the canal before il
was filed up, but would have cost more than
putting it on Missouri avenue; to lay the sewer
in the canal il would have been necessary to
find foundation for 1t first. Witness had eN-
amined the
in Chicago and New York. A piece of concrete
pavement IN 39th street, New ork, had stood
better than any other pavement in New York;
the Board of Public Works did not consult wit
ness about Pavements; knew nothing of the con-
tract price for the pavement in front OF the
White House; was generally present at the
meetings of the Board of Public Works.
By Mr.. Eldridge-Witness was invited TO
come here and take the position of engineer TO
IT, i'oaTd by Governor Cooke; was to receive
as 100 per annum which was paid monthly; has
been an engineer about thirty years; was not en-
gagged for any specified length OF time when he
came here; had some discussion with the Board
OF Public Works about grades on 14th street;
did not know why he was invited TO resign his
position by the Board OF Public Works; the
board never dictated to witness about any plan
whatever; the drainage of the city could not
have been accomplished i'm a more economical
way than by digging the sewer on Missouri ave-
Q.-what is your opinion as to the propriets
and wisdom OF
COVERING THE CANAL
in the way ii has been done?
Al think it very proper; the canal cannot
be kept clean if sewers empty into it; witness
4, mt his opinion in regard TO 1t entirely from
MIR. Eidridge then read the 14th charge, as
fOllOws:-"It has filled up, narrowed, walled
and otherwise manipulated the canal, both by
judiciously that not only has some OF the most
costly work Ton 18th street, proved "A palpable
failure, but We are actually threatened with
inundation and pestilence;" and asked the ques
tion:-ls there any work on 18th street affected
by that charge?
Al think not; the work upon Tiber creek is
being substantially and safely done; the new
walls to the canal, however might be better;
the walls to the canal were being built on pile
foundations. Witness would have required bet
ter and stronger work, if he had drawn the
specifications; thought the plans and specifica-
tons for these walls were gotten up under the
old city government.
Q-fs there anything in the building of that
wall which viii Justify the above charge? and if
A.-No, sir; don't see that it threatens either
inundatOn or Pestilence, and don't know how
the work on 18th street has proved failure.
Q.-You think this work Is not judiciousy
done. VIII you tell US how it should have been
done?
Al should have filed the canal up entirely.
BY the excavations now going on in the city, the
canal could he filed up at very little cost.
Q-Are the improvements in the city being
done without any general plan?
Al do not know. Much Of the work was
before came here.
Q.-What was gained by
CUTTING DOWN y STREET
and other streets in that locality?
descent to the river. and open the view 70 the
new State Department. The work is All i'm
pr0vement 10 the city; the houses by being
above the street are beautifed; thought the
horses generally were too low; should be five OF
six feet above the level Of the street; twenty
cents per yard for excavating was fair price;
the first two feet were worth forty cents to ex-
cavate; did not know il the Board Of Public
Works had accepted the pavement in front OF
the Presidents House.
By Mr.. Roosevelt Thought houses SHOULD
be feet above the street on account OF health;
thought the city would be better if every house
was 5 feet above the street; did not know, how
ever, if it would justify the cost; winter is not
good time TO do masonry work; the risk is that
the mortar win not set; thought the Tiber arch
large enough to stand all floods; the arch through
the Botanical Gaxden had been constructed and
stood several years; witness made the arch
stronger after the work was commenced; had
seen the work IS II progressed; was satisfied with
it; did not think the 18th street sewer had been
injured at all by the Improvements in that
locality; before the construction of the Mis-
emptied into the canal. If witness had been
required to examine as to to the benefits Of the
r street improvements should have probably
called in experts as to the effect, &c; had never
considered the subject at any length.
GOvKRNoR COOKE AS WITNESS.
Governor Cooke was the next witness sworn
Mr.. Green said as the examination OF Gov.
of his office, he proposed to submit the questions
10 Gov. Cooke in writing in order that he might
have proper time for examination Of said
MI. Crane then read the list of questions they
proposed to ask Gov. Cooke, as follows:
WASHINGTON, February s, 1877
Hos ~. n. Starkweaihtr. thairman CO"'m,tiee
Dfsirict ~ ColxDkta. H. H.:
Of e ne
fur nj. TO your committee forthwith, ut the
lieet time practicable, written statement under
oath Of the affairs Of this District covering the fol-
is Tie cost q the two registrations made for the
April Ind Nov smber elections, specifying the items
In each case, together with . staamept Of the rea
sons for holding two elections in one year.
I'd. What buildings have been hired for the use Of
the various branches Of the District government, at
what rent EACH and what the cost Of fitting up, and
furnishing each, with statement Of the authority
under which such buildings were hired, fitted up,
and furnished, giving the reasons also why the City
Hall was not used until other quarters could law
fully he Obtained
Nov, nber 81 1871. under what law authorized, the
total smounf OF money specified IN these contracts,
and also total cost Of all other WORK contracted for
ten contract in each aselspecifying the name of
and smount not executed under each contract, the
Of the work, and the locality clearly defined
where the work has been, 10 to be, performed
der euch contract.
1. What oliices have been created by the Legisla
tur.. ard at what salaries each what by the Board
Of Public Works, and what by the Boardof Health
with the pames OF the incnbsnts, and We salaries
attached to each, and by what Law authorized.
s. What amount has been Apr, pr lated for contin
gencies; what amount has been expended under
such aDprOpriatfona. and what purnoaa civ n1