National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-03

abuttlng upon them, reserved !" WV n,t,jc nae
States 70 bu kept pen forever fgr ", 'istes shall
Jr 10 such uses Ony ~ the United iSty and
them, delgnstrate the pDpt, viment
the original intention of the General Cover. wing
and EeeblSR P' them hi rspair. Ths plan y, "S
adopted Because II was to be the capital Of tn
republic, and that II might be Hdegnate 70 me
growing necessities Of the great people who,
with prophetic vision, the Father Of the Country
saw and seemed to comprehend would he repre-
ie9tea here Is single siGSsessG6 tSgstd
TO ITSELF and still holds sJlarnc proportion Otthe
real estate Of the District, shows, bcyOnd the ne.
Cessty Of argument, the manifest injustice oil
devOying the whole expense VI such improve
mcnts Upon the citizens, or upon thgac VINO may
happen to own some Of the lots Of washington"
"Thc Governor aud members Of the board aret
on the whole, entitled ~ the favorable 1udgment
Of Congress- and 70 NC So,lLgrh 10, su1
the District upon q new career OF llupfOyemSnt
and prosperity; aud the District itset ls ehulleu
TO falr aud generous appropriations from COL
grcs5, In some MANNER corresponding 70 tho
valuation OF property owned ny the Un''e"
statcsn
COMPARATIVE ENrEEBE or THE GENERAL
CONVENIENT IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF
SHEETS AND AVENUES.
Tho iotpl amount expended by the General
Government for the Improvement OF our
streets and dIcnucs since lSU5is 81 ,3@li SSo;9l.
During this period the amount cNpendcdby
the city " Washington for this purpose was
tbe city government aud Of citizens Of Sl2,-
500 45S.Si. In other wo~ds, mp to thls time
the citizens have paid 90 pee cent an" ''io
Government 10 per cent ....,,.,,,
II We add tho amount paid by IL NY W
Georgetown and the county Of Wash Wg.o ,,
for the Improvement Of streets and rOah "ays
during these sCScnty years II VIII nggrck "'o
about two millions mdtp
In view Of these facts II u earnestly hOpcN
that IN appropriation will be uddc at an carly
day to rClnbiirse the District for the amount
expended In the improvement Of Government
property. Citizens Of the District have paid
the assessments levied upon their property Tor
the purpose Of carrying on the work, and Jus
tice seems to require that the proportion due
by the Government should be provided at
| once, In order that the contractors and other
employees Of the board may be paid, as In
| the nature Of the case d considerable proper
| ton of the assessment certificates, which con-
stitutc tho revenue Of the board, cannot be Is
sued until tho completion Of the respective
improvements.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Tho BOnrd take pleasure In acknowledging
! the aid which they have received from the
mile counScls Of the Advisory Board, consist
ing Of Generals ". G. Melgs, \. A. Hum
phreys, J. X. BaTuts, and o. +, Babcock.
| The value Of their services cannot be TOO
highly appreciated, and wiz ever be held In
Lind Tcmetnbrnncr by a t~rIItsfui community.
In the month Of October last Mr; \. D.
| Mullett found It necessary to i'csi8n nus posi-
ton as a member Of the board, In t'fnaeqnencc
Of the pressure Of other official duties Lhosc
with whom he 30 faithfully served bea. enoG sI,
full testimony to the ability and zeal rnf
which he discharged his duties, and by VIII"
he contributed so largely TO whatever OF sue
cess has thus far attended the operations OF
the board.
RELATIONS OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
In this connection II may be proper to sub
mil n 0Rn gin n relations
the United States Government towards the
District of Columbia, touching the improve
mcnts Of streets roads and avenues. The
} total value Of public and private property In
the District Of Columbia Il about $3.50, 900, 900.
, The District will cXpend In loans and assess
mouts upon private property, since the lnau-
gurntiOn Of tho present District government,
more than six millions Of dollars. The Gen
cral Government owns four tcnths OF oil the
property within the limits Of the District, and
proportlonate appropriation by the Govern
ment to reimburse the District for the money
: expended upon the twenty-four avenues,
, which, being named after States Of the Union,
form n national feature Of the capital, would
furnish sufficient amount to enable those
having the matter In charge TO render this
: metropolis the handsomest city In the world.
q The amount expended by the board upon the
: avenues Is 81 81, 3Tl.02. Tho amOut before
Z ! expended on them by the District Is about
=, SS9l. 10000. Total, 81, l2SS1l.02.
: To complete the Improvement Of these avenues
: Is appended to this report.
The citizens of this District having yOlun-
0rily taxed themselves for these improve
M Nnts to an amount equal to per cent. upon
Tho gross valuation Of their property, 1t ID
snbm utCd that, In fairness and equity, the
, Genpr, V Government should furnish pro-
, portionn re amount for the further prosecution
, IF Tho W, Nrk. In this connection the board
submit the able report of Senator Southland,
Of New Jers, v, In 1889 which presents com
prrhensiye sta cement OF the relations of the
I Genpral Govern mcnt to the District, 80 far ~
, mis- 1uestIon il Ct. Nncened. They also present
! documents shown V the amounts heretofore
expended by the Go Vernment Tor this purpose
and giving other In formation believed to b,
important 10 full 60, 1slaorallOn Of this luoS
ton. From these and the general history ID
this District It will appe ar
! 1, That, including sire us, avenues, rcscrNa
tons, and lots the Cove nment acquired
! title In fec simple 10 nbOu I iOur-hithS oil ~
entire area Of the city ~ aHhlngton, WIN
out any cost whatever 70 I'll. people oil tn
Y United States.
.. That the original purpose, III laying gu
|, the capital Of the nation, on D. IAN WHO'S
DmagnlHcont proportions could not /, vi 70 iul
, pOydrish the most ,Opulent city, wa W illl
prove aud keep In order the streets, av, MUGS
, and public grounds, at the expense "a n'
public treasury.
3. That II the lots donated to and sold b
the Government TO provide funds for the cree
ton Of public buildings and other purposes Of
national concern were now In possession Of
' the Government they would afford Ompe
, means for every local improvement desired,
and at the same time provide fund sufficient
! TO maintain the streets aud avenues permR-
, uently In repair.
4. That the obligation of the General Gov
, eminent to contribute q large portion OF the
expense Of the needed improvements Of the
streets, and more especially Of the avenues Of
Washington and Of the thorOughfares cOnsti-
tuting the principal means Of access to the
District has been constantly recognized since
its adoption us the scat of the Federal Gov
eminent.
5. That, while the contributions made for
these purposes by tho General Government
, have never borne u just proportion to those Of
the local governments, during the past twelve
years the ratio has been smaller than ever
} before.
: o. That the population Of the District conf
posed, TO large extent, Of officers and en-
plOyees Of the Government, and others whose
occupation Is dependent directly or inciden-
tally upon the Government ought not TO 10
required unalded to provide for the adjournment
of city In which the entire nation has Utmost
an equal Interest.
In patriotism and In readiness 10 make any
sacrifice which may be demanded by the inter
ests the nation the people the District Just
ly claim that they are second to none OF their
fcllow-cltizens OF tho States Animated by
national pride In the efforts they are now
making TO render the city Of Washington at
tractiye In Its avenues, streets, parks, and
ad6rnments, they feel confident that In their
endeavors to attain this end they will have the
cordial cooperation of the people, and Of
their representatives In the Congress OF the
United States.
II. d. COOKE,
ALEX. X. SHEPHERD,
JAS. A. MAGRUDBR,
8. p. BRowN,
ADOLF CLUss,
Board Of Public Works Of the District of