Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-29
LETTERS FROM rHE People.
Brick VS.. Frame BufIdIux.

BElck w. Frame BufI0tnxN
Editor Star: The West End Directory, COM
msntsDg on my letter in your issue Of the iTth
instant, states that great differences exists be-
tween Washington and either Baltimore or
philadelphia because they have no Board OF
Public Works and their Improvements going
On; that our improvements are a constant drain
on poor people, that their frame houses often
are sacrificed to pay for improvements and
taxes; that Washington contains more poor per-
sons than any city in the Union except New
YORK; that poor persons are drawn here by
prospects OF getting work which Is of transient
character that here wages are not promptly
paid; Baltfmore's commerce keeps alive that
city, congress rms ours; that the rents and
necessaries OF life are higher here than In Bal
timore, Philadelphia, &c.. SC. Now, in an
sTer TO all these assertions, will endeavor to
reply to them in their order; first, the Direc-
tory says Baltimore and Philadelphia has no
Board of Public Works. To be sure thew have
not, but tdey would be better OF If they had one
great deal better Off Their Improvements, as
q general thing, do not swallow up the houses of
poor people. and the arguments which the Di-
rectory uses principally apply to houses which
are now built. suppose that the erection Of
frame buildings should be prohibited, as / sug-
gest, and people would be compelled to erect
brick structures, does any one think they would
be likely TO build in unimproved sections of the
lishedY for one would not. II this was the
case, then no special assessments would re-
quire TO be paid, as they were all paid
when the property was improved. leaving no.
thing but the regular taxes Poor people as a
general thing do not build houses, and this is
certainly the case with the transient population
OF which the Directory speaks. l will say no
more on this subject, as IL will occur to all men
OF reasonable minds that the Board of Public
Works have nothing TO do with building prop
erty. The capital OF our great nation should
be improved, and Congress and the people
OF the District should both willingly contribute
their share 10 the enterprise without grumbling
continually. Certainly, if we wish to make
Washington a handsome city, the authorities
should not allow two-story frame shsnties to be
putt 20 destroy its beauty. II any one will
glance over the list OF permits to butld as they
are reported in the newspapers, they will per-
celve that great majority OF houses to be built
are frame. The District government seems to
indorse my statement, for saw in the papers a
few days ago that the inspector of buildings
nad prohibited frame structures to be erected
between 9TH and 18th and b street and Penn
sylvania avenue. think this was southwest,
In the same order buildings Of frame were pro-
The population of PhiiadeIphia nv last census
was q ,022, baltimore, 267 1854, and Washing
ton, ID. G., 109, 100. Now, the poor exist IN all
cities to certain proportion ofthe inhabitants,
and about the right proportion for all three of
the cities above named would be about I-6,
making the number OF poor in Philadelphia
iiz,3sI, Baltimore A $50, and Washington
~, iSS 5-S: Thus any person will see that both
Philadelphia and Baltimore contain more th An
twice as many poor people as our city, as said
In my former letter. The Directory next states
that our city,s population is greatly increased
by the transient persons drawn here by the
prospect of obtaining work. This is true, part
ly IL brick buildings were exclusively built here
rents would be in small degree higher, vet they
would be willing to pay 1t for the additional
comforts afforded, for it is plainly evident that
they live in comfort in brick houses in Phils-
delphia and Baltimore, and they could do the
same here. As understand il, the laborers aud
here have TO wait sometimes for their
pay, but as general thing they are paid
To be sure Baltimore commerce
runs that city and Congress runs ours, yet we
fare almost as well in the end We do not aim
10 be a commercial cAntre. hut the Paris of
America. am informed that the necessaries
Of life are as cheap here as in either Baltimore
or Philadelphia, especially the latter; in the
former necessaries may be little cheaper vet
The wages obtained here are higher / again
state that il would be blessing to our city and
certainly improve its looks, IL frame buildings
we're prohibited from being erected in the city |
limits, excepting temporary buildings for use of
he government, churches, sc. Able.
EDIToR EVENING STAR I've have again
70 call upon the market commission for an
explanation a. TO the further delay in the CON
weeks since the contractor made a partial exca-
7atlon for the foundation of the P-street wing,
ana also deposited upon the ground some heavy
stones, and several thousand bricks nicely piled
up, in order, doubt, TO allay the Just indfgna-
ion OF the people at the manner in which thew
have been humbugged for the past nine months
Work on the market-house has not been COM
menced, Notwithstanding the assertion made TO
contrary by certain member of the market
at one Of its recent meetings. The
IMPOSITION still continues, and we hope that
Governor Shepherd will look into the matter at |
1nee and apply the proper remedy.