The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-02
SUNDAYS DISPATCH ES.
WASHINGTON.
The Yell wstone Park,

|
intepdeut oil the Yellowstone National
Park writes to Secretary DelaDo that
one hundred thousand dollars will be
necessary to render the Park complete
and survey it's boundary.
The District Observation-Disclosures
pard's Defense.
Governor Sheppard has replied TO
tn. interrogatories propounded by the
committee to investigate the eff.irs Of
the District OF Columbia. The papers
iuclude the original contracts male by
, the Board Of Public Works. numbering
032 together with the original eocu-
meuts and vouchers, numbering l0.-
537. 10 answer 10 the question as to
the Indebtedness OF the old corpora
tious OF y ashington and Georgetown
and the Levy Court when the new
government went into effect, it is stated
was S. 520626 The bonded debt Of
The D strict OF Columbia on January
l.t, 1874 was s. 527 $50.
rhe present aeaepspd value the
property is 500 443072. against S79,-
997 Asa in 1871 The exhibit Of the
Auditor shows that the actual cost
the work done under the contract with
the Board of Public Works to be
less than 5 per cent. in ex-
cess OF the estimal.d cost In
reply to the question, what smonnt
il any does the District Government
estimate ought to be paid by the
United States Tor the Improvements o.
nuhlic pro erty made by the District
Government, the answer is that the
Board OF Public Works ia their report
to the President. dated the lst OF No.
vember last estimated such indebted-
npss and gave an aggregate at 81 C00,-
$40 The, however, is small portion
OF the sum eqnitably due by the
government on account Of expenditures
| made by our citizens in their Corporate
capacity tor the improvement OF the
avenues OF the city, and roada and
thoroughtares OF other parts OF the D &.
trict. The streets and avenues are held
in fee simple by the general govern
ment, accord, 10 the decision OF the
Supreme Court. Acting under such
construction the United Statea have
in one case gained 397, ,28O
square feet by enclosing the streets IN
the vicinity Of the capitol, which are
worth, according to the appraiser enr
OF adjoining property, S576 056 rhe
general government has also retained
ground reclaimed by filling up a canal,
worth at the valuation OF adjoining
property, 50 100000 II appears from
the statement rhe Register thai
rom 1902 10 1871, when the new
Government went into operation, thai
SO 1879 432 bad been expended by
ciuzpns under the old corporation for
puoI Improvements. The Expenditures
OF the Board o. Pubic Works since the
creation OF THE District Government have
hpen on streets aid avenues, SIS 562
6Sj; total expe' diturss by citz4ns
since 1892 is s24 762 III The amount
expended by the United States during
be aane per,od on streets and avenue,
is 81 476, ,706, showing an excess OF eI
perdrtures by citizens over the Govern
ment on the improvement OF streets,
nine tenths OF which are used ahsolute
" by the government, O. $50, ,2S5 Al
1t Is shown that the real estate held hy
the United States in the District OF Co.
Iamria fully equals il i, does not exceed
10 value that owed by cltZens. l. is
suggested that were plans adopted by
VIII cn the government would reimburse
TO the dislr ct the amount OF The out
stand ng iuiebuedDess OF the United
States on account OF proyements, and
annually hereafter contribute in just
proportion toward the current expenses
az well as the extingurshment OF the
Local debt, such an arrangement would
be IN accord ,nce with the strict equal
ty and compare 'avorshIy Y with
the b.rsllty exhibited 10y other
governments towards their capital Cit
lea Under acts Congress and lrgis-
ative assemblies, Sc, 6,l5O.232 worth o.
property belonging to churches, &c, ls
exempted from taxation. Tie only aid
granted by Congress in de'raying cur
rent expenses oil the District, is an an
uual appropriation toward the support
of the police, and 1t is hoped they will
adopt q similar course toward th.
schools, fire department and lighting OF
streets.
1t "a suggested BY the Governor thai
he be given authority for funding the
outstanding bonds into one consolI.
dated loan, bearing tsir rate o
interest, and that the commit
tee personally visit AMI lnspec,
the various district Offices and improve
ment., in order that they may see for
themselves the operations OF one and
extent aud value OF other Governments
and States
He had effected ne gotiations FOR loan
based upon tax lien certificates, suffi
cieut to pay lne salaries OF school teach
ers snd members OF the police aud fire
VIC PolhhICuts, UuI o"ibS W SidNC duu
un'ouuded imputations OF memorialists
affecting the Dlstric, Government, re-
sllZ alton OF the loan was deferred. The
misrepresentation OF designing partie-
have cost the people oi the municipal
ty hundreds OF thousands OF dollars.
Referring to the sewer certificates, he
enclosed the opinions OF Messrt.
Gushing and Black to show their legal
ity, and as being in the nature OF as
sessmenl certificates, aud therefore
forming no part Of the indr bteduess o.
the DIstrict Government R-'ereuce lie
made to the statement in the assessors
report that the bumbIer tax payers
have met their assessments uncom
plsluingly and paid teu-twelfths OF the
entire amount.
he report OF the Treasurer OF the
Board OF Public Works shows that
they have received 10 the 2Sth OF Feb