Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-01
THE DISTRICTINV
Mr.. BarrinEton's Argument.


OF the District government. After congrstulat-
ing the committee on the approaching end Of
their lators he says:
"Since the introduction of the memorials, and
the passage OF the resolution ordering this com
nittee, throughout the District business has
been al stand-still, trade nerveless, enterprts-
Ing opera ions suspended. This people could
20 Tar as they are concerned, with great gain to
themseives. have made good to both the general
and District government the Losses that may
have been sustained by reason OF insdvertence
or m stake rather than undergo the sweating
process TO which all classes and shades Of
people have been subjected. l say all classes
OF people, but ought, perhaps, t. except one
namely, those who make merchandise OF money
ana having ready resources, invest proftsbly In
deprecated stocks, and gather income by in
jectiDg into a community a want OF faith in the
securities of its government.
do not believe, Mr.. Chairman aud gentle
passage of the resolution ordering this investi-
CATION were actuated by any such high and
good motives as the counsel uyon the other
aside ascribe to them.
Had this been the first attempt TO check pro-
gress ard development we might believe il we're
founded in the purpose of securing better gov
eminent. But to those who are familiar with
the affairs in the District il vii! occur that from
the inception of the present government the
authorities have met with tesdy and persistent
objections from weil-known class OF people.
AS has been stated to you, the very 6rst at
tempt to secure the means TO begin the i'm
provements was, at the request of some of these
memoTlalists, met by injunction from the courts
Oyerruled there, the question was submitted
to the people for q vote. Ignominlously de-
feated by the popular judgment, since then
their every attempt has been to harass the gov
gagged in the improvement of the city. They
caused to be spread throughout the country
through the medium OF a venomous, licentious
and libelous press, that the Board of Public
Works were corrupt.
Even in the community in which they reside
grave charges affecting the private reputation
OF these gentlemen have been made, and Con-
gress itself challenged TO investigate the work
ings OF the District government, in order that
these gentlemen might have opportunity to
make proof of the allegations. They opened
thelr case with the most remarkable request
hat was ever presented to any tribunal ask
ing that they should be permitted TO drag into
he committee room all the private books and
papers OF persons who were assumed TO have
connection with the District government.
Isubmit to this committee that, notwithst and
ing The disclaimer OF counsel upon the other
tide that their clients had no personal or i'm
proper motive in the conduct of this case, that
their whole course of procedure from the com
ueneement Of this case TO the filing of the argu-
ments on the other side, demonstrate that while
such motive, that back of them was an impell-
ing power OF hatred and malice. Their whole
course OF procedure demonstrates a studied effort
10 break down the sacred rules of evidence that
the common law of the land had built up around
every nan for his protection and security. A nd
their efforts are evident to use this committee
assail the Integrity OF honest gentlemen and
oesmirch the reputation of good citizens. With
the option of the first charge filed by the
memotiallsts take IT there needs no special
answer. Their work is the best answer in the
case made by the complainers. The senior
counsel for the memorialsts in his argument
"en ,S tnat mere az any MUS or originality
IN the plans OF improvement for which the
Board of Public Works could claim apv credit
and asserts Il IT they had long been projected
arc, IN some measure, initiated in execution
y REt RI % U44aS rafn
asserts that II Ii very certain that the burden OF
he enormous taxation which has been accumu.
'ated within the past two years has seriously
impaired tie value OF property all over the city.
This remarkable statement finds its amplest
RECITATION in the results OF the labors OF tue
board. Until 1870, the capital Of the nation was
disgrace to the American people. Selected &.
the permanent seat OF the Federal Government;
named in honor OF him who was its iTst Pre.i
dent; received from the people of the adjoining
tate by donation, upon the consideration tina.
t should be cared for blythe country the Amer
can Congresses that have assembled have per-
United ITS magnificent promises to be unfuIflled
ito broad avenues aud beautiful streets to
remain unimpToved; its natural sewer-courses
10 become mere mudholes; and permitted, in
he heart OF the city, within a stones throw OF
lts principal avenue, cesspool breathing forth
disease and death.
The citizens of the country visiting the capt.
tai found therein no pride and no attraction
while the foreigner wondered that some of the
energy OF the American character was not
the city which was conceived by the fathers
and whose Identification and adOrnment was
their hopeful pride. The nation has neglected
It's Own city. The people Of this country were
never unwilling to bear proper share OF taxa.
ton in order to make the capital worthy the
republic. They knew that the strangers who
visit our land would draw many of their ideas
of the grandeur and stability Of the nation
from is capital; that they here would receive
impressions which are never forgotten and
which, abroad, are always powerful for good.
sentatives OF the people. Perhaps the first
fault lay with our own citizens, for up to the
time OF the organization Of the present govern
ment there never seems 10 have been an honest,
strong, united effort to help ourselves. But at
length new era dawned upon the capital.
The fossils OF the past age were compelled to
give way to the ideas of the new era, and men
were found whose hands were strong enough
whose courage was great enough, whose faith
was unbounded enough, TO begin the great
work OF the restoration of the city to its proper
position and commence the execution of the
original plan that had lain so long unknown
and unheeded. The Board of Public Works
assn d control N June, ISL: Since that time
they have conceived and put in operation what
Washington has go long needed, and upon
which the health OF our citizens mainly de-
pends-a thorough system OF sewerage.
The Following statement from the report of
Mr.. Cluss will undoubtedly be accepted, even
by the menorialists, a correct exhibit OF the
work done i'll this direction Slash run sewer
tel feetspan At outlet, 200 lineal feet; street
interceptng sewer, II feet at outlet, 1872 lineal
feet; Iiber creek, main stem, so feet at ontlet,
lib hneal feet; Tiber creek, main stem. 20 feet
at outlet, 200 lineal feet; Tiber creek, eastern
stem, 8 feet diameter, $50 lineal feet; Tiber
creek, northwestern stem, 8 feet diameter $50
lineal feet; 10 feet diameter, 800 Iineal feet;
ieet inches diameter, I 200 lineal feet feet
inches diameter, 800 lineai feet.
In addition to the above main stems, the fol-
lowing secondary brick sewers were laid Seven
feet 8 inches inside diameter, 205 lineal feet; 6
feet inches inside diameter. 9S5 lineal feet; q
feet inside diameter, SIS lineal feet; feet 6
inches inside diameter, 4, $50 lineal feet; feet
inside diameter $50 lineal feet; feet inside di-
ameter, 9,I65 hneal feet; feet inches inside
diameter, go hnesl feet; 3 feet inside diameter.
1t59 lime al feet, feet Inches inside diameter,
$3.50 lneal feet.
PIPE SEWER.
The pipe sewers OF glazed earthen ware laid
during the past season were mostly of IL and Is
inches diameter Of bore. Their total lenpt,
laid to date is 81 1876 linear feet. An almost
equal amount Of six-inch house connections has
been laid.
The street improvements have been az fol-
lows:-Curbstone set. in miles, 15aO9; brick
sidewalks laid, 2O0.05; flag sidewalks laid, Sos
concrete sidewalks laid, 3.79; gravel roadway,
in city, $50; gravel roadway, In the county, SO;
cobble pavement, 9.95; bluestone pavement,
$50; Macadam pavement, city and county, 1885,
Belgian and granite pavement, 9.46; concrete
pavement, 1884; wood pavement, 53.55; total
Sidewalks. in miles, 20i.I9; total improved road
way, in city, 1856; total improved roadway, in
county, 80.
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