National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-24
DISTRICT AFFA IRIS BEFORE CON-
GPEGo

The House Committee on the District yesterday
agreed unanimously to request the Committee on
Appropriations to incorporate in the deficiency
bill an appropriation Of Ssl,IOO to reimburse the
Board OF Health for extraerdlpary expenses in
CURED during the smallpox Sastilenee OF last
year. DR.. Cox and Prof. Langston explained to
the committee the particulars of the work per-
r.. ~ tss board during tho prevalence of the
The gas companies seeking charters from Con-
The The two companies which now have bills before
Congress asking permission to lay gas mains have
consolidated. and their representative presented
the bill the Oxygen Gas Company is merged with
the Citizens Gaslight Company, their requests
t t.G% H 70 Ss ays Sss Ii MA those con
h -. sssS5s. Aissr
on tho matter until the next meeting. 1t might
be added, in this connection, that the Washington
Gas Company has communicated to the commit
the present figure of ss75 per Thousand feet to S3
per thousand, which, with the discount Of 20 per
cent. allowed on prompt payments will reduce
their charges to the rate which the new com
panies propose to establish.
The bill providing 8 general incorporation acl
for the District with the proyiso that property at
tion, instead Of money, as now required, was re-
ferred TO subcommittee, with Mr.. Eldridge as
In the Senate Mr.. Lewis presented the petition
Of over three hundred citizens Of the District ask
Ing Congress to authorize the construction Of and
provide the necessary appropriation for the con
across the Eastern branch at or near the present
Navy Yard or Anacostia bridge. The petitioners
Sress pnrebased the Navy Yard bridge Of tSe In.
corporated company, to whom Il then belonged,
and thereby made II the property Of the United
States; and ever since that purchase Ia period Of
twenty-five years has possessed and controlled
and maintained this bridge as its property, and
made such use oft as suited its convenience and
N-N IL 1N( a-N-u a.
obligations to maintain II as a free highway, by
keeping 1t open 70 public travel without charge 70
those using H. Under this state Of facts 4 will
not be doubted that the United States are bound,
both in law and honor, 70 maintain this bridge Us
The petitioners represent that the present frail
and disgraceful structure has cost the Govern
ment large amount Of money to keep It In re-
pair-ne1rly enough to build a new and perma-
be wise economy on the part Of Congress 70 build
o new bridge. Amer representing the great value
Of the bridge TO the Government and the citizens
ent structure is positively unsafe and that in the
summer OF 1870 two ladies were preeipitatsd into
the river By the breaking Of rotten railing. and
the bridge gave way under Government team,
and two men and four horses fell into the water.
Two horses were drowned, but luckily the men es-
IN succession they have been compelled 70 cross
the river in inconvenient dangerous, extempor-
lied ferry boats while the bridge was Undergoing
upon which they established themselves-the
most OF them with small means-in parts OF the
District that made them dependent upon this
bridge, has been kept AZ they might reasonably
expect IL would be kept. In conclusion, they say
that they have had survey Of the site ofthe
bridge made by . practical civil engineer OF
distinction, and plans OF q new bridge with esti-
mates OF Its cost prepared, which they propose TO
submit 70 the proper congressional committee.
The petition was Referred to the Senate District
Committee.
The petition was accompanied By letter from
DR.. Nichols, superintendent Of the Government
Insane Asylum, irWhich the projected structure
Is commended to the consideration Of Senator
LAWS