The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-02
WASHINGTON.


tendent oil the Yellowslone National Par
writes Secretary Delano that $4,000
will be necessary to render tho Park CON
plete and for the survey Of Its boundary
DISTRICT DEVELOPMENTS.
Governor Sheppard has replied to th
tinterrogatories propoundcd BY the CON
/ mittee 10 investigate the affairs Of III
District Of Columbia. The papers includ
the original contracts made by the Boar,
oi Public Works, numbering 1889, 10
gether with original documents AM
vouchers numbering l0591. In answe
70 q question as TO the Indebtedness O
the OLD corporations oi Washington ant
Georgetown and the levy by the cour
when the new government went int
effect, II Is stated that 81, ,590, SEQ was thl
bonded debt Of the District Of Columbia
and that on January lst, 1874, It wa
| 81. .627 $50. The present assessed value
| Of the Property Is $08.4 .443079, as against
$79, ,9O7, ,464 In 1871. The exhibit Of the
Auditor shows the actual cost Of worh
done under contract with the Board o.
Public Works Is less than 8 per cent In
excess OF estimated cost.
In reply to the question, what amount,
II any, does the District Government estl.
mate ought TO be paid by the United
States for the Improvement Of public
property made by the District Govern
ment, the answer is that the Board oi
Public Works in their report TO the Pres.
ident dated 1st November last, estimated
such Indebtedness, and gave the aggre-
gate at foul. million three hundred and
seventy dollars, This, however, Is but q
small portion Of the sum eqnitably due
by the Government on account Of ex-
penditures made by OUT citizens in their
corporate capacity for the improvement
Of the streets and avenues Of the city
and roads and thoroughfares ol other
parts Of heDistrlct. ~
The streets and avenues are held in fee
simple by the general government &C.
cording 10 decision OF the Supreme
Court. Acting under such construction,
the United States has in one case gained
1913 square feet by enclosing the
streets In the vicinity of the Capitol,
which are worth, according TO the sp.
prsisement OF the adjoining property,
$57G, ,05G. The general government has
also retained ground reclaimed by filling
up the canal worth, at the valuation OF
adjoining property, $2,5O0,000.
II appears from u statement oil the
Register that from 1909 to 1871, when the
new government went into operation,
that So, l99, ,432 had been expended by the
citizens under the old corporations Tor
public improvements. The expenditures
Of the Board Of Public Works since the
creation Of the district government have
been on the streets and avenues $45. .5G2,-
6S5. Total expenditures by citizens since
1902, $24,7G2,117. The amount expend-
ed by the 0. 3. in the same period on the
streets and avenues, $4,470, zoo, showing
an excess OF expenditures by the citizens
over the government on the improvement
ot streets, avenues and roads, and
nine tenths, which are used absolutely by
the Government. OF $20,2S5,4l1 /. Is
shown that the real estate held by the
United States in the District Of Columbia
fully equals, ifit does not exceed in value,
that owned by the citizens. 1t is sugges.
ted that were the plan adopted, by which
the Government would reimburse 10 the
District the amount OF outstanding in
debtedness Of the United States account
OF improvements, and annually thereafter
contribute the just proportion toward the
current expenses as well as the extinguish.
ment Of local debt. Such an arrangement
would be In accordance with strict equity
and compare favorably with the LIBERAL.
ty exhibited by other Governments
towards their capital cities. Under
the acts Of Congress and Legisla-
tive Assembly $B,1b0.2S2 worth OF pro.
perty belonging 10 churches, &c, is ex.
empted from taxation. The only aid
granted by Congress in delraYing the cur
rent expenses OF the District Is an annual
appropriation toward the support OF the
police, and 1t Is hoped they will adopt a
similar course toward the schools, Fire
Department and lighting Of the streets.
It Is suggested by the Governor that au.
thority be given for funding the outstand-
ing bonds into one consolidated loan bear
ing fair rate Of interest, and that the
committee personally visit and inspect the
ysrious District offices and improvements
In order that they may see for
themselves the operations of one and the
extent and value OF the other. The Gov.
ernor states that he had effected Q nego-
tiation for loan based upon taxation Ger.
tifcates sufficient to pay the salaries oil
the school teachers and members of the
police and fire departments, but owing to
the grave and unlounded imputations
Of memorialists affecting the District Gov.
ernment, the realization OF the loan was
deferred. The Misrepresentation OF a
few designing persons have, the Governor
says, cost the people Of this municipality
hundreds Of thousands OF dollars and
much suffering. Referring 10 the sewer
certificates the Governor encloses the
opinion OF Messrs. Gushing and Black to
show their legality and as being In the
nature Of assessment certificates, and
therefore forming no part Of the indebted.
ness Of the District government. Refer
ence Is made TO the statement In the Asses.
sor's report that the taxpayers have met
their assessments uncomplaininely and
paid ten.tweltths OF the entire amount.
The report Of the Treasurer Of the Board
oil Public Works shows that they have
received up TO the 2sth Of February $l5,.
258 r2S2, and expended $14 4,G03,059. The
assets OF the Board are stated at $780,
297, and total liabilities $4,552,95S.
This Is entirely exclusive Of the amount
due by the United States government for
improvements. Their property and the
total amount Of the certificates Of settle
ment issued is $17,540,654, as follows ::
For filling purposes in the prosecution Of
special improvements done under con.
tract, $12,294,094; for special Improve.
ments outside Of the contracts, including
material furnished not included In the
measurements, $2.655. 400; on account Of
miscellaneous expenditures other than
special improvements, and payable by
special appropriation, 81, ,S29, ,OlOi on ac-
count OF contingent expenses, pay oi EN-.