Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-09
District Government Affairs.

Inc Di>tf1ct commissioners yesterday gave
OrCcTs that 500 be gwen to the relief commits
sion for the poor of Washington and George
town and SIC for the poor Of the county
y Finch pipe sewer has been ordered in
alley in square No t6, with traps. &c; same
IN alley IN square No s}s. with the necessary
nan hn.eS and drops same in alley in square
No +sf. with drop in I alley; same, with
two aIaD holes. on the south side of ID street
between 2d and 81 streets southeast. \ cross
walk has been ordered on al street between
u street and Virginia avenue southeast. An
lN-inch pipe sewer. with man holes. has been
ordered on the east side Of 9th street, between
II and / streets northeast.
THE CORCORAN SQUARE MARKFT COM
PANY.
The District Commissioners have addressed
letter To Hon. y. r. Cotton, Chairman Of
the House subcommittee on the District OF
Columbia. in reference TO House bill to i'm
corporate the COrcOran Square Market com
pany. In relation to the general frame of the
hili and me eXpedleEcy OF passing 10 the
Commissioners state: The District Of Column
bia purchased this square for 100000, for
which bond of that sum was issued by the
District. Other expenditures have also been
made by the District upon the property,
which, with the prTcha-e OF the ground,
amount to Ssh .SSi.Gi. In addition u this,
the contractors for the construction OF the
! buildings. and the architect. also have
claims against the District. Procurement
ny the company within thirty days
from the passage Of the act.1 of
release to the District from all such
claims should be a condition precedent TO the
grant Of the proposed franchise. No act of
enjoyment of the franchise, or possession of
the property. should be lawful before procure
ment Of such release. Any corporation 10
which the use of this property may be given
ought TO pay rental equivalent at least to
interest az the rate Of seven per cenium per
3DUUm or the expenditure made by the Dis
trlct on account of the ground and improve
meHtS. This expenditure * reported by the
Controller Of the District as ~l3I. SSl.G4. The
rent should be payable quarterly: for in
stance. upon the 1St days Of January.
April. July, and October. Upon de
fault in payment OF any inStallmCnt
of rent or of taxes, the franchise of the
corporation should be forfeited without au-
thOrity on the part o. the District govern
ment 10 waive such forfeiture; and the right
should at once accrue to the District govern
meDt to take possession Of the property. and
the officials Of the District should not be
competent to waive such right to possession.
At the close of the first section of the pro-
posed bill there i power given TO the cOrpO-
ration to borrow money and execute deeds of
trust upon its property and franchise. There
ought 10 be an express exception as 10 COrcO-
ran square and the Improvements thereon.
The corporation ought not to be allowed u
execute an iDcumbrance i'm respect Of said
real estate, and the prohibition ought to be
clearly expressed at the place in the bill just
til.ligi,Ieu. "a proper plan and speci-
ment should bC made part OF any
euactmentS on the subject. The eleventh
section 81 the bill before the committee re-
Quire> That the work shall he begun within
taken peaceGbje possession Of the real estate
and thar the buildings shall be so prosecuted
n 10 he completed within two years from the
commencement. In addition 10 this require
menf the company should he obliged UnOn
prH4t' v - tine loss OF its franchise. TO CXpapd
q certain amount. as for instance. One-f1 fourth
Of the entire estimated cost Of TIE cOnstruc-
ton within six month from the date of the
passage OF the act.
In the draft Of the bill there Is in section Il.
a> printed, a provision that the real amt per
SOu@l property OF the corporation shalt he
subject 10 assessment and taxation for al
District and municipal purposes, i'm the same
manner and To the same extent a like prop
eriy owned by Individuals. This provision
mas. however. Jeen stricken out in the bill
II should be retained IN any enactment uuOn
this subject. All the restrictions UDOu the
company in the bill should be retained. No
restrictions or limitations OF the powers OF
the corporation. and no duty imposed mon
~ IN the bill, as printed. should be omitted
lItm any law granting such franchise
The amount Of rent 10 be charged for stalls
or stands for market purposes should be fixed
by the authorities OF the District and not
by the direction Of the corporation.
There l. in section 12th a provision for a
valuation OF the building at the end Of fly
years. If tine District should then elect 10
take the premises. From this valuation the
sum already expended upon the building by
the District ShOukl Ue deducted. The cOrpOT-
alton should not be paid for what the District
has built and paid.