National Republican., 1875-12-02
REPAIRS.
Report Of Overseer Cunsisshsm.

ENGINK1R's OFFfcE, DISTRICT OF CoLUNBIA,f
WASHINGTON, Nov. 80, 1875. :
SIR: have the honor to submit my report Of the
operations or this ocs from Dec l. 1874 to Nov. so
1875 inclusive. The mechanics and laborers IN
der me have been employed In the repairs Of ave-
nues, streets, alleys, sewers, seEertraps, pumps,
and making Of new roads, bridges and culverts,
and the repair Of the same, In the county Of WASH
ington, and the cleansing Of sewers and sewer
traps.
Two gangs Of men are kept steady at work
cleaning sewers and sewer-traps. The large ex-
penditures for this branch are on the large or
main brick sewers. The following Is statement
Of the amount Of material removed from the B.
street intereepting sewer, between Seventh and
Seventeenth streets northwest: Less cart-loads OF
sand and mud, 1000 brick, and 40 loads Of stone.
Many Of the main sewers are in o like condition,
and ! respectfully recommend an increase OF the
clean a III the ira traps Of washingtOa and asorrstowa
once every sixty days, or about fye times q
year.
and deepening wells, have been done this year by
days work, under my supervision, and call your
special 70 inc ts T0 or Inc os a
s4,9s4.97 Many new pumps were required, as the
contractors for several years past kept the old
pairs. The inside work Of nearly every pump had
to be removed. Gangs Of men, with carts, are
continually employed In making repairs OF streets
ton and Georgetown, and in cleaning cutters.
The chain gang has again proved its success
and should be increased In the spring for the re-
pairs of country roads.
Extensive repairs have been made in the coun-
try this year. caused by the unprecedented rain
storms. Many of the roads were made impassa-
bic by the great storms of July and August. In
some cases the entire road beds were washed out,
and bridges and culverts carried away, among the
number being the large bridge over Rock Greek,
on the woodley Lane road; but, by steady work,
the roads are again in good order. Some OF the
roads are yet in need Of repairs, but owing to the
lateness OF the season il was thought best TO re-
duee the force employed upon this work until
spring.
Very few repairs have been made on the wood
payements owing to their dilapldated condition,
and then only in cases where II was absolutely
necessary TO prevent accidents. The cleaning OF
streets Dy the contractor for that work is well
done, ana helps in q great manner to keep the
sewers and sewertraps4n working order. have
the honor TO again call your attention TO the prsc
tico existing here OF allowing st0rekeepers and
others to sweep the litter from their stores into
the streets, as well as open boxes, barrels, and
crates on the sidewalks, which Is extremely dis
agreeable to pedestrians ana very much mars the
appearance OF the streets and avenues.
would respectfully recommend that the po-
lice be requested to use stringent measures TO
prevent the throwing Of ashes loose In the alleys,
as many Of the sewer-traps are rendered useless
by this practice. besides aking Il impossible to
keep the alieys In good sanitary condition. II q
few examples were made have no doubt this
practice would soon cease.
Very respectfully,
CHAs. W. CUNNINGHAM,
Overseer Of Repairs, sc.
To r. l. HOrie. U. 5. A., Engineer D'sirfef Of Co