Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-12-02

during the year ending November 3oth 1876.
One year ago there remained unfinished con-
tracts of the late board of public works TO the
number OF hiuy-seven, with their various
extensions and notifications, under which
work was still in progress. These have all
been finally completed, or terminated In pur-
suance OF the joint resolution of Congress
dated March 14th, 1876, and with the compile
ton of the measurements and the statement
OF unsettled accounts, which await the action
0I some auditing authority yet To be created,
This legacy OF the late board OF public works
the diminished contracts for improvements
has been finally disposed of.
UNSETTLED BALANCES
OF measurements to the amount of SS1 ,S37 II
az heretofore, payable in the District 3.e5
bonds at par, are at present without any
means of audit and adjustment. The board
of audit, upon whose certificate the amount
fOuI due would have been payable in the
3.G5 bonds at par, have no successors in Office,
the Commissioners being only under the act
of Congress OF March 18th. 1876. the custo-
dians of their books records and accounts
and the bonds are no longer available as a
medium of payment. From the last report
OF the board of audit IL appears that the whole
amount 10 be provided for, including tn
amount due upon above-stated balances OF
measurements, is approximately S2s6, 574. S3
in the equivalent of 3.t5 bonds.
SEVERAL ELABORATELY PREPARED IA
are appended, presenting all the facts in a
condensed form in relation to contracts of
The late Board of Public Works: eXpendi
lures under the Commissioners on account o
work done ard material furnished, etc, etc.
In these tables a comparison is made be-
tween the total expenditure under the Com
mlsSloners upon contracts and extensions of
the commissioners on the one side and on
the other the estimated cost Of completing the
valid contracts of the Board of Public Works
as they stood June 20. 1874, adding the addi-
tional work necessary to complete the i'm
prOvements called for in the contracts. This
table shows difference in favor of the work
of improvement under the Commissioners of
S4l5,705.S0
An explanation of the method of making
measurements is also given at length: also
OF special assessments for improvements. In
relation 10 the condemnation and improve
ment of alleys. il is recommended that the
taxation for their improvement be betrayed
by the owners of property bordering on them.
WORK UPON THE ASSESSMENTS
for special Improvements is now progressing
rapidly, the statements of expenditures being
prepared by the auditor OF the District, in
whose custody are the books and records of
the Board of Audit. A sufficient number of
assessments has already been transmitted to
the deputy controller to redeem all the out
standing $ per cent; Improvement bonds and
leave considerable surplus. Very little
difficulty is experienced in the collection of
this tax, the constant transfer of real estate
operating as spur TO those who might be
delinquent but for the necessity of clearing
the titles 10 their property, and the fact that
the tax is payable in five equal instalments
explains the discrepancy between the actual
collections and the amount of the assess
ments.
With the termination of the contracts of
The Board OF Public Works, their extensions
and notifications,
THE WORK OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE DIS
TRICT
has been practically suspended. A few cash
contracts have been given out for the compile
ton OF such work as remained unfinished
and in such condition as 10 require attention
and upon these there has been expended in
cash the sum of S225 ,I3l.5I, and there remains
10 be expended for their completion the sum
of $1,000. Work has been continued To a
small extent without other expense to the
District than the furnishing Of such material
applied for permits for This purpose, and at
whose expense the work has been done. The
current work of repairs and the work of the
water department and the parking commits
sion has been continued by days labor, and
the sweeping of the streets and cleaning of
alleys has been done by contract. The lab Dr
OF the chain-gang has been utilized TO good
advantage In the work OF repairs AMI in the
planting of trees under the direction of the
parking commission, and a notable economy
has been effected in the reduction of rates for
day labor of men. horses and vehicles Thu
reduction in the cost of sweeping streets ami
cleaning alleys under the administration of
the COmmiSS toners is now about S5l $50 per
annuIn. The reduction in the cost of the Clar-
zeal force and field parties for engineering
and superiDtendenc9, as cOmpar Il with IN.
corresponding organizations under the board
of public works was, during the progress of
the work of Improvement under the various
contracts of the board of public works, abou
Sl5b.fIb% per annum, and is now abOu'
$50 5i5sO per anDum. The average receipts
over expenditures in the public markets is
low about S6562.i4 per annum. No estimate
Is made for continuing the work of improve
ments, but for the extraordinary repairs re-
Quired in
REPLACING THE WOOD PAYMENTS
which are rapidly disappearing, the necessa-
~ funds should be provided for use during
the next working year. The condition OF
those pavements is such that any attempt to
ron r is n Sfn Of
The only remedy applied To them at present
Is TO I'LL up the holes with gravel as they
occur upon streets which are much used by
vehicles and this primitive expedient does
not solve the problem in such cases nor re-
commend itself To general application. The
paVementS must be replaced by a more du-
raole material than wood blocks. In JUS
tice TO the round block pavements il should
he said that they have required little or no
attention, and are now in fair condition, a
few streets only showing evidence of wearing
out without any general indication of decay
None of these require renewal at present.
THE DEFECTIVE CONCRETE PAYMENTS
laid under the board of public works and not
Yet repaired require the greater part of the
expenditure for repairs which is estimated
for in the coming year. Minute repairs of all
the pavements OF this class are required from
day TO day. and will consume the balance of
the estimates.
Unremitting care and prompt attention are
necessary for the proper maintenance OF
their pavements and VIII greatly reduce the
provision for
GENERAL RERAIRS
viii appear from the following tables of APP
prOximate areas of pavements, &c, to be pro-
vided for: Wood pavement Square block,
134 -39 square yards; do. (round block, IA Ol6
square yards; concrete exclusive of Penn
sylvania avenue, between LIST and 18th
streets } 70l $40 square yards. Pennsylvania
avenue, between the points named aud in
tersectiOns, about 1000 square yards of Neu-
chatel and Grahamite asphalt pavement,
about One-half laid, work progressing; Bel
gian block pavement, 2lS, 45G; blue rock,
256,s55; cobble stone, l55, 800; MacAdam car
riageway, So; gravel carriageway.
676,s39; also, the old graveled streets and
alley pavements. Total length of county
roads, 1O2 S2-1OO miles.
WATER SERVICE.
Total length Of District water mains laid,
sSO,5l4k lneal feet; total number OF catch
basins, 2459; total number OF man
holes, 3,lIO; main brick sewers from
feet inches to 30 feet in diameter or span,
lo3 -J96 lineal feet. Tile pipe sewer from II TO
80 inches in diameter, exclusive of house con
nections, 49, ,4j2 lineal feet There are in adj
dition To the foregoing about Al 900 lineal feet
OF brick sewers in Washington, which were
constructed under the old corporation, rang
ing in size from 10 feet in diameter or
span, and in Georgetown about 1900 lineaI
feet OF brick sewers, ranging i'm size from TO
feet in diameter or span: also the old grav
eled streets and alley pavements.
IL Is TO the maintenance and perfection OF
the present improvements rather than their
further extension that every energy should
be directed AT present. For this rhp rPstOra