Evening star., 1876-12-09
nepafrs On Public works In The Dis
tPfef

ham, oyerseer in charge Of repairs in the
District of Columbia, states that the EN-
ployes under him have been engaged during
the past year In repairing the various streets,
avenues, alleys, sidewalks. roads, bridges,
sewers, sewer-traps, and pumps, and
the cleaning of sewers and making perma-
nent improvements by completing work
commenced by contractors and LEFT unfin-
ished by reason Of joint resolution OF March
14th, IS6.
There are in the cities OF Washington and
Georgetown 40 pumps, u of which were put
In during the year; IL wells have been deep
ened, IS wells cleaned, pumps removed and
the wells filed, and ,i6o repairs made to
pumps.
COUNTY ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Continual repairs are necessary on the
various county roads, in order TO keep them
IN suitable condition for travel. The heavy
rains during the past summer caused large
washes. and carried away culverts in various
roads. These rains demonstrated the inca
pacity of the brick and pipe culverts. Il
required quite a large sum of money 10 repair
the damages these roads sustained, and espe-
cially on the New Cut, WOOdley Lane, Ridge
and 7th street roads. While these repairs
were being made culverts were snlarged,
with a view to make the improvements as
permanent as possible within the limited
means at the disposal Of the engineer.
GRAVEL PITS.
sThe gravel pits at the head OF the main
sewer accomplish the purposes for which
they were intended. Five thousand twohun-
moved from these pits the past year. The
amount will be greatly decreased when the
improvements suggested areaccOmplished.
SEwER-TRAPs.
There are in this city and Georgetown SIG
corporation traps, 132 Chase traps. 323 Glea-
son traps, wooden traps, Al shoots and s3s
drops, making total of 2, 2,459. There are en-
plOyed on the work of keeping these in order
asub-cverseer, four urtrappers and three horses,
carts, and drivers, the traps are cleaned four
times per annum, at q cost OF 43 cents per
trap. II is recommended that this force be
increased by The addition OF two trappers and
TWO horses, carts, and drivers, SO that the
traps can be cleaned seven times per year.
SEWERS.
The sewer cleaners have been employed i'm
cleaning brick and pipe sewers and gravel
PITS The siX-inch pipe has in many cases
been used in connecting the traps with the
sewers, which is found to be too small, as it
is easily obstrueted. Twelve-inch pipe has
been substituted. The brick and Pipe Sc wers
In the District are in good condition with few
exceptions. Overflow is generally attributed
70 the incapacity of a number of small pipe
Sewers laid By the board Of public works
The only remedy for this difficulty is the
laying OF q number of auxiliary sewers. To
accomplish this will require quite a large
outlay. Attention is called to the large num-
Der OF cast-iron manhole covers that have
been stolen during the year. The junk shops
and iron foundries have been searched but
none have been recovered. II is recommended
that lock be attached TO each, which can be
done al small expense.
CLEANING ALLEYS.
The alleys are now LEANED at a much less
paved with cobble stones are constantly in
need of repairs. 1t is suggested that here
after all alleys which are improved be con-
creted. Machinery can be procured for this
purpose at a small outlay, and all necessary
repairs on streets and avenues paved with
concrete can be made at a moderate cost.
CLEANING STREETS AND AVENUES.
This work has been done in a satisfactory
manner. The present contractor has been at
work for the past seven months and the
amount saved in this time, compared with
streets and avenues should be cleaned twice
week: Pennsylvania avenue, from 1st to
18th street; 18th street from Pennsylvania to
New York avenue; street north and south,
from 1st east to 1St west; Ist east and west,
from north 10 B south; B north, from 7th
TO 18th; +, from 5th TO 18th; q street, from
New Jersey avenue TO 10Th street; 9th. from
Il north to NJ; 1th, from Il north to q, and
Bridge, from Rock Creek To Market street,
Georgetown. All other paved streets should
be cleaned once week. Under the present
system the majority of the streets and ave-
nues are cleaned once a month, and the resi-
dents thereon complain hatthey are slighted,
and they certainly have just cause for COM
plaint. A number of arrests have been made
lnot by the pOlice) OF parties sweeping rub
bish into the streets from their stores. Under
existing laws they are allowed twenty-four
hours to remove such rubbish. This should
be changed.
CITY RAILROADS.
IL is justly TO be deplOred that the city rail
road companies persist in repaving between
their road tracks with cObble stones and
other irregular stones, as the appearance OF
the streets are greatly marred thereby.
WOOD PAyEHENTS.
Very few repairs have been made upon
wood pavements the past year, and these
only when found absolutely necessary to pre-
vent accidents. IL is recommended that
hereafter all repairs be made by filling the
holes with gravel, as the blocks are in such a
state of decay that IL would be useless TO re-
pair with the same material.
OBsTRUCTED STREETS.
Attention is called to the great nuisance
caused by the obstruction of streets by the
wagons of dealers, in the vicinity of the
market houses; especially the 9TH and 9Th
streets, between II north and Pennsylvania
avenue. These two thoroughfares are in con-
slant use. and at times ON market days il is
Impossible for carriages TO pass. The car
riage way of Il street north, between 7th and
12th streets, was made of an extraordinary
width, Tor the purpose OF parking wagons
thereon. 1t is recommended that some
measure be aiken TO enforce the rule and keep
these streets clean.
CHAIN GANG.
This gang has been advantageously used in
grading and graveling streets, cleaning gut
tiers. and digging tree-hOles. The average
number worked is 75, with six overseers, and
from II TO 20 carts. The labOrers are i'm
prisOned for petty offences, and much prefer
working TO being confined in Jail or work
house. They work as well as paid hands,
and very few have escaped. The amount
saved TO the District, rating them at the same
wages paid TO laborers, is SIC, 1852.
~
HOUSE R0BBERIES.-The residence of Mrs
Sarah II. Brown, near LeDroit Park was en-
tered by thieves Thursday night. and about
$50 0wOrth Of clothing was stolen Yesterday "
morning the residence of DIR. Lincoln 1899 +
street, was entered by thieves and about $500
worth Of jewelry stolen. Two men called at
the house TO see the doctor, and left before he
appeared, and afterward the robbery was dis
covered The store Of Phillip j. Buckley,
grocer, corner of Sd end streets northwest.
was entered Thursday night by thieves and
robbed. The entrance was effected through q
back window, and although a light was burn
ing IN the store, exposed to view from the
street, the store showed evidence OF having
been pretty thoroughly investigated The
contents OF the money drawer were taken:
also, a quanty of whisky cigars, and tobacco.
DIVORCE AND MARRIAGE.-Yesterday in
The Equity Court, Judge Wylie made a de-
cree divorcing Fernando C.. Griffin from the
bonds OF matrimOny with Ellen Griffin. The
parties were married i'm August. 1872 in San
Francisco, Cal, and the plaintiff has resided
in this city since September, 1874. They lived
together until August, 1873, when defendant
deserted plaintiff and opened a house of Ill
repute in San Jose, Cal, and afterwards in
San Francisco, and still is engaged in that
occupation. The court granted a decree OF
divorce. NJ. Thompson for plaintiff. Within
half an hour after the decree was signed a
marriage license was issued in the name OF
complainant and Mrs. Mcdowell.