Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-10
District Government Affairs.

A delegation of citizens and property hold
eTs OF. Capitol Hill and the eastern portion OF
II. Z. Paine. eX-RepreSentatiVe W. s. Lincoln.
eXGOVtrnOr Lowe, Captain A. Grant, j. c.
Dultn, E 5. Fredericks, Rev. Dr.. Cole, Df. c.
G. Cox and others, called upon the Dis rict
Commissioners this morning to represent the
wants OF the people in that section in the way
of street repairs, and improvements. This
South \ street, July SLh, at which Senator
Cragin. General Payne and Hon. W. ). Lin
coin were appointed committee TO present a
petition and lay before the District Commits
SiOGtrS The necessities Of that section. S.na-
tor Cragin was the spokesman, and proceeded
70 read the memorial, setting forth that one
property on and east Of Capitol Hill: that not
above one million of dollars had been eXp6nd-
eG III that section since lSIl. out of the thirty
millions expended in improvements in the
city; that such Improvements as had been
made are now utterly worthless and need
Oyerhauling. They ask that a fair share OF
the money about to be expended, be spent on
East Capt0l street and the streets adjacent
thereto. East Capitol street, once a popular
thOrOughfare is now deserted BY the pubic
by reason OF the rotten wood pavement. IT. ~
think that a irSt-ClaS5 concrete. payer ,enf
should be substituted for it, al the way from
the Capitol to Lincoln Park at least. senator
Cragin said he could bear witness Personally
TO the condition OF this street; and Il the name
OF the citizens and property holders he asked
that justice be done them.
Major Twining stated that tie Commission
e. had the matter OF street repairs on Capitol
Hill now under consideration, and that they
would endeayoT 10 do justice in the premises
ID. Cox, i'll connection with this mission, pre-
Sented the matter OF Inadequate water supply
Tor Capitol Hill, and gave some interesting
facts i'll relation to this subject Among the
many wants OF the people, he thought this one
oil water paramount to all Others. as without it
good sanitary condition. was impossible.
Commission Phelps, i'll answer to DR.. Cox
stated that the measures already adopted are
now being put into OperatiOn-viZ, the stand
pipe north OF the city, when completed, would
i've The people OF Capitol Hill al the water
DIR. Looms suggested to the Commissioners
that II II be determined by tie executive au-
thoTltIeS that 10 expenditures could De made
on the streets named that they remove the old
rotten blocks, which would in { small degree
afford relief.
MI. j. c. Duin spoke of the great necessity
Of something being done for Virginia avenue
from South Capitol street tn the hayward
gate. This street had been graded and LETT in
that rough and unfinished state, ard small
expenditure to gravel il, lay sidewalks, gas
mains aud lamps. would not he too much to
ask Oh the part OF the taxpayers. Captain 4.
Grant spoke OF the great injustice which had
been done TO the taxpayers. Property in that
The property adjacent 70 Lincoln Park and
his own property on East CapitOI street and
other streets, had been assessed for a far
greater ydiue than il was worth. His houses
mad been assessed at &-N,UJ0 each before thew
were half way built, and no abatement had
ever been allowed him.
t.F1
il lie Lad ever asked fOf revision OF assess
lnent or i correction Of valuation, and said the
opportunity was now afforded him ard Others
iof dong 50, as the assessors are now sitting
as q board OF appeal.
Some further conversation upon the c0ndi-
ton Oi streets was carried on il an informal
way. the Commissioners promising t. do tie
BEST they could Under the circumstances.
LIEUT.. HOME
The Commissioners to day sent formal re-
guest 20 ne PRESIDENT asking that Lieutenant
Richard l.. HOXie, corps OF engineers, U.SA
be directed TO report to the Engineer Commits
,luner OF the District as one Of the assistants
provided for III the act of June 18th, 1873, pro
viding a permanent form OF gOyernyu enr for
The District OF Columbia. This request will
II IS hoped, be granted. Lieut. HOyie was first
dominated by President Grant and confirmed
by the senate TO NIL the vacancy IN the late
narn OF puoilc WORKS caused by the SuSpen-
sion ~ Mr.. Adolf CIuSs Mr. H0Xie never took
the oath OF OiCe as d mem Der Of that board il
haYlAg Decn iegislated out OF existence the
day alter his confirmation. Upon the passage
OF the &C; providing Tor a temporary form 0f
government, which provided that all officer of
the engineer corps should be detailed to take
charge OF all Work OF repairs and improve
mentS OF the streets, avenues alleys, sewers
bridges, roads, &c. subject TO the general Sill
peIViSi0h and direction Ui the Commissioners
together with other duties, Lieutenant HOWE
was detailed by President Grant to fill this
poSltl0n-and he accordingly assumed charge Of
the 0Ihce july I, 1874. ana has filed the place
most acceptabiy to the public up 10 the present
time During the administration Of the affairs
OF the engineers Office of the District improve
mehtS upon streets, avenues, alleys, sewers
&c, have been made To the extent Of ! .5gissi
besides the usual general repairs Witch ag-
gTeGate altogether III the cities ,,ud county Ia
S2'tuV m9rt,a Ill vi which work has been under
his control. one OF the first duties imposed
upon him upon his taking Office WAS 4 rigiG
examination OF ali contracts made by he board
ol pUOhc WORKS, existing al that time and the
plans adopted by that board for The jmproyc-
ment of streets. AS a result OF his IA Bon the
grades Of Il large number vi streets on CAPITOL
till were reduced very materially, whereby
the beauty OF that section was Acknowledged
% have been enhanced, and besides saving 10
he District about Il quarter of million Of
dollars, which was expended more dGVduta-
geOusly i'll extending Improvements Besides
IhlS, me property aDuttIng upon these Streets
was not left upon high bluffs and the District
treasury was not subject 10 the diStaStefuI
ordeal of repeliing claims for damages on ac-
count Of public Improvements. The DIan
adopted by the board for the Improvement OF
large number Of streets was materially
mOdlned at his suggestion wood pavement
was discarded entirely, and asphaltum, Nc.
Adam and gravel carriagewayS We're sub
stltuted; and the results show the wisdom Of
these changes. and are conceded by the tax
payers interested. Upon the organization of
the board OF audit in July 1874, multitude of
claims for WORK done under the board OF pu b.
We're referred 10 the engineer for report as to
their validity With the recoras OF the board
az MS disposal, he was enabled to go into the
real merits OF each claim IL q most exhaustive
tected the interests Of the tax payers by put
ting his foot down upon many little .'bOIan
Zds, 10 the discomfort Of a horde OF hungry
contractors and spectators in claims The
extent OF this class OF claims can scarcely Ot
conceived or credited. During the past four
years very delicate and intricate Questions
nave arisen between the Commissioners and
taxpayers, which have generally been satisfac-
tQrly aG iuSted adjusted through his officers
HIS quick dIScernment between the rights OF
The pubic and individuals has on MANY Occa
slOhS been acknowledged by the C0mmIs-
slOners. With his past experience ne viii
prove most valuable assistant to Major
l~Nlng, the engineer commissioner.
LIEUT.. HOXIE's EMPLOYEES
The District Commissioners today sent To
Lieut. HOXie roster of employers RECON-
nicnded by the engineer with their APPROVAL
OF H. TINS roster names the old and Thoroughly
competent chief clerk Mir. j. &. Rock. com
putting engineer Il. Oertley: Jewellers T W
Jayc0x, j. +: Alexander, and ID. T. McC0mO;
Todman, r. X. SOmers; aXeman l.. J. Maur0:
draughtsman, w. T. .. Bruff; inspectors w
r. Wallace, Z. nj. Wilcox. j. NJ Hickey: over.
SeerS, Z. L. Curtis, w. l.. Kinds, r. HARPER. $
ID. Charles; clerks, Frank StitSOn and A. Y.
Lakeman messenger, George Tancil: driver
George Lee; superintendent OF permits v r.
Morgan sewer Taper, w. II. Simpson super
lnteEdSnt of repairs, L. NJ. Chaplin; clerk NJ
L. Reldeu: Superin|eQ0eltS r. X SbakeU