Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-18
District Government Affairs.

THE CHANNEL
The District Commissioners today addressed
a communication to Hon. A. s. Williams,
chairman Of the House committee on the
District OF Columbia, inviting the favor
abe consideration OF the, committee to
Esq, with accompanying papers re-
latings 10 an obstruction in the channel of
the Potomac river, known as the Virginia and
Congressional appropriation for the removal
of the same. The object of the Commissioners
is to besPeak, as far as proper, its influence in
obtaining the appropriation asked for.
STREET REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS
In compliance with Senate resolution of De-
cember 18th, 1S17, directing the District Com
missioners to make report TO the Senate
what streets and avenues in the District re-
HulTe repairs or other improvements; the
character OF the present pavement in each
ease; the original cost of each of said pave
ments, and how paid for; and what is the
character of repairs and Improvements pro-
posed in each case and the.estfmate cost there
OF, the Chief Engineer, to whom the resolution
was referred by the Commissioners, says:
" The streets and avenues requiring repairs
and Improvements are given in detail in ac-
campaigning schedules. The character of the
present pavement is given in each case as also
the original cost the streets are classified ac-
cOrding to the character of repair and i'm
prOvement proposed and the estimate of cost
given i'll each case. together with the aggregate
estimated expenditure in each class. The
original cost of the pavements proposed to be
replaced was paid by assessing ne-third to
owners of adjoining property and twOthirds
To the general fund, except in three instances,
which are noted, OF work done under the old
corporation government and assessed in full
against adjoining property. 1t is shown by
the schedule of wood pavements to be replaced
with pavementS of other material. that the
cost is estimated to be from $i2a ,39l.50 to
SSs4, ITO, depending upon quality and kind of
bltuminOuS pavement which is to be used l
am Of the opinion that only the best quality of
this class of payements should be put down.
The schedule of other improvements needed
IS arranged in the order of precedence which
l recommend for selection. 1t gives only a
probable cost of $iS5, 919.1 to $50, 250.7l, and
this amount would be well expended"
REPORT ON THE NEW wORKHOUSE.
MIR. Thomas b. EntWiSle, inspector of build
ings, has submitted to the District Commits
SIOEerS, at their request, report OF the his
tory and present condition of the new work
house. He says: - have examined the papers
and accounts and find no records in this office
OF an estimate as a basis for the amount
Sli,ON-apprOprated by Congress. Col. Lubey,
late commissioner of the Washington asylum,
in letter to the Commissioners of Dec. Is,
1876, states that the amount appropriated
lSli,Cn0) would not be sufficient, and suggests
that $4,000 be appropriated. The next paper
throwing light upon this subject is a circular
dated April ), 1877. inviting proposals for the
erection and completion of the new work
house. The bids were duly opened, and one
Thomas Williams was the lowest bidder, in
the sum of $l+.9S1 In a communication to the
commissioners April 10. 1877, Mr.. +. Nj. PlOw-
man, late inspector of buildings, recommends
that the work be given out i'm SEPARATE con,
tracts. as the lowest bid is in excess of the APP
this course the building could be erected
within the sum appropriated. This letter was
referred back with the question: by using
prison labor and by emitting cells. and with
pebble dash finish do you think that the jail
can be built for the sum of Sl20O0?" 1.-TWO
thousand dollars having been set apart for
taking down and removing material of old
Jail TO new site) To this question the inSpec-
tor makes rpply. have M hpSit9up
in saying that this building can be con
structed within the sum of $1,000" He
is i,.o then ordered to reject the bids and
Contracts We're entered into for the different
kinds of work and material, and in some cases
without any or but little competition, and in
beams, WAS awarded to MeSSrs. Smith. Birge
y Co, al a sum OF $5i2. although MeSSrS. Gray
4 Moves were the lowest bidders, 1T S50i.i2. 1t
was found necessary TO construct a Sub-cellar
under the north wing and center portion of
the building. This was done at an additional
cost OF S2,G;5.S1, and is yet to be finished. This
extra expense neceSStated reduction of the
Ol@Inal plan and the south wing was LETT off,
the foundations had been laid, some material
furnished and on hand. estimated by Mr..
floWmaH to be worth $3.50. The reduction
III cost, as set forth in the same statement is
S@,t9i.G, and contractors were notified that
lhelf respective contracts had been reduced in
the following sums: Thomas Lewis. for brick
work: Sl,IE..1S: White Eros, for iron work,
leaving on said wing and reducing the con
tract as above. balance of S254267 is shown
which MI. PloWman stated was ample. omit
ing the south wing. 10 complete the building.
10 make the building 50 that it can be OccIl-
ped Will now require an appropriation Of
10. This sum does moi suffice. to complete
the two parts now erected (nOrth wing and
center lOrtion) according to the plans. but
only 10 make them habitable for the winter.
i he cost TO complete the two parts | estimate
a s},lNo, including furnaces, etc. The cost of
finishing the south wing will be $3.50 The
tOta! sum for completing the two unfinished
portions and the south wing will be $3.50.
10 be faulty, and some extra expenses have
been incurred by recOnstructing several of the
hllck arches. | took charge of this office on
the lst day of October, 1877. All arches had
Deen put up, and one had been taken down
VI the commissioners. On the first daV of nv
! made an examination of the
building. found several cracks and some of
he arches had given away. caused by the span
being too great and the abutmentS not being
strong enough TO withstand the pressure. I
recommended in a letter dated December 10Th
10 take down three arches at once, and recon
>tluct them with an extra beam in each arch
the spans one half: january 10th, 1873,
again made a request to reconstruct five
more, and have proceeded by your orders to
10 so. The extra expense for these recon-
and such other as NAV be needed
n future on account OF faulty construction of
he work already done, is not included in the
above estimate"