Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-05
District Government Affairs.

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The attention Of the District Commissioners
has been called TO hole in the P-Street bridge
over Rock creek, large enough 10 take in a
The coroner's report for the month of October
ISIS, shows that he has investigated the causes
OF death in So cases.
TIE REPORT OF WATER REGISTRAR cox
to the District Commissioners, covering period
from November l, 1877, TO June so, 1873, inclu-
sfve, shows les miles OF water main laid. about
21e miles OF which was laid from November /.
1871, to June 80, 1878. There are in the District
19S flreplugS, nearly all OF them the McClellaad
patent; have been erected since November l.
1871. There have been 25 large stop-vaiyeS and
boxes inserted in the same time. There are in
use IN the District 2ss hydrants, II of which
have been erected since November /. During
the same time s96 taps have been made, 639 ser
vices turned of for nOn-payment and for leaks
There are 42s pumps in use, OF which Were
erected between November aud June so; 6l9
repairs have also been made to pumps. The
amount OF money collected by the collector of
taxes for the water department from December
is. 1917, TO June 30, ISIS, was $50. 1905 The
expenses Of the department from November l.
1871, TO June 80, 1875, have been S62. .624 22 The
amount OF outstanding water tax on interest
June 80, le.e, was SIP, 1881. The amount OF
water main tax collected in the same time
advertised, $6,si2.25; unadyertiSed, Sll,1,325
He says: When took charge OF the Office De-
cemeer is, 1871, found want or system in ito
management ana an unnecessarily large num-
Der or employees. The number of inspectors has
been reduced from - 10 Il. one of whom is de-
tailed for clerical duty, thereby saving a large
yearly expense TO the District government,
The District has been laid off into ten sIh-
districts, and each inspector is furnished with a
badge. showing that he is an authorized agent
OF the department.: Il section of the man of The
District showing where the water mains tirp
plugs, hydrantS, stop-c0ckS and pumps ar,
iocated also printed rules for his guidance and
printed extracts from The laws reiatfn,r IN thp
water department, which enables him TO furnish
the water takers with alt information on the
supIec, Oh water 4 complaint book has been
opened, III which all matter relating Ia service
plles, waste OF water, &c. are noted. making a
complete record OF the daily operations of the
o1fce. This book proves a valuable addition To
TIE elllcleney of the office, and will show that
pmltieS are never more than Is hours behhind I'm
comply ing with the notices served uDOn them
by the inspectors. There was a large amount
oi water rent in arrears, running back in
many instances for three wears. all ni
Which has been collected. At the present date
the rents are all paid up. Ii will be Oh
served that large portion OF the water main
tax has been due long since, and the property
Nhlch IS subject to assessment has been sold
lor taxes. In every instance the District has
been the purchaser The interest uDOn the tax
IS so extremely low that many who are abuR-
levied, prefer to let the tax rest upon
their property and TO use their fund
Tor other purposes, and in many cases il is only
when a sale Of property is made and purchasers
require the lien OF the tax 10 be removed. thai
Tie water department is able 10 collect this tax
As the water mains, when laid. must be paid for
in cash out of the fund of the water department.
1t VIII be readily seen that If their cost is To be
considered perpetual loan to The tay-payerS
IL is only question OF time when the water de-
partment VIII cease to have FUNDS 10 lay mains
IL Is Tor the commissioners to apply the remedy
If one can be found, 10 this defect: but would
suggest that when property has been sold and
the time OF redemption has expired. steps be
taken to have deed issued TO the Commission
elS in trust for the water department. would
respectfully recommend that you apply ID Con-
STess for authority 10 make such regulations
for Tie charge of water rents as will be more
equitable than the existing law. For Instance
under the present law, parties whose houses
have the same frontage are charged the same
for water for domestic purposes although one
OF the hotses may be only one room deep and
nave only o9e water Splggot, While the Others
may be OF the depth OF the lot and have any
number Of water fixtures. also recommend
that l2-inch main be laid on Ist street. be
tween Massachusetts avenue and PENNSYLVANIA
avenue northwest, which eau he done at an eS-
limated cost OF S5,255. II this is done the 36inch
main will be disconnected from the 3o-inch main
and the former used for the high service and
the latter for the low service. The layiar of
this pipe VIII greatly benefit the water
takers on capitol Hill, for al present the water
runs down from Capitol hin 10 supply The low
GROUNDS al the loot Of the hill. / would ftri her
recommend that a l2-iGcn main be laid To con-
meet capitol Hill with tie stand pipe which
can be done at an estimated cost OF S23- 70
ft,@o fett OF pipe being required. This expense
as also the cost OF laying the main on ist street
Congress would be willing TO appropriate.
money for no doubt. if asked TO do So as thc
Capitol buildings and grounds will be greatly
benefited. Section 1876 OF the revised statutes
relating TO the District OF Columbia, provides
that the water rates levied in Washington and
Geol lgetoWn shall never be a source of revenue
otnef than as means OF Keeping up To said
cities supply OF water, but shall constitute a
1und exclusively for the maintenance and ne
pair of the system of water distribution" I
contend that, under the law, public school
houses market houses, and all other property
owned by the District, in the front of which
water mains are laid. the tax on the same for
laying the mains should be credited 10
the water fund and charged against the
fund for the maintenance OF said in
stltutlon The institution should also pay
regular yearly water rent, which should like
wise he charged and credited in a similar man
ner." On the subject OF waste of water by the
departments OF the United States, he saws:
gallons OF water supplied daily to the cities of
washington and Georgetown, one-half of which
Is sconSumed by the United states. If the coy
elmment departments can be induced to cease
wasting the water there will be less complaint
OF the want ef water by water takers on the
hiSH grounds. II Congress does not
take some action 10 correct this evil an addi
tIonal large main will have TO be laid from the
distributing reservoir above Georgetown to ac-
commodate the water takers or the District
which VIII cost about $500. .00a If Congress will
pas pass a law recurring meters to be attached TO
me departments and fix the amount of water
lhat each department shall be allowed to use il
may correct the evil. In conclusion 7 tate
pitaoule III say ing that the present force EN-
ployed In the water department are men OF in
telllgence and industry, and that whatever stIr
cess may have attained in the administration
ol the Office Is greatly due to their efforts.
THE REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PROP
ERTY.
covering from November /, 1877. TO June 20.
1875, has been submitted TO tie District Com
nlsSlenelS. showing total TO be accounted for
$l43:9s4 80; amount issued, Sl0l,14345: balance
remaining on hand, 1924. .45 A large amount
OK the construction material issued has been
iufhisfied property owners on permit work and
ISSUED IRON the amount on hand at the property
SaluS, with the exception OF certain sizes or
sewer pipe which the District were out OF and
had TO be purchased.
BUILDING PERMITS
issued Dy inspector EntwSle: Isaiah SchienIey
repair brick 929 . ST. NV; $l00. Bernard
liler. construct a private stable on H. between
l2th and 18th sts. ne; $500. Mrs. Mary C0ombs
repair frame llO9 sth Sf. n.w.; $i06. j. d. Ma
lone, repair frame, 62 q ST.; SI5. VIM. Prince
repair frame, 1909 ST. NV: $50 Trustees of
ST. JOseph's Hail. remodel brick buiIdjng 81
Joseph's Hail. 5th St, between and X sts n.
W.; $a5.
COlIiery Fire.
POTrSylILE, Pa, Nov. 5-The Hickory Ridge
rolliery, owned by the Mineral Railroad and
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