Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04
District Government affairs.

DiStI1Ct government AIkduFSs
Major De We're Burr, formerly connected with
the Levy Court OF this District and supervisor
OF county roads, had a hearing to-day with
District commissioner Dent In relation to coun-
ty road matters, advocating change Of the
present system, and looking to more economi-
cal and better condition of the roads.
The total number OF drawback certificates
Issued by MI Roo cerk in charge Of
to-day was $3.50, aggregating in amount
$223, ,291.10.
Mr.. R. NJ. Reynolds, First Auditor of the
Treasury department, has requested the Dis
trict Commissioners to send him an abstract Of
disbursements and vouchers covering the ex-
peDditures made on account Of the sealer of
weights and measures Of the District during
April.
HoLMEAD CEMETERY.
An act was passed by the last Congress- ap-
proved March 3, 1879, to protect Holmead Gem
port Of this act is, that all right and title OF the
United States to square No. 109. lying between
Goth and 21st and and Boundary streets, known
as II Hoimead,s o. Cemetery, be vested in the Dis.
alone; authorizing the Commissioners or their
successors In office, to sell at any time any part
or the whole OF said square, the proceeds to be
schools and erection of school buildings. The
last clause Of the act states that, sbefore MAX
ing any disposition Of the square, the District
ing inferred therein to some suitable burial
ground, together with all tomb stones or other
monuments remaining at the graves from which
the bodies are so removed"
IBasmuch as the act appropriates no money
for defray1ng the cost OF such disinterment and
removal, the Commissioners can do nothing In
the premises for utilizing this property: Sew
parties for the job Of removal: one from a repre-
sentative Of private cemetery In this District,
Offering to remove the first 200 bodies In new
cases and renter, for S2;50O, and for each ad-
t1onal body $3.50. The records Of the cemetery
show that there have been upwards of 1900
burials there since 1912, there being no records
bodies have been removed from time to time,
but there are yet several Thousand In the burial
ground. The probability is that the matter
WIN have to rest until the necessary legislation
IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROAD TO THE FAIR
GROUNDS.
A petition from the National Fair Association
ard property holders On the line OF Boundary
street and the Brentwood road has been laid
BEFORE the District commissioners. asking the
inproyemhnt Of the highway leading to the
grounds. After consideration Of the subject
the Commissioners decided to grant the request.
and have ordered that Boundary street be i'm
proved from the terminus Of New York avenue
to the Brentwood road; the latter road:to be in
creased to twice its present width as far as the
fair grounds, at cost not to exceed $1,000.
TOO MANY WITNESSES.
Yesterday Auditor VinSOn addressed note
to the District Commissioners, in which he
called their attention to the large number of
witnesses summoned, and charged for, by the
trict In several cases OF felony coming before
that court, simply for preliminary examination;
in some cases reaching as high as twenty-one
witnesses. The auditor states that In his Op1n-
ion these charges Of witnesses in cases of felony
should be made against the United States In
lieu Of the District, and asks that the matter be
referred to the attorney for the District for his
opinion: The paper was referred by the Com
mfssioners to Judge Smell for verihcation as
to the number OF witnesses. Yesterday, Judge
whose duty it Is to make these charges, calling
his attention to what appeared an unnecessary
number OF witnesses, and instructed him to be
more particular In his discrimination as to the
number; also instructtng him that in no case
where witnesses are not regularly summoned
by the United States Marshal can they be enti.
tied to compensation, and then only through
the U. 8. Marshals' office. The opinion OF the
attorney has not yet been obtained.
THE ASPHALT WORKS INSPECTED.
Health Onlcer TOwDShend made visit yes
terday to the several asphaltum works on the
line of street, with the purpose Of instttating
process against the proprtetors, If found to be
the Crawford Hoffman works, at 18th and B
streets, he found these contractors for street
paving making use of The refined liquid asphalt
Mr.. Warren, near the washington Gas Com.
yany's works. This is kept heated for mixing
purposes, but emits scarcely any odor: At the
company, corner of 18th and B streets, he
found them closed up, as he has no further
need Of them at present. Mr.. Davies promises
again he will attach such condensers and other
approved appliances as the health ofI1cer may
designate, In order to prevent unpleasant
odors from escaping.
POLICE CONFERENCE.
This morning, Major Morgan neld q lengthy
conference with the lieutenants OF the several
police precincts, in relation to police matters
to gambling and other disreputable houses and
their suppression; violations Of the Sunday
laws and the increase OF misdemeRnors IN the
MI al Ffa nf N MIR M TN
orders have as yet been made growing out OF
the conference, but 1t was decided by the
major to increase the mounted force In the