Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-29

fOiub W tHe Long bTldg6 SNOuiQ Ut S6CuTtu ny u
footing of rough stone and rip-rar. The present
width has been taken at fifty feet for the pur-
pose Of forming driveway along the water
front.
The system of sewers emptyine at 18th street
should be carried out to deep water through an
open canal nine feet in depth with reverted
banks to prevent the lodgment of sewage at low
tide. The total area of lands ref laimed will be
about seven hundred and twenty acres, of which
one-third will be thrown into Il e public park
tngs.
aggregate about s. 100000.
PAYMENTS.
The distribut on Of the pavements Of the city
is as follows:
Wood. $751; $50 $50
Concrete and asphalt. ........... s35s7s s6.s
Rough stone and cobble. ...... 421 $40 2O.3
Gravel. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5s4,sss 2s.s
bePPe were STREETS eSav laid IN fbs ss
square yards Of wooden pavements. At the
close OF the present fiscal year there will remain
OF this about 100000 square yards. The re-
stone. The wood pavements are for the most
part impossible, and the first and most pres
sing need is that those remaining should be
ever, upon outlying streets, such as the north
ern part of 10th street, may be left for the pres
ent without injury to the general interests o.
the available funds Of the city for the next
three years.
During the past year there have been laid
yards Of stone block, isio SQUARE Yards maea
Gam, aud 1898 square yards of compressed as
phalt block pavements. Some changes have
ment which, so far as can now be determined,
promise good results.
The older coaltar, or, as they are generally
called, concrete pavement, vary greatly in their
condition. They were as a general rule, eX-
detrimental in their composition, being laid I'M
der number Of different patents. Those laid at
latter date are for the most part in good order.
This is especially true of the composite pave
ments containing asphalt and coal-tar. Some Of
these have proved most excellent and durable
roadways, having been down four years, with lit
tie or no repairs.
In their last report the Commissioners recon-
mended that a sufficient sum to entirely relay
the impossible payementS of the city should be
provided at once by direct appropriation or
otherwise. This recommendation did not meet
the approval of Congress. and it simply remains
to accomplish the work as the surplus revenues
of the District will permit. Under these circum-
stances people residing upon streets paved with
wood will be, in many cases, compelled to en-
dure them for the next two years OF more.
SEWERS.
Appropriations We're made at the last session
of Congress to begin the construction Of the in
tercepting sewers designed to relieve the low
grounds along the Avenue and street.
The greater part of the heavy work on the
New York avenue sewer and outlet has been
done, and an estimate is presented for its COM
pletion, and also for completing and securing
the canal at the outlet to the deep water OF the
sewer has been delayed by the failure of the first
contractors. 1t has since been let to another
contractor, and the work is progressing in
satisfactory manner.
SURVEY OF THE DISTRICT.
An estimate is presented for beginning de-
tailed survey OF the District with reference to
the future extension of certain avenues beyond
the present city limits. 1t is found that with
10 frrNy Nf 10 " 10 he
being laid out without In any conforming to the
grand central plan. 1t is thought that map
of the District should be prepared after the nee
essary detailed surveys shall have been COM
pleted upon which the extensions of the various
avenues may be presented, which, after receiv-
ing the approval Of Congress, will become the
guiding lines for future additions to the city.
The Commissioners recommend the condenl-
nation of the only remaining toll-road in the
District through Tennallytown to the District
line.
CoRoNER's JuR1Es.
The small sum appropriated by the last Con-
greSs to pay coroner'S 1urieS being insufficient
to pay an such claims, the Commissioners
mend that coroner's jury shall consist Of six
persons, who shall serve without pay.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The cost Of conducting the public schools In
June, 1879, notwithsta nding the large Increase
of pupils as shown by the report of the board Of
trustees hereto appended, was 1865, 591. &c. being
less than for the preceding year, fact highly
creditable to the management OF the trustees,
who, with unrequfted and self-Sacrifcfng zeal,
devote themselves TO this fmpo tant work. The
number of pupils enrolled for the same year is
25, 100, making the expense, per captt3, for edu-
cation in the District of Columbia, $1455, or
less, 1t Is believed, than in most large cities in
the United States.
if we did not again. call attention to the great
need fOr additional school buildings and to the
entire inadeGuacy Of the means at our disposal
to supply this important wart. More than one
third of the school rooms now in use are rented.
and these rented rooms, involving an annual
expense of over $4,000 are, as rule, UNFIT 10"
the purpose in respect both to health and con-
Ven1ence. We, therefore, approve the SuggeS-
lions contained in the report OF the trustees that
the school fund of s70.63O.49, now invested in
1865 District OF Columbia bonds, be devoted to
the erection Of additional school houses, and
that the lots in square numbered 446, purchased
by the District for a market, be utilized in the
same way. These lots, since the erection by
private enterprise OF spacious market house
on square numbered sis, are not required for
the purpose intended, and the Commissioners
are of the opinion that the fund and lots named
could be most economically and beneficially
used to supply, in part the urgent need Of adj
ditional school buildings. The erection OF the
two school houses authorized by the sundry
civil appropriation act of March 3, 1879, and now
in progress. has been retarded by the failure of
the contractor; but 1t is hoped they will be COM
pleted and ready for use before the beginning
OF another school year.
We invite special attention to the report of
the Commissioner Of the Washington Asylum.
While the number OF its inmates has consider
bly, increased during the last fiscal year, there
has been no material increase Of expense, and
its sanitary and moral condition has greatly I'M
proved.
The centre and north wing of the new Work
house have since our last report, been completed
at a cost OF $22, 572.O6, and the male inmates
heretofore accommodated in the AlmS-houSe
have been removed to the new building and to
this extent the evil and injustice OF compelling
the honest poor to live in daily contact with
criminals have been abated. But the female
convicts are, Of necessity, still living under the
same roof with this unfortunate but unoffend-
ing class of public beneflciaries. We, therefore,
again recommend the early and complete abate-
ment of the wrong by the erection OF the south
wing OF the Work-house for the accommodation
Of female offenders. The cost OF this addition,
the foundations of which are already prepared.
the Commissioner OF the Asylum estimates at
$4,000.
He also again recommends that the grounds
heretofore used for naval and army magazine
which adJoins the lands Of the asylum be added
to the latter. The Secretaries of War and Navy
have officially signified their assent to this use
OF the magazine grounds, and the consent Of
Congress is all that is required to consummate
measure OF great value both to the United
States and the District of Columbia. The hujld.