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

included in the acts autF ,oriZing the revision.
I hese assessments were made for the full cost
Of the work done, anr. the Commissioners there
fore found IL necessary to make their revision
conform 10 the o. ganic act OF February 81 1871,
which, by the 37th section, limited assessments
for special improvements to One-third of the
ing certificates for this class Of assessments are
all held by third parties. and the payments on
account OF the one-third assessed are, to large
extent, made In draw backs.
DISTRICT CODE.
The Commissioners venture to request that
you Will urge upon the attention OF Congress
the imperative need existing for q civil and
municipal code OF law for the District of Col
umbia.
A municipal code was prepared and presented
10 the last Congress, but not acted upon. By.a
clause in the sundry civil bill. approved March
g. 1879, the Commissioners were directed to
cause a code of laws to be prepared, and the
sum OF $4,000 was appropriated therefor. This
work is completed, and will be presented to Con-
gress.
WATER RENTS
Under the authority of the act, approved June
10, 1879, the Commissioners established water
rates based chiefly ON valuation Of improve
taken as uniform charge for the Introduction
Of water, to be increased, where water-fxtures
existed inside OF buildings. In accordance with
their valuation considered as factor in compu-
ting the consumption Of water, which would
measurdbly depend upon size aud character of
establishment style OF living &c.
The purpose was to increase the revenue in
order to repay certain advances from the general
fund on account OF interest and sinking fund Of
the water bonds.
The reasons for the increase, and the views of
the commissioners In respect to the whole SUBJ
ject will be found fully set forth in letter ad-
t dressed to Water-takers, and in communica-
mittee for the District of Columbia, found in the
appendix to this report
The eject OF the new rates was to create much
dissatisfaction, which arose principally from the
no
water supply Is deficient. People naturally eX-
pect to receive full equivalent for their money.
The commissioners are without means to re-
are in no way responsible.
Appeal was made to the Supreme Court of the
District OF Columbia, which, while sustaining
ton of rates and the legality OF the mode
adopted, denied their power to put 1t into exc
cutfon before the commencement of the legal
water year, VIZ: January 1, 1850. In consequence
of this decision the commissioners refunded to
all who had paid the new rates, the difference
between the new and old rates, or credited 1t on
their water bills for the ensuing year, as was
preferred.
AS the Senate directed an examination into
the question OF water supply by the committee
on the District of Columbia, who have the mat
ter now under consideration, the commissioners
refrain for the present from further discussion
OF the subject.
RAILROAD STATIONS.
A bill directing us to report to Congress some
suitable location for union depot for all rail-
ways entering the District of Columbia passed
the House of Representatives at its last regular
session, but, although fayorably acted upon by
the District Committee Of the Senate, it was not
reported back to that body.
Washington is increasing rapidly in popula-
ton, and the Improvements now In progress are
generally of superior order. But large sections
of the city in the vicinity of the tracks and
stations of the Baltimore and Ohio and the Bal
umOre and Potomac Railway Companies do not
share in the development and prosperity else
anDarpOt. h2nnpDS these
tracks and stations are in the vicinity Of the
Capitol upon the north and south sides. The
Capitol grounds, the grounds of the Executive
Mansion. and those which connect them form
together magnificent part of 331 acres in the
heart OF the city; but occupied and severed as it
is by railway tracks and depot, it can never be
its enjoyment by the public are fatally marred.
This Is, we think, a grievance which should no
longer be tolerated.
Should it be found impracticable to lead all
tracks to one point, then site upon the north
side as near Boundary street as practicable, and
one on the r1ver-front on the south side, should
be now selected as permanent stations to which
of the city should lead.
Paris is an example of city where the rail-
way stations are found at the barriers; and
neither the travelling public nor the business
community of that great capital seem to suffer
from the exclusion Of railway tracks from its
streets.
Washington suffers now and will continue to
allowed to occupy their present depot sites and
to monopolize the streets leading thereto. Al.
though the capital Of the nation, 1t has no bust
ness except such as pertains to supplying the
commercial interests can be urged as a reason
for permitting railroads TO penetrate to its GEN.
ter and mar its growth and beauty. We again
earnestly invite the attention Of Congress to the
subject.
STREET RAILWAYS.
The commissioners also, in this connection,
n a6n tf,nrr
soon as may be, general and comprehensive
plan for the location of street railways, to which
existing companies should be required to con-
form In any extension OF their lines which may
become necessary for the public accommoda-
ton. This is desirable in order to avoid the
multiplication OF such corporations and the con-
sequent inconvenience which must result to the
public. as well as to prevent the unnecessary
occupation OF the streets by such roads.
POTOMAC RIVER FRONT
The condition OF the river frontage OF the city
demands the immediate and careful conSidera-
ton OF Congress, not only as a measure Of
health, but also with reference to the future
commercial interests OF the city. The gradual
accretionS on the flats have reached that point
when It is necessary that some decisive action
should be taken to abate what Is rapidly becom-
ing gigantic and intolerable nuisance. Three
plans have been proposed:
lSt. To defect the river around EaSby'S Point,
and as nearly as possible along the Washington
I'd. To divide the river into two channels, one
along the Washington, and the other along the
Virginia shore.
Sd. To retain but one channel along the Viz
ginia shore, and TO fill from the present city to
that line.
To the first Of these plans three objections
arise:
1st. The practical difficulty of forcing a river
subject to violent floods into the desired posi-
ton.
I'd. That large extent of malarlal marsh will
remain on the Virginia side, TO be perpetual
nuisance to the city.
Sd. From the curvature of the channel, the
deep water for long distance below EaSby's
Point will be upon the Virginia side and the
shoal water for that distance along the city
front, thus sacrificing what will, in time, be a
valuable wharfage
With reference to the harbor OF Washington
and the three plans aforementioned, the board
of survey ordered-by act OF Congress approved
March 8, 1872, reported as follows:
]. The So-called harbor Of Washington consists
OF merely an gniticant channel running along
the Potomac front, from the Arsenal Point for
merly known as GreenleafS Point, the upper
point at the junction OF the AnacoStia with the
Potomac), up TO the end OF the wharf at 18th
street, distance OF 1900 yards, with also a
small channel running along the Anacostta
front.
2. The Potomac channel has an average width
OF 400 feet up to Maryland avenue or Long bridge
between the depths, on either side OF feet at
mean low water, narrowing off the arsenal lower
wharf to $50 feet. The greatest depth at mean
low water, which can be carried UP through a
small gulley in the channel to the lower wharyes
at 9th street sw.. is II feet, and up to Maryland