Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-12
District Government Affairs.

THE TAX BILL OF THE b. & O. RAILROAD
Keyser. vice-president Of the B. i o. Railroad
company, was before the House District COM
mfttee yesterday in relation to making some
basis for the settlement of the taxes due from
that railroad company TO the District. 1t was
hnalIy settled that the Commissioners are TO
meet Mr.. keyser and the whole case be dis
cuSsed with the view to compromise OF the
lndeotedness OF that road and to report 10 the
District committee.
MORE LIGHT
Assistant District Engineer Greene has had
street lamps erected as follows: one on the
southwest corner OF 9th and q SITS. Sc; one in
front of the city Post 0fice, on Louisiana ave-,
between 9th and 1th Sis. NV: one on f, be-
tween 22d and 23d Sts. n.w.; six on 1St, between
X and t StS. NV; four on c, between II and
10th SITS. s.w.; one In Kingman place. between
pennsylvania ave. and 18th and 14th StS.; tw)
on l, between 10th and nth sts NV; one on L,
between 18th and 10th sts. NV; two on X, be-
tween North Capitol and Ith SITS. W.; two OF
Rhode Island ave-, between Connecticut ave-
ana l6th 81. NV; one on west side OF 10th, be-
tween II and StS. The 80 lamps ordered to be
placed in the different alleys In this city viii
soon be in readiness for lighting.
SEWER WORK.
Dr. L. Nj. Chapin, in charge of the repairs OF
alleys and sewers, has recently been engaged IN
repairing the Sth-street barrel sewer running
from Grant avenue in the county to r street.
Several natural water courses and springs in
the county communicate with this sewer max
Ing constant running stream passing through
1t, which in times of freshet swellS to nearly
the capacity of the sewer. This sewer was con-
structed under the board of public works and
is not above six years old. In his tour OF sewer
inspections he discovered that the invert Sec
ton 0wo-ring brick on edge for most of the
way from Grant avenue to X street had been
worn nearly away into the foundation, and that
it was in danger of being undermined by the
wash, showing c0ncluSively that brick is not
the best material for sewer inverts, where there
is much friction from stones and gravel
as Is the case here. His plan OF re-
pairs is to dam the flow OF water and
tide 1t over the sections to be taken up by means
OF plank fiume, then take up the remnants of
brick and make a solid concrete bottom. giving
it the necessary curve and lay down the best
haTd burned bricks on edge, and Ley them in
WITH iron wedges driven In the ends of each
layer, without the use OF mortar or cement,
making the bricks lay close together by the
'orce OF the iron keys. When one section is
completed, a new dam is made and the water
let into the section finished. so far he has laid
about 900 lineal feet OF new sewer invert. The
job is an exceedingly difficult one. as all mate
rials have to be inserted through the man holes
and all rubbish removed through the same. He
has used up over a ton of iron wedges in this
kind OF work. The rapid destruction to our
brick sewers from friction ought to lead to the
substitution OF some other and less indeStructa-
ble material for sewer inYeTtS than bricks.
VITAL STATISTICS
The mortality in the District reported at the
health office for the week ending February Z,
was IS, or at the rate OF 1856 per 1000 per an
mum. OF these % were white males 10 white
females, 90 coOred males and 90 colored females,
showing an annual death-rate OF 14.06 per 200
for the white and 42. Il for the colored popula-
ton. There were Is deaths from consumption,
from congestion OF the lungs, from pneumo-
mia, and each from heart disease and old age
SfXty-tWo deaths occurred in Washington, three
in Georgetown and five in the county. Births
reported, 79-white males, 10; white females 20;
colored males, 49, and cOlored females, 81, show
ing an annual birth-rate of 1919 per 1000 for
the White, and 1882 for the colored population.
Marriages reported, 23-white, Is; colored s.
BUILDING PERMITS
issued by Inspector Entwisle:-Bridget Burke.
construct two-stOry dwelling. H, between 9Th
struct six two-story dwelling, C, between 9th
and 10th streets s. W.; Sc. .092.