Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-16

over this new portion SHOWS now the improve
nent ts appreciated.
The health officers report for the week end
ing September II. SHOWS 40 nuiSanceS aOaLed
cases of disease referred 10 coroner e. burlals at
public expense, -: Investigations for local
cause Of death. 8; tons OF garbage removed 59S;
dead animals removed, los; and the usual in
spections OF marine products and condemna-
tons Of uDHhoieSome food.
An order has been issued TO the engineer de-
rertment frr the repair OF the NJ street bridge
The contractor has notified the Commissioners
that the iron castings and material are await
trg inspection before beinS shipped. As before
stated. the Pittsblrc bridge company is to do
the work. Mr.. d. McComb or the engineer
department. has been ordered to Pittsburg to
inspect The material.
District auditor and Controller John T. VIM
son submitted to the Commissioners to-day
estimates Of the expenses OF bis Office for the
fiscal year ending June Goth, 1882 showing that
Tor salaries and contingent expenses ST. 500 is
GeeOe0. The estimate is for the same as for the
fiscal year ending June 30th. ISL. EXCEPT for
contingent expenses, which Is reduced tWo
hundred dollars.
OLD MUNICIPAL RECORDS
District Secretary TIriall submitted his an
nuai report to the commissioners today, with
copies OF orders passed by the board during
the fiscal year ended June so. 1889. tie states
that on the first OF October last rue old record
DIVISION was temporarily PLACID under his ST.
pervisiOn, and so continued Frequent de-
maEGs for information. which could olly be OBJ
TaiDed from the Old miscellaneous records OF the
municipal corporations in the District prGcod-
H.,
cided tie Commissioners to cause the ,e records
e be arranged and inGeXed In such manner that
reference could De had 70 any data there
10 Dc sired. In pursuance OF tais purpose work
Mas commenced by clerk aSSlghCi 10 TIA
duty IN June. ISIS and continued under very
small and constantly varying force until the
first Of last June the employment OF a
force adequate TO an early comp!etion vas
preciuded by the necessity Of employing
ali available means, Tot required for curTanE
matters, upon the urgent duty OF revising the
special assessments and other duties connected
there"1th, to which 1t has been found necessary
to direct temporarily, even the special provl-
sion for the division. The accommodations for
labor of such diversity and magnitude nave
tet insufficient for an advantageous arrange
ment or the records and OF the duties of those
engaged In them. Notwithstanding these dis
advantages. the results thus far obtained are
credttab,e 10 the clerks employed upon the
WORK; but, for the reasons stated considerably
cut OF proportion 10 the end proposed IN the
establish ment OF the division. He estimates
under the supervision of q. CHEF, who shall
give bis entire attention to this duty, more
tban year to collect, arrange and index
these record IN a satisfactory manner.
The force now specifically provided for this
division comprises two good clerks. with Sill-
fies or Sl,2oG ard $500 respectively, both OF
whom are ROW Temporarily detailed to duty in
other branches OF the District government. If
ii be the intention OF the Commissioners TO com
pete the work, he suggests that the three
regular clerks now engaged upon the revision
this division, with necessary part OF the room
they occupy when their services shall no longer
Oe required upon special assessments.
HEALTH OFFICE ESTIMATES. ETC.
Health Oincer Townshend sent to the Com
nisSloLers this morning note, stating that
owing to delay caused in waiting for Official
figures or population from the Census bureau
and In consequence OF the mass OF taouldr
EXHIBITS on the subject Of vital statistics to be
compiled and compared, he finds himself un-
able TO present statement IN detail showing
operations OF his Office for past year at this
tirne. The estimates of appropriation required
to conduct the sanitary service secure a fuU
and correct record of vita, statistics, &C.. Is
appended as follows: Salary OF health officer,
SJ,0JO: SIX sanitary inspectors. at 81 300 81 200;
two food inspectors, 81 200. 81 400: for clerks,
$1,000; pound master. 81 800; messenger 5000
ana contingent expenses. including books, sta.
toIery. fuel. rent, diSinfectants. &c, 8. soc
making a total OF SOS, 300 He invites the
attention to two items not included in the
ABOVE the superintendent OF which now comes
unGer his departmeDt-the collection of garbage
ana NE provision or medicines and medical at
tenuOE Tor the Sick poor. He thinks a larger
appropriation should be asked to enable him to
cave WORK In the former case properly per-
formed and ID the latter he recommends that
SPECIFIC appropriation Of S GOO be asked, that
this most important service may be placed on
proper footing. Payments for this work are
low made from general fund for relief of noor
and should that fund become exhausted this
very first Of Charities must cease ana the indi-
gent SICK OF our District 20 without med
A WATER MAIN TAX CASE
On september Water Registrar Cox hal &C.
cas1on 10 ADDRESS a note 70 the District Com
missioners relating ID the water main tax.
The ra f were laid before the Commits slon7rs,
attorney for the District for his opinion H.
"a! there was water main laid prior 20 IS IS
On ii street northwest, between 9Th aad l0th
streets, In front OF a lot fronting So feet
on ii street, containing an area Of 500 feet
IhiS was assessed for water main tax in June
Iote, aud the owner duly notified. This prop
eTty originally belonged to the Van Ness estate
ara upon IL was built vault or mausolelm in
Nh1ch were deposited the bodies OF several
members OF the Van Ness family. In 1873 Cla5.
w W. Van Ness, trustee. decided this LOT to
Mr.. Jesse b. Wilson. which was duly record ii
september p. 1873. and the mausoleum was
removed TO Oak Fiji Cemetery, and the remains
OF the persons contained In the narsoleum
were removed The lot was purchased and Is
uSed tor private gain and mas now the benefit
OF water main, the taxes for which, even II
exempt under any law relative TO cemeteries,
would seem now TO be properly chargeaole for
this tax. IL is the opinion of this department
that from the moment the lot In 0.esti0p
ceased 10 De used for burial purposes the
eHSnp.ion from taxation ceased; and from the
HCIheht 10 became private property used for
purposes OF gain. the lot became taxabIe This
Ciitce claims that there IS no laW which ey-
tlnpts TINS klnq or property from water main
taAtS. Mr. wilson claimed that he purchaser
ILLS lOt Gear OF incumberanCeS and that he
was Lot naole TO the tax. THIS matter was
itlciitu " tAe attorney, Who III reply states:
his TAX was assessed in June 1866, at which
tlMe no exemption law had been passed 5y
tOng1eSs. The ordinances OF the city OF Wash
lhgt0n could Lot exempt properly from the oca.
latlon or the act OF Congress In regard to the
wafer main tax. Moreover, by reference 70 the
opinion or hr. Riddle Of December "A ISIS a
cory OF which was transmitted TO You August
10, $50 In reply TO a communication OF g. J.
Dalnellle, esd, IL will be seen that no private
property Is exempt from this tax"
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
me annual report or the superintendent o.
police recommends the increase OF the force By
2 captain, seven SergeantS and $50 prfyatpS
when the present number (200} was fixed upo1
oy congress the population OF the District was
$50 1t Is now 5000. While the valuation or
property has increased In excess OF the ratio OF
increase OF population. y patroinan cinnof
give due police protection, while covering a tif-
teen miie beat. The buildings rented for station
houses are not adapted 10 The SnrYtce Ta.
election or new buildings for the purpose Il
urged On economical and sanitary gr3u1ds
III Is suggested that some provision De iaAi L. FOR
the 1nfrm and disabled members Of the Tor.a
thdt they may be retired from active dlty AMI
thelr places filled with aOle-b0died men, The
advantages or the system OF nGhtiag alleys i
lojlceu ~ connection with police patrol. Alter
The ffty lamps 10 be furnished this wear are mn
IL place. there Will remain about l39 ALLEYS IN
De provided Tor. IL Is suggested that means he
PROVIDED TO Enable The force to patrol Ihe.rjyar
ana carry into effect the law for tue protacflan
or the Potomac fisheries. The needs Tor a city
h0Spltd! ale stated in connection with The frae
dispeIsary On 9Th street; also a rt.torrnatory