Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-24


action was taken The whole matter will be
probably disposed OF at the meeting on Tuesday
next and If the same view is taken as that en-
tertaiDed by the officials OF the Navy depart
ment no formal explanation or apology from
the Spanish government will be demanded.
District Government Affairs.
Mr.. W. II. Bailey, inspector of gas and lamps,
has reported to 1t. Green list OF about fifty
places Tor the location OF lamps In alleys under
the Congressional appropriation OF $1,000 for
the Commissioners for their approval.
AT special meeting OF the Fire Commls-
stoners yesterday afternoon, a communication
was read from President John w. Thompson,
of the Metropolitan railroad, referring to the
burning Of the church in Georgetown few
nights since, stating that an early alarm would
have saved ten minutes OF valuable time In sup
pressing that fire. and asking the placing of a
fire alarm box at the stables Of that company,
near Rock Creek. where some one Is always On
duty, day and night The communication was
referred to the District commissioners
THE PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The building committee of the board OF school
trustees have adopted the plans and selected
the sites for the four new school buildings pro-
with the appropriation made at the recent Ses-
sion OF Congress- and the building Inspector has
been basily engaged the past, week In the prep
aration Of specifications to be used in cOnnec-
ton with the proposals, all now advertised, for
the erection OF these buildings. the bids for
which viii be received opened and awarded in
schools are as Yellowstone In Unontown with
g. school rooms; one on p. between
9th and eth streets, with ~ school rooms;
one On Z, between 10th street and Vermont
avenue, with II rooms; and one on the BladenS-
burg pike, beyond Mt. OliVet cemetery, with
two school rooms The plan adopted for the
streets, Is what is known as the Henry school,
by Architect Cluss, and the same as was on eX-
hibition at Paris. 1t has been slightly modified
in the finish, so as to bring the cost within the
9OnrOpriatiOn
the school capacity or the architectural effect
OF the building. Besides these, in point OF
building now being finished on Massachusetts
avenue, between 18th and 18th streets; and the
rev Lauritzen school on Capitol Hill. This
extra school capacity provides for the natural
increase of pupils in the District, besides doing
away with the necessity of renting school
rooms, many OF which are totally unsuited for
the purpose.
A SEARCH FOR THE RECORDS OF THE PENNsYLvA-
MA AVENUE PAVING COMMISSION.
In answer to a writ of certiOrari, Secretary
SchurZ and Col. Casey, as SUCCESSORS to the
created in 1870 by act OF Congress, state that
no records or transcripts OF proceedings of the
paving commission can be found, and that 1t is
impossible to answer the interrogation $ relative
to the proceedings of the commission; that
learning there was blank book in the posses
sion OF the District Commissioners containing
records of certain proceedings OF said commis-
sion. Col. Casey had made application for 1t on
the 1st instant, but had thus far received no ar
swer. The answer then gives the parks and
reservations on Pennsylvania avenue and the
number OF square yards within the limit be-
tween the Botanical gardens and 18th street.
The number of square yards is given as 1,l15.-
The District authorities, it will be remem-
Dered, had nothing to do with the Pennsylvania
avenue pavement, and consequently have no
records relating to that commission On dill
gent search for such data as is asked for, the
commission discovered blank book containing
a copy OF contracts for paving and for eXpendi-
tuIeS On Pennsylvania avenue from the Capitol
gate to 18th street, and have so informed Col.
Casey. They also refer Col. Casey to Brig. Gen.
Wright, one OF the commissioners In whose
custody the records are supposed to be, for fur
ther information.
UNPAID TAXES OF TuIRrY-FIvE YEARS
Collector John F. Cook has prepared balance
sheet Of delinquent taxes, both real and per-
sonal. covering the period between 1915 and
June 30, 1850, making very interesting exhibit.
1t shows that from 1915 to July 1. 1871, there is
still due to the late corporation of Washington
s., ,S26. 46. real estate taxes; On account Of the
year ending June 80, 1872, there is due S459.7O;
Ing June 80, 1914 ate. per century, $50, ,25S SO;
year ending June so, 1875 (rate per centum)
s14s, ,667.O5; year ending June 3O 1876, s12 $50 S.
year ending June 80, 1871, Sl2O 607.54; year end
ing June 80, 1878, sl46, 6,51369; year ending June
80, 1872 s194, ,S19.11 current year ending June
SO, 1850, s335, 5262 %; making total OF
Sl,l4, 01.SS due on real estate taxes. On ac-
count OF personal taxes, for year 1871, there is
due S4035 90: year 1878, SIS, ,9l4. "a; year 1919
s52, ,255 50; and year $780, $40, 1885, ia total of
1921 ,462. 05, which added to the amount due on
real property makes total OF 81 1856, ,363.47.
This amount looks very large, but when ana
1yzed it shows that many OF these assessments
are based on fictitious values. Especially Is this
the case with the personal tax, where the assess
mentS We're made in default Of returns having
been made. In reviewing the delinquincies
OF the real estate assessment, it Will also be
seen that large balances appear against old
corporations which have little OF no standing
In the commercial world and perhaps In some
cases now defunct, which swell this balance
sheet into large figures. 1t is gratifying, how
ever. TO know that taxes are generally being
more promptly paid. and that property owners
and corporations are endeavoring to relieve
their estates from tax encumbrances.
MARYLAND CENSUS RETURNs.-A letter from
Frederick to the Baltimore SO says: accord
Ing TO the returns flied by enumerators in the
census Office In this city and just compiled the
present population Of Prince Georges county is
26,165, an Increase since 1870 Of 5627, as follows:
First district, Nansville, 1.4i6; second. Badeas-
burg, 1,s9s; third, Marlborough, 4O37; fourth,
Nottingham, 2,OS2 fifth Piscataway 2,263;
sixth. spaldings, 1,61l; seventh, Queen Anne,
1885; eighth, Aquasco, LIP; ninth, Surratts,
wine. 1.sl3; twelfth, oxen Hill ,293 thirteenth,
Kent, 1885, fourteenth, Bowie, 1,6lS. The re-
turns from Charles county are all in with the
e1cep5o,p OF Aliens len Fresh ana PaIaxen5 ps city
is $3.50; second, Hill Top, 1,.33; third, NanIe-
moy. 2,l42; nth, Harris Lot, 2,1l3: sixth. Mid
dlet0Wn.2,2 293; seventh, POmOnKey, ,2t6; eighth,
Bryanstpwn, 2,1G0. Calvert county shows an
increase since 1910 OF 712, as follows: First dis
trict, first precinct, 1,l7O second precinct, 25Os;
second district, 3 253; third district, 1885, max
ing total present population OF 10,517."
THE ELAM-SMITH DUEL CASE IN COURT.-A
special 70 the Baltimore american from Rich
mOnd, July 20, says:-The case Of James B.
Walters, OF the Wig, who was arrested and
committed for court on the charge OF having
acted as second In the duel between w. E. Elam
and Thomas Smith, was called In the HenricO
county court to-day, and as Mr.. Elan, the ma
ter1al witness for the commonwealth, Is still too
III TO appear, was postponed until the Septem
per term. At first the prosecution were dis
posed to insist on Mr.. Elam's attendance when
capt. Wise, counsel for Walters, remarked that
the commonWealths attorney knew as well as
ne Old that MI. Elam was not going to testify
when he did appear, and all that the Jury could
tel by seeing him was that he had hole In his
ch1n: I'VE are prepared" !" said Capt. Wise, ''to
admit that Mr. Elam has hole In his chin. and
pretty bad one."
N General Garfield promises to attend tha
New England fair next September, il possible.
The mule spinners at Lowell Mass. han
large meeting last night, and resolved tn sun
port the strikers at the Merrimac mills.
~ Cicero Simms was hanged at Fair PLAY.
COL, yesterday, for the murder OF John johnson,