Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-02
District Government Affairs.

The Baltimore & Potomac Railroad company
yesterday paid 2.4O6 arrearages on personal
property tax and their regular general taxes to
June so. 1850.
ANALYSIS OF PUMP WATERS
District Chemist De Smedt has analysed the
water in several additional pumps-one on E.
between 18th and 18th streets northwest. which
he reports as good water" one on ID, between
22d and 23d streets, which Is reported by the
professor as ''usable WATER" one corner of 18th
and streets northwest, which is also .uSable:n
one from the well at the pound which is also
reported as ''usable;;' and one on 18th, between
\ and streets, which is reported as unfit for
drinking purposes
TROUBLE ABOUT THE GARBAGE CONTRACT
1t will be remembered that some eighteen or
more months ago, the District authorities gave
the contract for the collection and removal OF
garbage to Mr. John McCauley for three years
at the unusually low price of $4,000 year
work which is continually increasing as our
population increases, and which years before
had cost the District much larger sum annu-
ally. The competition for this work at the time
OF the letting OF the bids ran quite high among
our contractors. caused by the general stagna-
ton of business and the want OF work. Mr..
McCauley, as is well known, failed utterly to
properly perform the work, and the public
clamor against him I'm consequence OF his laXity
constrained the Commissioners to revoke the
contract, and IL was given to Mr.. I'll. Clay Jones
at the same figures $50 900 per year), he giving
new bonds for its faithful performance
Health O1flcer ToWnshend, whose duty it Is to
see that 1.-THE work is faithfully DONE and who
is by the public held responsible, does not think
1t has been Well done, and states that he has
had very uns satisfactory experience with Mr..
Jones' as We'll as his predecessor, McCauley.
The service, In equipment, appointments and
execution. has never been up TO the standard
necessary to the desired efficiency, and in con-
sequence of the numerous complaints OF ciu-
zens, he has been compelled to not only require
the contractor to put on more horses and carts
but has felt In duty bound to report the true
state OF the service to the commissioners, who
have from time to time summoned the
contractor before them to explain, &C. This
has had the effect Of chaf1ng him and general
ing an unpleasantneSs between the contractor
and health officer, who seems to be impelled by
de sire only to do his duty to the public. This
state of things yesterday resulted in Mr.. Jones'
with his counsel, going before the Commission
ers aid having lengthy talk, during watch
the contractor stated that he thought the
health officer too exacting; that he (the con
tractOr) " as doing his utmost to perform the
duty without STampng himself entirely; that
ne was every day at the present time sink
continue to suffer this loss, being
poor man, and he would much rather
prefer TO throw up the contract altogether. &c.
Before leaving he submitted paper to the Com
mlss1onerS recapitulating his grievances and
asking that new contract be made with him.
The commissioners replied promptly that they
disposed to do anything within their power and
line of public duty for his relief but could not
annul the contract on the grounds proposed
and that he must do as the health officer had re-
they would be compelled TO suspend his con.
tract ard give the work to another, looking to
his bOndSnen for loss.
BIDS WE'RE OPENED
This morning at the Office OF the District Com
missioners for paving Sd street, from PenuSyl-
vania avenue TO d street, with granite block
pavement, In lieu OF the rotten wood To be re-
moved. The bids were as fOllOWs:-JOnathan
Taylor, 5s24c.; Himber i Fletcher, Gle; Mohler
q Reynolds, SOC; Cudmore & Maloney. SIC: j.
q. Stafford 81 &c; j. W. Mcknight & Co., sc;
u A md
Thomas Joyce, CSC. The contract was given to
W. Il. Davies.