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

The Baltimore &c Potomac Railroad company
yesterday paid So, 406 arrearages on personal
property tax and their regular general taxes to
JUNE 80 1850.
ANALYSIS OF PUMP WATERS
District Chemist De Smedt has analysed the
water In several additional pumps-one on f.
between 18th and 18th streets northwest which
ne reports as good WATER" one On D, between
22d and ed streets, which is reported by the
Professor as ''usable WATER" one corner Of 18th
ard streets northwest which Is also susable.D
one from the well at the pound which is also
reported as 'usable;" and one On 18th, between
ana streets, WI ch 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 MIR. 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 we'll KNOWN failed utterly to
properly perform the work, and the public
clam0r against him In consequence OF his laXity
constrained the Commissioners to revoke the
contract, and IL was given to Mr.. Ii. Clay Jones
at The same figures $50, 900 per year, he giving
new bonds for its faithful performance.
Health Oftcer ToWnshend, whose duty it Is to
see that fthe work is faithfully done. and who
Is by the public held responsible, does not think
1t has been We'll done, and states that he has
mad very unsatisfactory experience with Mr.
Jones, as well 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 citi-
ZenS, be 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
ST. OF the service to the Commissioners who
have rom time to time summoned the
contractor before them to explain, &c. This
has had re eject Of cua... -s him and general
ing an Gnpleasantness between the contractor
and ht alth officer, who seems to be impelled b.
desire only to do his duty TO the public. Thu
with bis counsel going before the Commission,
erS snd having lengthy talk, during " licil
the contractor stated that he thought the
health officer too exacting; that he Uhe con
tractorl was doing his utmost to perform the
duty without swapping himself entirely; that
he was every day at the present time sink
Ing from SIS to $50, and he could not
poor man, and he would much rather
prefer to throw up the contract altogether. &c.
Before leaving he submitted paper to the Com
misstoners recapitulating his grievances and
asking that new contract be made with him.
The commissioners replied promptly that they
could not assent TO any such action; they We're
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-
quested and go on with the work. otherwise
they would be compelled to suspend his con
tract and give the work to another, looking to
his bondsmen for loss.
BIDS WERE OPENED
this morning at the Office OF the District Com
mtsstoners for paving Sd street, from Pennsyl-
vanta avenue to ID street, with granite block
pavement, in lieu Of the rotten wood to be re-
moved. The bids were as follows:-Jonathan
Taylor, 5Ss!c. Himber Fletcher, 61c.; Mohler
& Reynolds, 59c.; Cudmore q Maloney SIC: j.
g. Stafford, 642lc.; J. W. Mcknight & Co., SC;
T Thomas joyce SC The Contract s1 Was given a9 90
W. X. Davies.