Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-21
District government Affairs.

The District Commissioners to-day sent to
Hon. Isham G. Harris. chairman of the commit
tee on the District OF Co umbia, of the Senate.
communication acknowledging the receipt of
his letter of the 18th of January, 1880, transmit
ting House resolution No. 1863 and requesting in
formation on the following points l. What il
Ing the canal belong to the United States? 2.
The cost of completing the work? 8. The pres
ent sanitary condition Of the canal and the i'm
provement contemplated or expected to result
from its completion. nreply they state: l. That
all the lands reclaimed by the proposed improve
ment Will be the property OF the United States.
2. The estimated cost of filling to the Eastern
Branch, including extension of sewers having
outlets thereinto, and the grading of intersect-
ing streets, is $4,000. s. The canal is at present
an open sewer, the receptacle of filth and rub
bSh OF every description, and a nuisance Seri-
Ously affecting the health of adjacent localities
including the highlands on which stands the
Capitol. When filed it will make a street $50
feet wide and 900 feet in length, extending in
southeast and southerly direction from South
Capitol street and Virginia avenue to the East
ern Branch OF the Potomac, of which about
500 feet are already filled. The proposed
appropriation will be sufficient to reclaim
900 feet additional with sewer extension on
that length. The work can be continued by Sec
tons during the winter season when labor is
cheap and tie poor need employment, and when
nnished. paved and parked. as contemplated.
will add to the city ore OF the most attractive
to insert the words ''to be done by day work"
otl erwise, under the organic act of June 1878.
it will be necessary 10 advertise the work for
contract. which would defeat the object OF the
resolution Signed by the commissioners.
THE COST OF GAS TO THE DISTRICT
The attorney for the District has given an
opinion On the question propounded to the Dis
trict Commissioners by Hon. Ii. S. Neal, as to
rights CT the District in reference to the cost OF
gas. He says: Il am not quite clear as to the
precise question ought to attempt to answer
tinguish between the United States and the
District of Columbia in the cost of gas for light
ing streets. 1t seems that Congress has eXer-
cised the right OF fixing the price of gas and
has in many instances required a lower rate to
the United States than 10 others, notably by
the Sd section OF the act OF July H. 1862, and the
act of June 80, 1865. The 18th section of the act
of July 49, 1874, makes the same distinction.
Gas shall be furnished to the United States at
So so per 1000 feet and to other parties or hthe
inhabitants of Washington, at $2.75. The 18th
section requires gas to be furnished to the Dis
trict of Columbia at all distances within yards
from any OF their mains at the same price
pels the company to furnish to all consumers at
the same price as stats, 277) This obviously
must, in connection with the preceding sec
tions, be taken to mean all consumers except
the United States and the District of Columbia.
Thus the law stood until June last The sundry
civil act OF June %, 1872 provides ''that no more
than twenty-five S25) dollars per lamp shall be
for in this bill. ACT 20, stats. 3S9) The same
bill tacD appropriates s125,O00 for street lamps,
gas, lighting and extinguishing: This last isan
company cannot for the current year charge in
excess OF S25 per lamp to the District"
THE o STREET MARKET QUESTION.
A delegation of citizens and property holders \
In the northern section Of the city. composed OF
and DIR. Stone, waited on the District Commits
sioners this morning, to ascertain the objections
to the erection of market on the street Site
Mr.. Wilson acted as spokesman, and alluded in
his remarks to the original intention Of using
this square for market purposes; the necessity
for such market, and eligibility Of the site. He
chased 9 land In that Vicinity ae at g
and were now paying heavy taxes on It without
any returns for the investment; that the o
street railroad had been @ carried arr by that square
ture would be placed there, and that.
in fact, all business interests as well
as convenience OF multtudes of private
Commissioner Dent, In reply, stated that on
general principles he was opposed to the erec-
uon of market houses by the District, and be- |
leyed that such institutions should be built by
private enterprise and under the management |
OF private parties; that while he had no special
reasons against the construction Of market |
house on the o street site, he thought If it is to
stated that the suggestion had come from the |
school trustees that this square Of ground, or a |
portion Of it, be sold and the proceeds used for |
% sbe erection eat q a. School buiiding on % tie lot
These suggestions had been sent to Congress |
After further discussion the committee with |
drew and proceeded to the room OF Engineer |
formed Of the objects OF the visit by Mr.. Wilson,
ssid In reply that as matter OF fact he had not
had occasion to look into this subject, and |
committee satisfactory to them nor to hiTnself: |
that he would take occasion o-day to look into |
the merits OF the case, and would be ready to |
give the delegation his views tomorrow. He |
hougbt there was need Of market-house In |
/ hat fl lction OF the city. q