National Republican., 1882-12-01

OhA islol JNA. loos, tlt tOlui ltnHlu improved
streets was 1888 miles, covering an area OF S,Sj3,
Uo2 square yards OF THIS there l,l500 090 square
yards isA miles long, in concrete, ,g93yement', IS
miles IN stone block pavement, l11a miles in
rough stone, or rubble pavement, mics mucad-
amized, $50 miles graveled, and llH miles with
remains OF the old wood pavement Tine length of
unimproyed streets is gi4 miles, aud cover all area
of ,755, ,4U7 square yards,
Following the principles adopted as far back as
1878, the bulk OF the annual appropriations for
payements is applied to the rep acement of the
old wood payements, and the expenditure for that
purpose during the past fiscal year s20S 36,
the extent of pavements replaced being 93037S7
square yards. The total amount replaced since
the work was commenced in 1873 is 4g4.620.24
square yards, at cost OF $685. 95Sl.lS being at an
average rate of So per square yard. During the
current fiscal year about lo5oOO yards viii be
be replaced will be about 10000 yards. The es-
innate for the year ending June 80, 1884, herewith
submitted, con!emplates the replacement of loI,-
In addition to this work, new work to an extent
somewhat greater than heretofore was done on
the streets during the past year, the amount ap-
piled 10 this purpose being S77,2l4.06.
For further information on the subject the Com
missioners would respectfully refer to the most
interesting report made to the Engineer Commits
e1oner by bis assistant Lieutenant f. V. Greene,
Corps OF Engineers, This report is appended
hereto. And, in addition TO the information
ferred to above, 1t reports in detail the operations
relating to the repairs of streets and alleys, clean
ing them care of county roads, survey OF the dis
trot with tu tho extenson of etreets and
avenues.
TELEGRAPH LINES.
In the reports for the past two years the Com
missioners have called attention TO the import
ance of forcing on the various telegraph and tele-
phone companies the system of underground
wires This is no longer in an experimental stage,
but its feasibility has been demonstrated by actual
use; The only arguments for the further existence
| of the pole system is that to make the change
will be a matter of some expense more or less
considerable, to the telegraph companies. On
the other hand, the change is demanded as o
question o. public comfort and safety, and as most
potent factor In perfectipg the beauties of this
city, toward the accomplishment of which Its cit-
zens and those OF the United States have willingly
| made, and will continue to make, expenditui es
whicn in almost any other city might be deemed
extrayagant. There can be little doubt hat it is
their representatives, that every effort should be
made toward Identifying and perfecting the capi
| tai city of the Nation
INSPECTOR OF ASPHALT.
The duties of the inspector Of asphalt have not
| been confined wholly to one department, but ex-
tended TO cover and meet the wants of all depart
meuls of the government. During the past year
3l chemical anal yses and 300 microscopic analyses
have been made lor the health department Five
Genealogical analyses have also been made for the
| police department
Daily analyses of the mixture of asphalt pave
| ments have been made during the progress Of the
WORK. These analyses show that the com mposition
| of the pavement is properly constituted.
Tests OF all of tue various kiuds of hydraulic ce
ments used upon the various public works of the
District have been made daily for the purpose of
maintaining standard quality; 700 tests for tensile
strength have alone been made. In all cases fre-
quent reports of all of these analyses and tests
are made to the engineer officer having
charge Of the work to which the material
| is applied. 1t is an important service. and
one that has been rendered by Professor De
| Smcdt since 1878 with utmost Intelligence, in
dustry and unnssuming fidelity to the interests of
| the District His report this year contains in
considerable details the results of long study and
Investigation, including upward of twenty-five
hundred experimental tests In relation to cements,
not simply to ascertain the qualities of the va
! rious brands as now manufactured, but to deter
mine whether by improved methods. the quality
of our homemade" cements could not be i'm
| proved, HIS efforts in this line have not been
trlitess, but have enabled him to raise the grade
of the Maryland and Virginia cements (Which
were formerly too unreliable TO be admitted to
| use OH our works. to quality superior to the
we'll known Rosendale, at a cost delivered In this
market of only 10 per cent. that of the latter Still
| greater improvements may be anticipated as the
result of this well directed scen tic investigation
practically applied even to the production of
home made cement equal in all respects to that of
the imported Portlands. His report this year merits
| careful attention, and his work the highest COM
mendation.
PARKING COMMISSION.
During the past year 2.477 new trees have been
plauted and boxed upon various avenues and
dry streets and avenues In place of those de-
| stroyed by severe storms. In addition, 225 dead
and decaying trees have been removed, and
| holes to the number of 1853 have been dug and
prepared for planting.
The total number of trees on the streets and
Interference of trees with telegraph wires has
| caused excessive prunings, which, II allowed to
continue, viii cause serious injury to this ele-
| tained at large outlay of money, and fostered
with most careful attention. The telegraph lines
ground is NOT. and the general interest beauty,
and comfort of this city should no longer be sac
rilced simply that the telegraph :, companies
ture that VIII be required to make the chunge.
STREET LIGHTING.
Under the present law the Commissioners are
s eaeH light this ts mt bens bases
on the theorelic time during which moonlight
may obviate the necessity of gas-light. 1t makes
The appropriation being limited to that sufficient
for Lighting all the PUBLIC lamps for this limited
period, makes 1t impossible to insure proper
lighting of the streets at times when darkness may
be most complete. The limit is far below that of
any other city Of any prominence, and IL is there:
attention is invited to the report OF Lieutenant
Greene, in which the question is ably discussed,
| and the requirements clearly set forth
PROPERTY OFFICE.
The total expenditures for supplies purchased
and distributed TO the various departments of the
property clerk, during the year, was s264, ,144S9
| Details are given in the report Of the property
| clerk, appended hereto.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
The report OF the inspector of buildings shows
that there have been issued l730 permits for vari
GUS buildings aud structures nggregatiug In value
S24 1856, the revenue derived from permits being
1851. The total number of new buildings erected
| Is 699 The number of permits for improvements
during the year is 80 less than the preceding year
but the value OF these Improvements is estimated
at half million of dollars greater, the increase
| being In q good measure due TO the improved and
more expensive character of dwellings con-
struGted.
In addition to the general Office work, fry. one
structures have been condemned as dangerous to
life and limb seventy-one structures reported as
dangerous have been examined and their defects
remedied. and ,00O examinations of buildings in
| course OF construction have been made. The
| duties alone sufficient to monopolize all the
| time of the Inspector OF Buildings and Of the as
sistants allowed him; but besides these the law
the repairs of District buildings, such school,
houses, police stations, engine houses, markets,
| &C.. the preparation Of plans for all such new
structures and the superinteudence of their con-
| structon. The interests of the District demand
| the permanent employment Of a competent archi
tect as part of the force in the office of the In
spector OF Buildings In order that these important
duties may be satisfactorily performed.
SURVEYORS OFFICE.
Under existing law the surveyor of the District
occupies All anomalous position, one which 1t is
hoped Congress may fit to change at its coming
session. He has no fixed salary, but derives his
compensation solely from fees, which, though 10
| some extent fixed by law, must, in many cases be
simply an arbitrary charge for services rendered;
this relates both to services rendered for the Dis
should be changed and to that end it is proposed
TO present for the consideration of Congress bill
for the reorganization OF the surveyors Office, in
which the surveyor will become a regular salaried
| Officer ofth District.
WATER SUPPLY
By the act approved July Is, 1892 Congress pro-
| vided the means for furnishing to Washington
| aud Georgetown the increased supply Of water so
| urgently needed In the meantime, and until the
work can be completed, the water famine must
| continue, with growing Inconvenience and dis
tTess in the more elevated districts Every effort
has been made to give the greatest possible relief
by turning the supply from the low districts and
backing II up into those more elevated, wherever
such course was practicable. In other extreme
Eases an iater%sn! IO supply Is furnished BY turn
II In another for limited period, aud then re-