The Evening critic., 1882-12-01


many OF them have been condemned by tls
Health Officer.
with reference to the division OF the school
fund tho Commissioners say;
"a claim has recently boon mado that tho
appropriations for school purposes should be
divided between tho white and colored schools
Of the District OF Columbia In proportion to
the respective numbers OF white aud colored
children OF school age In those cities. The
Siam nnpiSs 10 " the duty OF Coneress 10 MAKE
appropriations under that rule or to tho duty
OF the Commissioners to apply appropriations
under that rule and not as ordered by Con.
greep. Since tho act OF Juno II, 1875 organ
izing one board for tho care and man
ngement OF all the schools and enacting
for District purposes. on detailed es.
Inmates, tho practice OF the Commissioners
/, has been to obey the appropriation act In tho
mated. Whore no specific object has boon dos.
ignnted, but terms of general character have
been used, for example, In appropriations for
repaira, the money has been applied accord.
tug TO tho actual needs OF tho schools and not
according TO the color OF the pupils. They
know OF no injustice resulting from this prac-
tice or sound objection TO IT. ana IL Is much
more simple OF administration than apportion
ment by fractional census numbers would be.
For great many years the appropriations for
reference to color, and no resulting wrong or
inconvenience has been complained Of"
Attention is called to the report OF the Police
and Fire Department and the Health onlcer,
and their recommendations arc concurred In
on the subject of steam railways, the report
STnc present status OF tho stoam railways
In this District Is n most unsatisfactory one,
not only TO It's citizens, but to tho manage.
ments of the roads as well. Tho report of
Lieutenant Greene, appended hereto, gives
clear statement OF the facts In the case, and
recites the stops heretofore taken with view
OF Bringing about gu Improved state OF affairs.
At the last session OF Congress- bill for tho
construction OF union depot was introduced,
but no action taken. This proposed to bring
tI.. r1.Vt a. ns,I nultl n
tomac tracks together near North Carolina
avenue and First street east, and thence reach
Long Bridge by an elevated road to Virginia
avenue where, passing below grade, IL was to
be continued as a sunkon road, via Virginia
and Maryland avenues. The present depot
ard tracks OF the Baltimore Potomac Road
on Sixth street were TO be abandoned ind
union depot was to be built at some place on
limo between South Capitol street and the
bridge. The estimated cost OF this project was,
In round numbers, ~, 100000. In the opinion
OF tho Commissioners tho interests. of the
District could DO served In no better
way than by carrying out the gem
on account OF Its cost, as vol as for other rea-
sons, The Baltimore h Potomac Road is strongly
opposed TO II, while the Baltimore & Ohio,
though fayoring the general Idea, object to
some OF the details; 1t is believed, however,
that these latter objections may be readily
overcome in manner satisfactory to the road
and to the District. II this plan cannot be
brought TO meet the approval OF Congress, 1t
is most earnestly hoped that something ap.
proximating It will be exacted, for the present
"If the Baltimore& Potomac is allowed to
| retain its tracks and depot on Sixth street, 1t
| 70 suggested that the Baltimore Ohio BIO
| provided with n site for equal depot facilities
| ON the east side OF that street, opposite the
present Baltimore Potomac depot. II the
thoy should be properly fenced In and have
suitable automatic gates. at every street
Of + So Dsc nnd TO the
railroads as WE'LL that this question be settled
without further delay, and that tho permanent
| status OF the roads be fixed. Thon they can
DO required to provide suitable freight depots
| and caryards, by purchase OF the necessary
| grounds from private parties, and thereby I'D
| nit OF keeping the public streets free TO the
| greatest extent consistent with tho existence
OF a railroad, thereby avoiding one of the
| most frequent causes OF complaint on the part
| OF citizens living along the lines OF road"
The adoption of system OF underground
telegraph wires instead of the pole system is
| recommended with renewed force.
With regard TO the water supply the report
aBy the act approved July 10, 1882, Con.
| gross provided the means for furnishing to
| Washington and Georgetown the increased
supply OF water so urgently needed. In the
meantime, and until the work can be com.
pleted, the water famine must continue, with
more elevated districts. Every effort has
been made to give the greatest possible relief
by turning the supply from the low districts
wherever such course was practicable. In
supply is FURNISHED BY turning the water
from one locality and concentrating II
another for a limited period, and then ro
versing the process. Ifpartles to whom water
can be.deliyered in this way only would pro-
vide suitable tanks at an elevation that can be
reached with certainty when the whole avail
able supply Is thrown into their service, they
would DO provided with supply during the
time the water was cut on. 1t Is probable that
this course will have to be quite generally
adopted before the Increased supply can be
obtained. Attention is respectfully Invited to
that part OF Captain Hoxies report which
leads to the conclusion that tho average
method of taking water is by letting It run.
This being the case adds largely TO the fam
Inc in the more elevated districts.
''Another difficulty relates to laying now
mains, which arises solely from the lack of q
sufficient reserve to the credit of the water
| fund. Appropriations are made for laying
new mains, but the money to meet this aud
other expenditures for distributing the water
supply is derived entirely from the revenues
OF the Water Department, rs II Is illegal fol
the Commissioners to contract any debt, and a.
1t is Of the most vital importance to malntair
the supply in places, where mains already OK
list and from which the water rent:
to to lay mains in new sections unless
the money is supplied from some Other
been limited to cases where the parties inter
ested are willing to pay In advance its esti
mated cost. After the main is laid, the lsga
tax may be levied against AUDITING property
and is, IN the general case, sufficient to pa!
tho cost In the absence OF u SUFFICIENT In
come from the Water Department to provld,
the necessary funds for such work, It would b.
well if,paymcnts could be made from the gen
eral receipts OF tho District, and tho amount
so taken repaid from tho proceeds of thu
With reference to sewers. reference is madt
at length TO tho report OF Captain Il. L. HoSle
heretofore published.
The report closes with an appropriate com
plimentary reference 10 the memory of tn