National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-06
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS.
Current TrnnsactIona Mt tho various DIs-
rrfct Omeee.

Bids were opened yesterday at the Commission
ers' Office for furnishing the engineer depart
ment with 800 tons of crude asphalium, to be
used in making asphalt pavemonts and repairing
the same. There were only two bids those Of Mr.,
4. i. Barber At Sllsj per ton, and Thomas Watson
made, though Mr. Barber will probably receivethc
contract
No. AS Ninth street. yesterday.
Mrs Harriet I.oring, secretary and treasurer Of
the Washington Benevolent Society, has written
letter to the Commissioners stating that she has
distributed the fund placed in the hands of that
society among the poor In some cases she found
that actual starvation prevailed. This society has
been doing good work among the poor. Its mem
bers comprise some Of the best known ladies in the
city,
Congress for the appropriation of what is known
rs the poor find. Congress has for the last two
or three years appropriated $4,000 for the use Of
filling up the old canal aud putting the poor per-
sons-of which there are so many In Washing
tor-nt work.
TclgGhonic communication has been ostab.
lishcd between the Commissioners Office and the
District Committee room at the Capitol.
An indignant letter has been received by the
Water Registrar from the citizens of South Wash
ington complaining of the pumps in that section
Of the city,
Among other suggestions made to insure the
safety OF Washington audiences in case of fire. at
tenton Is being given to n suggestion of the In:
spcctor OF Buildings that asbestos drop curtains be
used in the theatres IL Is claimed that curtain
no more expensive than one of canvas, and could
be painted ns well Rs the ordinary drop curtain.
This suggestion, If found to be practical will be
| enforced.
The Smith Transparent Ice Manufacturing Com
| pany yesterday took out permit to enlarge their
iactory in Georgetown The factory has had CO.
pacity for turning out ten tons of ice per day, and
| The contemplated enlargement, which will cost
| $500, will double the capacity Of the factory.
| The payment ofwater taxes were very light yes
terduy, owing to the dsagreeable weather,
The liquor license bonrd has rendered n state
ment OF the action of that board since the begin
| ming Of the license year. showing the number
of applications approved To- December u to be 40l
| number disapprovcd dS, with 2S more yet pending.
| The whole number of bar licenses Issued last year
| was 54, i3 of which were for fractional parts of
! the year. leaving i9l paying for the whole year.
| The committee state that the aggregate of revenue
! from bar and sample rooms for the present license
| year Will be fully equal, aud in nll probability
somewhat in excess of that for the year closing on
| the 3lst of last october.
Others protesting ainst the extension fthe track
| of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
by constructing q lateral truck from the main
truck on Virginia avenue into the wood yard OF
John Miller, which was referred to Mr. Riddle, was
this morning returned to the Commissioners with
the following Endorsement: "There are five acts
Of Congress in reference to the lateral branches OF
this road. No one gives auyexpress power to con-
struct these side tracks. The company Is permitted
to exercise the same powers in the District It's
original charter grants within the State of Mary
land. To that net we must look to find out whether
this right and power can be exercised here.
have no copy OF that, and cannot decide the mat
ter submitted till II Is produced. These foreign
corporations nll ought to produce authentic copies
of their charters when they ask for anything de.
pending on them"
The school trustees are in dilemma, as all the
money appropriated for the present fiscal yenr fol
repairs has already been exhausted. No debt car
be created as under the present law II is n pena
oense, and the only way TO get out of the dilemma
seems to be to ask Congress for deficiency to gel
through the year 1t is probable that this will bt