Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-14
The District Government.

| ITS COMPOSITION AND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
POPULATION, VALUATION OF PROPERTY, TAXATION,
ETC, ETC.
The following statement has been prepared by
order OF the Commissioners OF the District OF Co.
lumbia for the information of correspondents ask
ing for statistics and others who are not aware OF
the character OF the local government In the Dis
trict of Columbia.
AS letters are frequently addressed to the ayor
OF Washington, It is proper to state that the cor
poration OF the city OF Washington no longer ex-
lists The local government OF the territory occu-
pied as the seat OF government OF the United
States Is known as the District OF Columbia, a
municipal corporation whose jurisdiction extends
over what were the municipalities known as the
city OF Washington. the city OF Georgetown, and
the Levy Court OF the county OF Washington, the
charters OF which were repealed June l, 1871. All
OF the two former, which were continued by the
law that repealed their charters
of Columbia was established by act OF June II,
1873, and went into operation on the first OF the
succeeding month. 1t Is administered by a
board OF three Commissioners, one OF whom Is
annually chosen by his colleagues TO be president
OF the board. Two OF these Commissioners are
United States, by and with the advice and consent
OF the Senate, for an official term OF three years.
The other Commissioner is an officer OF the corps
OF engineers OF the army, with lineal rank above
that OF captain, and is detailed by the President
OF the United States from time to time. The
Engineer Commissioner, besides the general
duties OF a Commissioner, has immediate charge
OF the street, sewer and other like work, and is
assisted by two other officers OF the engineer
corps, who at present are Lieut. R l. Hoxie and
Lieut. F. V. Greene likewise detailed for that duty
under provision OF the act aforesaid. The COM
penSation OF the Commissioners is S. 900 per an
mum each. The present Commits sioners are
Josiah Dent, president; Thomas p. Morgan, Gar
re1t J. Lydecker, major of engineers USA
There Is no local legislative body In the District
Congress, as required by the cons titution OF the
United States, "exercises exclusive legislation"
over it.
The population, according to the United States
census Of 1880. was 177,624: the population at
present is estimated to be $4,000; the assessed
valuation OF real property used for agricultural
purposes is $4471,S 65; the assessed valuation OF
other real property exclusive OF property OF the
of personal property is &c. the rate OF
alton on real property used tor agricultural pur.
per iU; inc rae OF taxaeon on other real
personal property is $3.50 per 500; the average
proportion Of uncOllected taxes is 10 per cent The
area OF the District is about 72 square miles.
The assessed valuation OF real property Is the
best judgment OF the assessors as to the price it
would bring: The valuation OF real property be-
longing to the United States exclusive OF the
streets and avenues In the city OF Washington,
the fee simple Of which is In the United States is
$50, 416 H. The value Of the personal property OF
the United States In the District has never been
officially estimated. New buildings are assessed
at about 10 per cent below their actual cost There
are no special taxes now levied. except for the
cost OF laying small water mains, the cost OF
other public Improvements being a general ex-
penSe.
The taxable personal property consists OF credits
more than the taxpayers Indebtedness, or more
than he pays interest for household chattels over
$500, without regard to debts for same; trusts;
goods, wares and merchandise, or other stock in
trade, including debts or liabilities for same; and
capital stock OF a corporation.
The revenues OF the government OF the District
are derived from two Sources-frst, from taxes
levied on private property ana privileges; and,
second, from appropriations by Congress of an
amount equal to the receipts from private sources
June go 1882, is s. 1873, 5714S. The fiscal year OF
the District commences on the LIST OF July OF each
year.
The statute limitations are. regarding judg-
ments twelve years regarding notes three years,
District has no code. The Commissioner have
caused a codflcation OF the laws In force and In
Sa3ps ~ to ne
| been finally acted upon by that body, whose ap-
prevail is necessary to give It effect
| from the Potomac river through conduit nine
| feet in diameter, and about twelve miles long,
| which was constructed by the US: government
The large mains are laid at the public expense,
and the small mains at the expense OF the private
property adjoining the streets In which they are
laid, and paid for by special tax OF cents per
square foot OF such property. Consumers are
charged according to the number OF stories and ex
tent OF frontage. Meters are permitted to be used
upon request OF consumers, with charge OF one
The funded debt OF the District is ssl ,sss 80 49,
There Is no floating "a debt The debt Is under the
who Is ex-o11cio commissioners OF the sinking
fund OF the District OF Columbia The Commits
District judiciary and the principal ofncers con
nected Herewith are appointed by the President
of the United States, as also notaries public
justices OF the peace, and commissioners OF deeds
A copy Of speech delivered in Congress by Hon
j. II. Ketcham, containing further matter OF In
terest respecting the District and its relations to
the general government is enclosed.