National Republican., 1883-07-31
TIIE COMMIssIONERs.
Current TrnnsnctIons nj the Various Dis
trict Onices.

trtct OIfices.
Prof Elliott Coues, the orinthologist, has
addressed tho following letter in reference to
the English sparrow nuisance to Maj. Lydec-
ker, engineer commissioner;
DEAR SIR: Recalling cur informal conversation
on tie subject Of the spnrruw nuisance, III which
It seemed That you agreed with me respecting the
useIe sne,s and inluriuusness of the BIRDS and
exprl ssed yourself rs desir0us OF taking measures
to cxterminate them from the city, should any
feasible plan be submitted to the commissioners,
/ beg leave O indicate the means by which, in my
judgment that end can be attained
!. Abolish the legal penalty for Killing the birds
As the game law of the district now stands, sec.
tion lorbids tho killing of any wren, sparrow,
&C., under penalty OF 81
.. Permit the sparrows 10 be killed within cilj
limits 10y any means, excepting, OF couFse the II u
of firearms.
3. Offer n small bounty--say two cents a head
4. Make sparrowo' heads receivable for taxes at
the same rale (Ths is only another form ol oher-
ing the same bounty, and one Whicn, am IN
formed has been adopted i'll some cases else
5. Make it a part of the ordinary care OF the
public streets ana parks TO destroy the nests, eggs
and young.
These measures are perfectly practical and prac
ticabe. Should they lie faithfully carried out, the
spnrrOws would disappear within n year, or at any
rate be so very greatly reduced In numbers us TO
cease to he n nuisance; aud you would certainly
win for yourself tho lasting gratitude OF the cit-
In this communication, you will observe, do
not discuss the merits OF the case but assume that
the sparrows nre Il nuisance which should be
abated. Should further information in the prem
iscs he desired, should be happy to furnish it,
unless you should prefer to have my well known
views Endorsed by other scientists do not know
of n single ornithologiSt cntomologlst or boanst,
whose knowledge Of the case entities his opinion
to consideration who does not take substantially
the same view.
inclose some papers bearing upon the subject.
With great respect, very truly yours, g.,
ELLIOTT CoUEs.
The commissioners have received from the
Treasury department blank forms on which
to make estimates of appropriations for the
support of the district government for the
next fiscal year, and n call will mt once be
made on the subordinate officials for the ne
cessary data.
The board of equalization and appeals yes
terday changed portion Of lot 115, i'll square
80, in Georgetown, to 10 cents per foot, and
changed the improvements on lot 1l6 to
$500; improvements on lots to ID, inclus-
i've, square 100, were increased by 1000 on
each house. the improvements on lot IL,
square 100, were reduced from S400 to 300
lots II, 49, ii from 5000 to 800, and on lot 10
stricken Off In square SIS, lots of 13, of 40,
and of Al wore reduced from 10 cents per
| foot to . cents.
Building permits were yesterday issued as
follows: X. l.. Todd, to build one two story
brick house on Massachusetts, avenue, between
| Sixth and Seventh Streets to cost $1,000; Mrs.
Bachelor to repair brick house northo st cor
ner of Seventh and + streets north west, at a
cost of 500; VIM. Henry, repair brick dwell
| ing No. i65 + street southwest, at u cost of
$50; II Granger, to repair frame dwelling on
Grant avenue in the county, $25, and Ann
Rafferty,, to repair frame dwelling No. 1917 Z
street northwest, $50.
Deaths reported July 30.-Wllliam Ada m
valvular degeneration of heart; Caroline n
Jewett, inanition; Sarah Du Paw, meningitis
acute. Sarah T. Hager, cholera infantumi
Mary A. X. Holander, parametritis; Edward
Burnes senile debility; Thomas B. Lyons
typhoid fever Margaret F. NJ. Baldwin, hoe
matemeris; Mabel Williams, pneumonia
Mary A. Lewis, valvular disease of heart
Hannah Brown, cholera infantum; JOSEPH
Blincoe, cholera infantum; John Miles, tabe
mesenterica; Mary II. Murray, inanition
Horny L. Kaldenbach, rubeold; Jessie Young
lhthisis.
The commissioners have notified Truste,
Smith that the proper changes will be mad'
in the vcntilating duct at the John +, Cool
| school building.