The Evening critic., 1883-01-13
The Acknowledgement.

TO Tie Hon. Board Of CoDualsSioaeyStor District
Of Columbian
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 9th instant,
per Secretary Tlndall, reached me just as was
on the point of leaving Washington, and now
embrace the earliest moment on my return to
mako the acknowledgment, with thanks.
I had supposed, however, that the subject
matter of this correspondence was an applica-
tion for water and sewer main on the south
side OF Maryland avenue, between Third and
Fourth streets northeast. But In your letter l
flnd no allusion to that particular subject OK
cept by implication in the expression of your
views" &c.
AS to mere views, sameness or uniformity
was neither expected or desired; for with me.
toleration OF honest, disinterested differences
OF opinion on all subjects Is unlimited But
we did ask for a water-main "on the conditions
contemplated by tho law according to the
established practice"
and with great Difference l think they are
worthy OF your acceptance.
If, however, you have new and different
rule or order with reference especially to lay
Ing water-mains, will you please inform me
precisely what 1t is and Of the date of Its adop-
tion at your very earliest convenience.
Very respectfully,
No. 5O1 Stanton Place, Washington, D. G., No.
vember ~, 1882.
Once more / wrote as follows:
ToMe Hon. B0aTdQf Commissioners for tie DIS
trict Of Columbia:
GENTLEMEN; A week ago, by letter, re.
SpeCtrully requested you 10 INFORM me OF the
terms and the date of your order changing tho
former practice or conditions In relation to
layingswater-mains In the streets of this city
for the convenience of contemplated water.
takers. AS no reply has been received, / have
again respectfully to request to be immedi-
fully, s. @. CLARKE,
No. Sol Stanton Place, Washington, D.. g.,
Dec. 4, 1882.
Nearly six weeks more, already have been
waiting for a reply, and am waiting stlll-
another illustration OF the dependent condi.
tion and helpless subjection Of American citi-
zens under our present District Government,
as administered.
The facts in the case are precisely as fol-
lows:
The estimated receipts of the District on
account OF the Water Department, for the
the Commissioners themselves, amount to
S130,7O0, and of this estimated Income Con-
gress appropriated s10S,650.50, of which the
sum of $49,501 so, by the very terms of the
appropriation, was made specifically applica-
BILE to "laying new mains" as our petitioners
had requested, and other specified purposes.
And 1t now appears, from Mr.. Hoxie'S recent
report that tho surplus OF said fund on hand
at the beginning of this fiscal year was
| S4T172.61.
Since 1878, embracing the whole period of
| the present form OF Commissioners govern
ment for this District so far as reported by
| the board and published, more than thirty-slx
| thousand lineal feet of water mains for tho
convenience OF water takers have been laid In
the fourquarters Of this city as follows: In the
northwest quarter, 80, 736l2 feet in the south.
| west quarter, 4,290 feet; IN the southeast
| quarter, S75 feet, and in the northeast quar-
| ter, 336 feet; total, SO, 237lh feet.
| These mains have been laid at the expense
| Of the water fund as contemplated by the law,
and taxed on the adjacent property, to be paid
at once or in instalments, at the option OF the
taxpayers, as the law plainly prescribes, and
| as requested by our petitioners.
OF the number of running feet of said water
| mains the northeast quarter OF the city has
had the benefit OF less than one per cent; and
OF the cost the proportion is much smaller,
| not exceeding four or i've mills to the dollar.
| And since the fiscal year ending June 30,
| 1879, although the expenditures for the pur.
| pose have amounted TO nearly twenty thou
sand dollars, not single penny thereof has
been expended In the northeast quarter of the
! city. Respectfully, s. q. CLARKE,
Washington, d. c., Jan. 10, 1888.