Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-04

TAX COLLECTIONS.
Collections of taxes upon the years assess
ment were as follows:
The levy upon real property in
the District subject to taxa
ton aggregated the sum Of. S1,3S3, 676. 4
Amount collected during the
year, exclusive Of duplicate
payments (Deing SG.11 per
ceHL) 1,1SS,436. 80
Arrears of realty taxes for year. Sl94, 239. "a
The levy upon personal property
Amount collected during the ''''
year, exclusive OF duplicate pay
mentS tbeing S1.52 per CENT?. 156,442.45
Arrears of personal taxes for year. S35, 496. SO
FUNDED DEBT.
The statement of the funded indebtedness of
the District of Columbia and late corporation of
Washington, made by the treasurer of the
United States, who is ex-officio commissioner
made Both OF June, 1885, shows that at that
date the total amount OF Indebtedness on all
accounts was S21,279.500 This is a fair de-
crease upon the amount reported as of the
corresponding date in the year preceding, and
shows satisfactory condition of the obligations
for which the District is responsible. Details
OF the nature and character of the aggregate
debt OF the District are TO be found in the re-
port of the treasurer, herewith submitted as
part OF the commissioners report
WASHINGTON ASYLUM
CuutT tulS ueslSHallOn is Included the aims
house and the workhouse, these institutions,
so different in their character, being included
in one Enclosure and placed under one superin-
tendent. 1t is suggested that at some day,
when the finances of the District will permit
an end should be put to this anomalous con-
dition of things, and these two institutions sep
arated as they undoubtedly ought to be. For
many years the two institutions were under the
same root; the poor, infirm- and diseased being
separated from Migrants and the disOrderly by
corridor only. In January, 1877, Congress
authorized the removal OF the District Jail
building. and tile use OF the materials of which
1t was constructed in the erection OF a separate
building Tor the workhouse Of the Washington
asylum, and made it lawful for the District
authorities to use such building for the imprs-
onment OF offenders against certain Of the local
laws. 1t Will he observed that though this LEXIS.
provision tor the workhouse. it still places that
institution upon portion of the ground occu-
pied by the asylum, and in express words
styles sit the wOrkhOuSe of the Washington
asylum. In point of fact the asylum and the
workhouse are still one institution, and con-
tguous to one another. and are under the
supervision Ut one and the same officer
Another tact worthy of notice is that the gov
ernment, in selecting site for the new JAIL
chose property adjoining the asylum, and that
now this builning, set apart for the accomlnO-
dation OF the poor, infirm and diseased, is sand
wiched between the United States Jail and the
District workhouse.
The report of the intendant, which is hereto
annexed, shows that 21o persons were received
into the almshouse during the year, OF which
number 1913 were inmates at the end of the
year, and he estimates the daily average of in
mates ut 124. The institution is frequently
Inspected and its condition is at all times very
satisfactory.
The report of the intendant shows that the
prisoners have been largely used during the
past year in work around the public markets
and upon the streets in the vicinity of the
workhouse and other outlying streets for which
no approximation is made and which otherwise
could not he done, Besides the work TINS
compiished, quite number of the inmates of
the wOrkhouse have been employed upon, and
about the farm attached to the asy Ium and the
crops, consisting princiia of vegetables, have
been fed out to the prisoners, thus con-. der4bly
Assisting in their support and lessenlng the cost
the value of the labor performed and OF the
crops raised by this use of the prisoners, and
attention is asked to the details contained in
the report.
During the past year work on the conversion
OF the magazine number one into workhOuse
for females, as required by the act of Congress
making appropriations for the year, has gone
on with care and dispatch, and the home will
be ready for occupation about the first of Dec
ember. When the building is completed and
furnished it will provide comfortable accommo-
dations for about ninety-siX female prisoners
ana will to that extent relieve the present
in the hospital department OF the asylum ac-
companies the report of the intendant, and
sestions as to further hospital space and con-
Teniences. This hospital is general in its char
acter. Patients of all classes without regard to
sex, color or condition are admitted, and it is
the only hospital for the sick to which patients
are admitted upon the order OF the Commits
si0ners aloGe. 1t is believed to be excellent in
ali its appointments, and its accommodations
should be SO enlarged as to meet all contingent
cies. II may not be amiss, in this connection,
To call attention to the needs that exists in the
District for home tor incurables The past
year has demonstrated that such an institution
would find a great field for its peculiar work in
this community. Ordinary hospitals are not
usually provided with the proper appliances
for the care and charge of those particular
patients in addition to their general inmates.
Nor are such hospitals usually endowed in any
way with funds that can be devoted to the care
OF such patients. Under these circumstances
for the charge of this unfortunate class, and
attention Is respectfully solicited to 1t.
CHARITIES
Transmitted herewith are the annual reports
OF the respective institutions Of charity (other
than the Government Hospital for the Insanel,
revenues by direct appropriation from Con.
sress, namely: The Reform school, the Indus
trial Home school, the Columbia hospital, the
Association Tor Relief OF Colored Women and
Cniluren, the Childrens hospital, st. AIMS
Infant MIA asylum and the Church Orphanage
Also reports from several institutions that are
aided by the Commissioners from the poor
fund, namely: The Emergency hospital, the
Womens dlspensary, the Homeopathic dispen.
sary, the Benevolent Society Of Washington
the Aged Women's Home and the night lOdg'
| luS uOuSt.
Also the reports Of the police surgeons as To
the sanitary condition of the various charita-
PIE institutions deriving aid from District reve-
nues- ibis report shows their sanitary cOndt
tion 10 De excellent, and the Commissioners
oelleve they are generally well conducted.
ane Coinmissionefs again renew their former
suggestion that, as the public expenditures for
eharlty are large, it would seem to be- expedient
10 appoint an officer to devote his time to that
serVlce, Win accompanying legislation author.
Izin8 the commissioners to withhold appropri
ations IN case OF needless extrayagance or fail
ure 10 1uinli the reasonable expectation Of pub
lie benefit on the part of the beneficiaries.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The police department deserves much credit
for Its efficiency and good discipline.
The report of the major OF police exhibits the
present condition of the force, the services ii
rendered. during the md ha ANIMAL sta