Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-27
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.



Mr.. e. Z. Smith, for the citizens interested,
recently requested the improvement Of the
streets and laying Of sidewalks on d between
18th and 18th streets southeast and 18th between
d and e streets southeast Capt symons has
made . report on the matter, in which he says
provement. at 10 possible" he says, "that
sidewalks may be put on them during the com
ing season under the provisions Of the present
system, but further relief than this can scarcely
be counted on ct present"
HE DOES NOT WANT THE POLES.
The District Commissioners have addresseda
letter TO Major Rittenhouse, secretary and treas
urer of the Soldiers' Home, in relation TO his
suggestion that the telegraph poles on the Rock
Creek church road be placed on Mr.. Cammack's
ground, with Mr.. Cammack's consent They
say that Mr.. Cammack objects to that action,
and the Commissioners can do nothing further
in the matter ct present, but contemplate
change in the location Of the poles when the
District further improves the road.
WHAT WAS THROWN INTO HIS vEsTrBuLE.
The Commissioners this morning received o
letter from Jas. L. Ewin, a. follows: "Is not
into vestibules still In force? suppose it is as
its provisions are generally observed by mer-
chants engaged in legitimate business. Bum
sellers and the like, however, do not observe
them, a. illustrated BY within pamphlet thrown
into my vestibule on Monday morning at No.
1917 10Th street n. ". The regulation is GER
tainly good and reasonable and should be en-
forced against such men as these II against
anyone" The enclosed pamphlet was a hand
somely illustrated book advertising the goods
Of bottling and brewing company.
THE GAS COMPANY OBJECTS.
Mr.. John Leetch, president Of the George
town gaslight company, has written to the
Commissioners protesting against imposing
penalties on the company for twelve street
lamps reported by the police as not burning
during part Of the night of Monday, the 18th
instant. The penalty clause Of the contract
provides that five cents per hour for each lamp
thus reported be deducted from the compensa-
ton Of the company. The lamps in question,
storm on the night Of the 18th instant, and, as
he understands it, the company is not RESPONSE
BILE. He says the lamps were duly lighted, and
when the lamp-lighters went in the morning to
extinguish them they found the gas turned ON
sTsd no sna
tainly never contemplated that in agreeing to
penalty clause nearly ten times in excess Of
compensation it was to be held responsible for
every act Of Providence, to prevent which the
company could interpose no bar"
Mr.. HowLErT's PROTEST.
The Commissioners to-day gave hearing to
Mr.. John H. Hewlett and his attorney, Mr..
Chaplin Brown. in respect to Mr.. Howlett's pro-
test against awarding the contract for the
bCuOOi-uOuSc Ou Aoku bLcct. 0cOIk6tOWu, 10
Thomas Driscoll. Mr.. Hewlett claimed that
the bid submitted by Thomas q Driscou was
informal in not naming sureties and on &C
count of other omissions. The District Com
missioners will not, it is understood, change
their decision in the matter awarding the con-
tract to Thomas d Driscoll, the lowest bidders.
Mr.. Wheatley said to a STAR reporter to-day
that he did not think the informality was of
character to justify the Commissioners in Civ
ing the contract to higher bidder. The sure
ties were not named, but he said, q deposit of
money was made.
HOUSES IN ALLEYS.
Mr.. W. c. Dodge has sent to the District
Commissioners what he proposes as q substi-
tute for the bill to prohibit the erection of
tenements in alleys. Mr.. Dodge's proposition
is to forbid such constructions in alleys less
than 40 feet in width and not having a proper
opening through the square.
VITAL STATISTICS.
Health Officer Townshend presents the fol-
lowing report for week ending December %,
1885, Number of deaths, 90: white, IS; colored,
80. Death-rate per GOO per annum: White,
20.l0; colored, 2635; total population, o. Is; 81
were under years of age, IS over 60 years,
and % were under / year old. Seventeen Of
the deaths occurred in hospitals and public in
situations. The principal causes Of death were:
Consumption, 18; diarrhnal, 2; erysipelas, 1;
typhoid fever, 4; malarial fever, 8; scarlet
fever, 1; pneumonia II; bronchitis, 4; pleurisy,
2; puerperal diseases; 8; whooping cough, 4;
diphtheria, 1. Births reported 29 white males,
"a white females; II colored males, IS colored
females. Marriages reported: 20 white,
colored