Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-11
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
HOUSES IN ALLEYS.

HOUSES IN ALLEYS.
The following is the text of the letter sent
BY the Commissioners to Representative Hemp
hill respecting the erection Of houses in alleys:
Relative to the bill relating to the building
regulations of the District Of Columbia re-
ferred to the Commissioners at your instance,
the Commissioners have to say that they re-
gard the bill too sweeping. The building
regulations now require that houses constructed
in alleys shall not have less than twenty feet
open space in their front This does not
require the alley to be that wide but merely
prescribes that that distance between build
sideration the Commissioners are inclined
to the opinion that it would be better
to require that no building shall be erected in
an alley less than 20-feet wide. It would be q
great hardship to entirely prohibit erection Of
buildings in alleys or minor streets, as such
buildings are especially necessary for resi-
dences Of mechanics, laborers, those engaged
in domestic service, and others who would in
general otherwise be compelled to reside in the
suburbs, at remote locations from the places Of
their employment, much to their own inconve-
nlence, and in manv instances to the inconve-
nience OF their employers. But in the Com
missioner judgment. before residences should
be permitted in alleys, the alleys should be
paved, and furnished with water, sewerage,
and gas facilities"
To REGULATE HEAT AND TEACHERS
There was a man at the District build
ings yesterday with an electro heat regulator.
He wanted to put it into school buildings. He
has an arrangement to put in each school room,
thermostat adjusted that it will regulate
the heat keeping it at any temperature re-
CURED. When it rises above the required tenn
perature the machine will automatically close
damper in the hot air flue. Mr.. Entwisle, the
building inspector. thought it was good thing.
ltwould be economical and do most everything
except build the fire. Mr.. Entwisle in speak
ing about it told a secret he has learned about
some of the school teachers. ''Yon would mt
believe it, he said. 'but some school teachers
are worse than the children trying to get a
holiday. They will leave the windows up and
shut off the registers and then complain to the
principal that the room is too cold so as to get
the school dismissed for the day. We have
caught 'em at it. If We go to a room and they
hear us coming. they will hastily close the win
dows and open the registers. We have caught
'em by going aronnd the building on the out
side before going in"
BUILDING ASSOCIATION TAXES.
The District Commissioners have written to
Chairman Hemphill in relation to taxation on
building associations as follows: "Real estate
Is taxed and a loan on mortgages on this real
estate is taxed. In the case of building asso-
Citations, as they loan on real estate. the owner
of a share of stock is only assessed once. that
is on the mortgage or loan, and as the asso-
citation pays it and deducts from the individual
he does not pay it but once"
THE RESERVATIONS.
The Commissioners have decided to appoint
board. composed of Capt. Symons, Mr.. Bal
ley, the computing engineer. and Mr.. Davis,
the assistant attorney, to examine the map of
the city and determine which reservations
should come under the control of the Commits
sioners. and which under the control of Col
Wilson. commissioner of public buildings and
grounds.
STREET EXTENSIONS.
As stated in The STAR. bill is in course of
preparation at the District buildings to provide
for the extension of the city streets into the
county. This bill. when submitted to the Com
missioners, will have received the benefit of
the consideration of several District officials
Capt Symons has gone over it, and it is now in
the hands of the attorney.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A building permit was issued yesterday to
Rott. Waldron for four brick dwellings 8l9 to
S25 d street northeast; $4,000.
The Enterprise farmers club. of Montgom-
cry county, Nd, has requested the Commits
sioners to change the police regulations that
they can drive cattle through the streets be-
fore o'clock in the morning.
The contract for the completion of the po-
lice station on 9th street, between Maryland
avenue and street northeast, has been ex-
tended until March 49,