Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-12
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
a vExArIoUs ALLEY QUESTION.

NEXAIlOUs ALLEY QUESTION.
The STAR has heretofore referred TO VIM.
Richard Young's complaint of the obstruction
OF the public alley, in square 49, by fence.
The matter has excited great amount of in
.erest among the residents in the square, and
the old board of Commissioners ordered the OBJ
struction removed. but some question arose as
to whether the alley was a public one, and the
attorney for the District was called upon for an
opinion, which he submitted to the Commits
sioners to-day. The opinion is fellows:
The fact that the ground-the space of this
alley-is not and has not been taxed for very
many years, has much weight in favor Of it's
being public property. Standing alone it is
very inconclusive. II public there should be
record of its dedication or condemnation. The
plats and maps should show it public alley,
curry am told that the place
has been kept closed for more
than thirty years. Indeed, there is no claim
that it ever was open. 1t actually was and still
Is, understand, used as private way, kept
locked. and the few who used il were provided
with keys. If ever public this long closure and
acquiesence would be much in the way of now
asserting the public right Mr.. Young. or
those interested in asserting the rights of the
public In the premises. could help us much by
having an expert examine the title and early
conveyances of the property involved and also
make an examination of the ordinances of the
corporation OF Georgetown for evidence of the
character of this alley. NV present informa-
ton in the premises does not enable me TO adj
wise the Commissioners that the space in cues
ton is public alley. l should suspend the
execution OF any order to open it,"
BIDS OPENED.
Bids were opened by the Commissioners to-
day 70 construct an eight-room public school
building on 10Th street, between and streets
northwest. The following were the bidders:
John H. Hewlett, 1000; Jas. L. Parsons. S2l.-
925; F. II. Duehay. S21 $50: B. Patrick. 500 $50:
Geo. o. Cook. S21.700; W. A. Kimmell SD 9g7
VIM. L. Garrison, S2l ;444. The award will be
made tomorrow.
THEY WANT A NUISANCE ABATED.
The Commissioners have received petition
from F. S. Deland and others praying that the
nuisance now existing at the corner of 9TH and
L streets northwest be abated The nuisance
complained of is doctor selling patent medi-
clnes, and the residents object to his sensational
methods of attracting crowd
VITAL STATISTICS.
The report of Health Officer Townshend
for the week ending June shows: Number of
deaths, "a; white, 40; colored, As. Death rate
per 1000 per annum: white, 69S; colored,
3l.2O. Total population, 2172. Thirty-four
were under five years of age, IL over sixty
years. and % were under one year of age Six
teen of the deaths occurred in hospitals and
public institutions. The deaths by classes were
as follows: Zymotic, Is; constitutional, %:
local. SO; developmental, 8; violence. .. The
principal causes of death were: Cerebro-spinal
meningitis, g consumption, Is; diarrhgal, q:
typhoid fever, 2; malarial fever, 2; scarlet
fever, 2; pneumonia, 5; congestion of the
lungs, /; puerperal diseases. 1; diphtheria. 3;
Births reported: Fifteen white males 20 white
females; Is colored males. 12 colored females
Marriages reported: 20 white; 6 colored.
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS SALARIES.
The school authorities are engaged in pre-
pairing their estimates for next year. 1t is
found that there will be an increase of fifty-two
in the number of teachers as compared with
this year. The average salary to be paid next
year is $40 higher than at present.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Hereafter hackmen and cabmen will be pro-
hibited from soliciting passengers at the rail-
road depots, the Commissioners having issued
an order to that effect
MISCELLANEOUS.
Colonel II. G.. Gibson. commanding the third
artillery at the Washington barracks has writ
| ten to the Commissioners requesting that an
additional fire. alarm box be placed at the arse
nal gate, as more ample means are necessai '
for extinguishing fire at the hospital
DR.. S. j. Radcliffe, of 1923 K street north
west, has complained to the Commissioners
that his house has been flooded several times
during the recent rains on account of the slow
progress made in laying the sewer pipe at the
corner of 18th and h streets northwest, and
asks that the work be pushed with great dis
patch as the health of his family is in danger.
Commissioner Hine has gone to New York
city on business. He will return about Fri
day.