Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-17

SAuSI UriuXe At au eSumeteo Coet "
SSo.VW. There is at present bill in Congress
which has passed the House Of Representatives
and Is pending in the Senate for this purpose.
and should this bridge be built would recon-
mend that the old Benning bridge or much
thereof as can be used be moved to NJ street
branch.
The iron bridge over Rock creek at street
northwest should be raised.
Inc Cham bridge is in apparently fairly good
Aqueduct or Free bridge.
NEW BRIDGES NEEDED.
would also suggest the propriefy Of build
ing bridge across the Eastern branch at the
extension of East Capitol street An iron bridge
should also be provided for over Rock creek at
massachusetts avenue extended
STEAM RAILROADS..
The steam railroad question has not vet
reached satisfactory solution. Several bills
are pending in Congress on this matter and
the Commissioners have made reports on the
various schemes proposed for relieving the
city and the railroads themselves of the many
inconvenience that both now suffer.
=, do not feel that anything can be added to
sne reports already made by the Commissioners
ON this subject, but hope that the Engineer
Commissioner will urgently ask that some solu-
ton be devised and laws passed to carry out
the same during the present session Of Con-
gress.
STREET RAlLwAYs,
considerable progress has been made during
the past year In replacing the old T rails in the
street railways by tho approved grooved rail
The best form Of motive power still remains an
open question inside Of the city limits. The
cable system has been applied and is
now In working condition on the 7th
street line, and is, believe, giving satisfaction
not only to the company but to the public
"hen II hrst came into use numerous accidents
occurred, but by great care these have now be-
come very exceptional, and think this system
Will grow in favor.
nead electric wires IS now in use on the Eek
ington and Soldiers Home and the George
Town anu Ienieytown railways, and Is, believe,
giving good results
Experiments have been made BY the Metro
poiitan road with the storage battery but 80
lar they have not decided to adop. that system.
Inc pneumatic method rs applied under the
Judson patent has been laid down on the
brlshtwood Avenue road, leading out 9TH street
beyond the boundary, and promises WELL al
though up to the present time it has not come
into working use.
Considerable extensions to the charters Of
the Lexington and Soldiers Home, the George
town and Tenleytown, the Anacostia and
Potomac and the Rock Greek railroads have
been granted and applications for charters
nave been made for roads cutting up the Dis
trict 30 that should they all pass l believe the
District would have sufficient accommodations
TO last Tor great many years.
HEROIC LINKS.
The herdic lines of the city continue to &C.
cupy the streets and in many ways have been
useful to the citizens. They are competitors
for business with the street car lines parallel
Ing the same in many cases. and have caused
Improvements in the car service. The ac-
ton OF these heavy vehicles in running con-
lnuo usly over the asphalt streets along given
ines Is very hard on the pavements, and as
they are at no expense at present except the
paying OF q small license fee, the damage that
they do to the city streets is in no way compen-
stated for. would suggest that this license for
public vehicles used in this way be made proper
tlonal to the number OF passengers the said
vehicles carry, the amounts TO increase in
geometrcal proportion. Should this be done
and the proceeds 10y law applied to improving
all the streets over which the herdics run
think satisfactory solution Of the trouble
would be obtained.
THE DISTRICT VETERINARIAN.
Although not an official of the engineer de-
partment the District veterinarian is required
to look after all the horses in this department
as well in others. During the past year he has
given faithful service and believe that his
compensation should be increased if possible.
PROPERTY DIVISION.
The same method Of caring for property that
was in use during the year 1889 has been
followed and has given satisfactory results
The amount of property TO be booked after is
continually increasing andi Is only by the
most faithful discharge of the duties Of the ill.,
spector OF property in the engineer department
that heavy losses are prevented.
PROPERTY YARDS.
The property yards are under the charge of
this gentleman, and in them new materials.
such as curb, grant, blocks. asphalt blocks
AID tiles, sewer pipe, water pipe, cement.
sand. broken stone, &C.. have to be
received, inspected, stored and cared for
until used. Old material taken from one
street has to be stored and worked over to fit it
for use in some other localities. believe it
will soon be necessary for moro property yards
to be provided for in the District so as to leave
this property in more convenient situations for
use III all parts Of the city.
CHANGE OF FISCAL YEAR.
In the last annual report made by my pre-
decessor he suggested the propriety of chang
ing the fiscal year from July to July to JAN
uary to January l. thus allowing more worl,
to be done under the appropriations All this
could be avoided ii Congress would grant the
right to begin work under the appropriations
as soon as they are made. especially If the bills
should be passed early in the season.
At the short session of Congress the appro-
priaton bill passing on or before the 4th of
March, if the money were made available at
once advantage could be taken of three good
working months. April May and June, which at
present arc lost.
SURVEYORS OFFICE.
The surveyors office being feed Office the
work to be done by the Office for the District
has to be paid for the same as though it were
done by private individuals. believe it would
be more satisfactory. the records become
more quickly available and the work OF
the District would become much more
advan tageous could this Office be made a sala.
ried office, and would suggest tho following
estimate of cost to properly equip and run il
on salary basis. ii beng the same as tina,
suggested by my predecessor. Salaries: One
surveyor. "a. 6h6; assistant surveyor. q, 800
] draughtsmdn and computer, 81, $50; l clerk
II AGO; messenger, 5000; rodmen at $7SO
80, 100; 2 axmen at $40, S1.440. Total. Sl9.46O.
contingent expenses, the frs: year would be
large to provide horses. wagons anu harness, the
keeping of the same, new instruments, repairs
20 Instruments stationery, printing, &c, 81, 0o0
Add the item previously mentioned for COPY
ing old records. mounting maps. books and
plating and providing proper storage, $4,000.
Total, SIT, 400
Fees at present paid by property owners for
work done should be collected and paid to the
collector of taxes, the same as other fees now
charged in the District, and so into the gen.
eral fund.
IMPROVEMENT OF ROCK CREEK.
The project for the improvement Of that
portion of Rock creek within the city limits has
been brought to the attention of Congress for