Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-01

nave peen improved In TINS respect as follows:
Northwest section. S26S .0S63S; Southwest,
S5S.3S557; Southeast. SO, 4s2.2s; Northeast,
SlO3, 446; county, $3.50
The most important subject in regard to Dis
trict streets ich has been talked about has
peen the various proposals in regard to the ex-
tension Of the streets and avenues through the
outlying subdivisions on the same general plan
as the city streets. bill for this purpose was
considered by the Commissioners, reported
fayorably by them to the committees OF Con-
gress, argued for by a committee Of the board
OF trade and other parties and reported favor
ably to the House May "a. The bill has not
yet been considered in the House, but the prob
Abilities are that before adjournment it will be
given a chance.
As a separate measure vigorous attempt has
oeen made to pass bill providing for the ex-
tension OF Massachusetts avenue to the site of
the new Methodist University. Other streets
and avenues have been extended to some extent
out the decided need of a general street extern
sion law becomes more apparent every day.
There have been several other proposals in
regard to District streets. Mr.. Springer has
reintroduced his bill for an avenue through the
mall from the Capitol to the Washington mon
ument, and Col. Hams has answered Congress
in regard to the inquiries. as to the cost and
practicability of road along Rock creek and
through the redeemed land on the river front
1t has been proposed to make this a grand
drive, with wide roadways for carriages, horse
men and pedestrians.
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
The fate of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal,
which was almost entirely washed in by the
big freshet of 1889. has been of the greatest in
terest to Washington. During the year the
legal fight for possession Of the property has
been waged holly. The bondholders and others
demanded receiver and the Maryland legisla-
ture took a hand in the matter. Gov. Jackson
in his message to the legislature advised that
ia nnal ha loo sod co. ox,1
was Immediately formed for that purpose.
Judge Cox for the District granted the petition
for receiver in January. The debate in the
Maryland Legislature was protracted but finally
ended in the passage of the bill leasing the
canal to railroad. Judge Alvey of MARYLAND
took hand in the matter, and in March APP
pointed receivers for the canal The receivers
went to work and az the same time the legal
fight continued before Judge Alvey. The
trustees of the bondholders of 1874 fled a pc
tition for possession of the canal. The majority
OF these bonds we're held BY the Baltimore and
Ohio Company. In October Judge Alvey gave
the bondholders until May to repair the canal
az n waterway. A large bond was to be filed
and it was not known whether the bondholders
of Al were in earnest in their efforts to repair
the canal In December, however, the bond
was filed and the trustees took possession.
There is now every indication that the canal
will be repaired and Washington will not be
deprived of its waterway in that direction.
COLUMBUS MEMORIAL.
Washington failed to secure the worlds fair
and there does not seem to be a very brilliant
prospect of her securing any memorial of the
discoverer of the country. There have been
lnnumerable propositions for a memorial of
some sort in this city to commemorate the
great event, but the only plan which has taken
any shape is a proposition for $50, 900 statue
of Columbus to be erected in this city. The
Senate has passed a bill providing for such a
statue, but the House has shown no inclination
to move in the matter.
DISTRICT BRIDGES.
The District is richer one bridge since last
January, the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge
having been finished and dedicated during the
year. The bridge was finished in March and
August 26 was opened and dedicated with a
monster celebration and parade.
strong effort has been made for a new
bridge across the Eastern branch in place of
the present rickety structure on the Benning
road and the House has passed bill appro-
printing 100000 for that purpose.
The question OF a new bridge across the
branch at the foot of South Capitol street has
also been agitated during the year. A new
also been one of the bridge topics, but nothing
definite has been accomplished. Col. Hains
during the year rendered a report denounciHg
the Long bridge nuisance.
THE POTOMAC RIVER.
The work of retaining the Potomac river
flats has progressed steadily during 1890 and
the reclaimed parts are rapidly assuming a
definite form. The reclaimed land will not. as
it was hoped, be needed for a worlds fair but
the good work nevertheless goes steadily on,
a ID it may be said that now two-thirds of the
Milling in ard forming Of the park has been
The filling in. however, was only
one portion of the work. and taking everything
into consideration it is safe to assume that
four-ffths of the actual work Of changing this
locality from reeking morasS to handsome
park has been completed. For instance, the
work of dredging the channel to the required
depth has been finished as has the tidal reser-
voir. one of the main features Of the scheme.
In March when work was suspended for time
on accoun. of q lack of funds it was estimated
that 81, l41 .365 would be required to finish ac-
cordinS TO the plans. Col. Hams asked that in
the river and harbor bill 5000. 900 be appro-
priated and thought that by doing so money
could be saved and the work finished in two
years.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
During 1890 water was turned on the new
main and Capitol Hill was relieved of the
drought which has troubled that locality for SO
long. The new main is forty-eight inches and
has many connecting branches Ground was
broken for this work III August, 1889. and
4hdrCH " Vi Tue past year the water was turned
on: The city is now. with very few exceptions,
well supplied with water. Washingtons water
supply, coming as it does from Grea. Falls is
considered by experts TO be remarkably pure
Fault has been found with the turbidity of the
water and in time this defect will probably be
Washington has not as vet been refunded the
money extracted from her exchequer on ac-
count of the abandoned tunnel. but the tunnel
itself has created considerable talk in Congress
during the year. The feasibility of laying
pipes in the tunnel has been inquired into.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
In July the board Of experts appointed in
1889 to inquire into and report to Congress on
the sewerage system of the District and what
improvements were advisable rendered an in
tcresting report. The subject was thoroughly
discussed and number of desirable systems
given.
During the year $50 900 was appropriated for
sewers and 80, S73 feet of sewer constructed.
For suburban sewers $4,000 was appropriated
and II Gas feet constructed.
ORGANIZED LABOR.
Washington, as every other CITY, has felt
of the labor troubles which have
been SO marked feature of the year 1890. A
firm and decided effort has been made by the
local labor organizations to have an eight-hour
law enacted for government laborers in this
city. This law was to be an entering wedge for
a general eight-honr law. Several hearings
were held before congressional committees and
action is still hoped for.