Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

when the population was pressed beyond the
municipal limits property in the suburbs was
not desirable investment. A great many of
the places which are now looked upon as eligibly
situated in the midst of lovely scenery would
have been readily exchanged by the owners a
rev years ago for property in the city.
In measure this transfer Of property
has taken p1ace and large tracts Of land have
passed Into other hands. During all this pc
riod Of change and enhancement of values the
natural advantages Of the country surrounding
this city have in the main remained the same.
A change OF proprietors, however, has been
followed by changes in the property. The lawns
about the old places have been improved, the
area OF cultivated fields has been increased, new
houses have been erected and there is an alb
sence OF the slovenliness and neglect which was
formerly noticed. All this has served to
heighten the natural advantages of the country,
which are undoubtedly very great, and when it
can be viewed in Q comfortable carriage rolling
along over well-kept roads 1t ia, perhaps, not .
matter OF surprise that so much is heard nova
days about the picturesque scenery which marks
the suburbs of Washington. There is no ques-
ton that the country about the city is very
beautiful, and the statement is made by compe-
tent judges that there are few cities with such
attractive suburbs. No doubt the most matter
of-fact man would coincide with this opinion
after learning something of the prices asked
and the prices received for suburban property.
OUR COUNTRY ROADS.
The facilities for reaching the suburbs have
been enlarged by the building Of electric rail-
roads, and the beauties Of the country during
the summer season can be enjoyed by those who
cannot afford to own or hire horse and car
rage. The work Of improving the country
roads which is carried on by the District gov
eminent each year, while not as extensive as
those in charge would like or the conditions Of
the roads demand. is still gradually raising the
led IS Al
some $50 miles Of country roads, according to
Mr.. Beale, the superintendent in charge. Last
year the amount appropriated for the improve
ment Of the roads was CSC, 900. In addition to
making the ordinary repairs, which naturally
absorbs large part of this sum. the authorities
were able to macadamize several of
the important thoroughfares leading into
the city An improvement Of this sort was
carried out on the Benning road from the
bridge to the stock yards. The Bladensburg
road was macadamized from the Boundary to
Mt Olivet cemetery, the Brentwood road from
Boundary to r street extended, and it is pro-
posed during the coming year to continue the
improvement to Harmony cemetery. 1t 10
stated that all the main thoroughfares leading
from the city are now improved. A number Of
intersecting and minor roads have been sur
faced with gravel, and the Ridge road has been
graded from the New Cut road to the Lough-
borough road This year the appropriation for
oouHuv toous rs u TcuuctdOu OF SIU,UVU
as compared with last year. There is need Of
better bridges and more extended work in
road building all through the suburbs. The
advantage Of good roads in the country Is az
great as those in the city, and there is hardly
any one thing that will add more to the at
Effectiveness Of the contiguous country and bind
it closer in business and social relations with
the city than system of firSt-class highways.
OUR MUNICIPAL FUND.
ax-,11 no r.,
municipal purposes during the coming year
than the District Commissioners estimated
could be spent with advantage. But the total
amount appropriated by the new bill il only
about S270 900 less than the expenditures of last
year. and as the city got along very well during
the year that is past there seems to be no reason
to fear a set back because Congress was not dis
posed to be liberal. As it is some $500, 600
have been made available for the current ex-
penses of the District government, and in bulk
this seems to be large sum. But when it is
considered that it keeps the municipal govern
ment OF population Of some $50 900 going for
one year it does not seem to be so large after all
Especially is this true when the various items of
expense are considered. The single item
of interest on the debt of the District and the
payments into the sinking fund amounts to
81, 2l3O0O. Then there was expended during
the year about q million and a quarter of dol
lars on the streets The public schools cost nearly
a million, the police force nearly half million,
and these items alone, when counted up, amount
to nearly "a. 900 900. Then there is the fire de-
partment and the other expenses of great city,
which easily absorb the million and a quarter
remaining. All these large sums of money are
expended by payments from the United States
treasury. with all the safeguards which are
thrown about treasury disbursements, and it Is
safe to say that in no city in this country is
such large percentage Of the money collected
from taxpayers expended for their benefit and
and that Of citizens generally as is the case in
this city.
SOME OF THE DISTRICTS EXTRAS.
As the government owns 81 per cent Of the
real estate in the city it contributes toward the
expense Of the city one-half Of the amount of
the yearly appropriations. Upon this basis the
District pays for the coming year something
over O., 500 900 and the government a similar
amount. But this sum does not represent the
entire expenditure of the District funds for
the reason that the $4,000 appropriated
toward defraying the expenses Of the Grand
Army encampment is a charge on the District
funds exclusively. So Is the sum OF
$l50,00O for the payment of this years
installment for the Districts half in the Rock
Creek Park and about ga, 900 representing the
Districts contribution toward the maintenance
Of the Geological Park. Altogether there viii
be expended this year of District funds about
100 600, which is about the amount Of the
estimated revenue. It sometimes happens that
all OF the money raised by taxation from the
citizens Of the District and paid into the U. s,
treasury is not appropriated by Congress. thus
leaving balance Of District funds in the treas
ury unexpended. Several years ago this bal
ance or surplus reached quite a large sum and
at one time it was something like half million
Of dollars. But during the past few years there
have been extra charges brought against the
District funds, as, for example, the city's share
in the cost Of the abandoned aoueduct extern
sion and its half in the cost OF
the purchase Of the two parks, 20
that the outgo has been about eoua]
to the income. At the close Of the present year,
according to Auditor Petty, there will prscti-
cally be no surplus Of District funds left in the
treasury. The estimate Of revenue for
the year 10 based ON the receipt Of
taxes according to the old essees-
ment There wilk however, be NO change In
this estimated amount IL the proposed amend
ment becomes Law. Then the Commissioner
viii have the power to AZ the rate Of taxation
20 as TO produce an amount of revenue equal
to that which Congress has appropriated. Il i
evident that as the revenues Of the District In
crease there IL disposition ON the part Of Con
gress to mako certain expenses charges exclu-
sively against the District fundA Perhaps the
longest step In this direction wns the proposi-
ton recently made in Congress that the entire
cost Of the maintenance and improyemeut Of
the streets in the suburbs be an exclusive
charge ON the District.
soNB NEW DuILDINa2
Daniel J. Ready viii erect . one-stcry and
cellar store 1t 1904 North capitol strssA II