Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-27
EVANSVILLE.
Statement of the Board of Town Commits
sioners as to Municipal Affairs.

rIoners rs to Municipal Affairs.
Correspondence cs The Evening Star.
HYATTsvILLE. Md, April %, 1898.
The board of town commissioners met last
night Mt the residence of Mr.. ]. II. Ralston
Routine business transacted and several
bills were paid The annual financial report
WAS rendered, showing the receipts to be
81 .2S6.3S and the expenses 81 ,2G7.Si. leaving a
balance i'll the treasury OF SlS.49 The follow
ing statement appended to the report:
We fee! it incumbent upon lis to add few
words 10 the above dry recital OF figures show
ing money received and spent. Our committee
on assessments said last June that this board
would have considerably more money to use
for town purposes than any prior board, and
prof ting by thei- experience and benefited by
their work We may Iairly hope to accom- Ilish
more This ext ectutIon has been realized.
One year ago Hyatissiiie possessed but sixteen
street lamps some being in Dad condition. We
now have tWentv-esht i'll fall operation, the
present board adding nearly as many as the
six preceding boards had purchased, and our
most recent addition being of improved
chardctel.
I'VE have constructed and contracted TO have
constructed out of this years moneys on the
turnpike and Spencer street over LOCO feet U:
gravel walk, more permanent III its nature than
any similar Construction heretofore made. We
have graded and Grayelcd on Spencer street
and line avenue over 600 feet OF roadway;
!, zoo feet vi sidewalk, running westerly toward
the Evans addition. has been put in good
dition. The sidewalk work thus accomplished
has been al least twice great that done by
any previous board, while such board had
ever graded or grayeled In its entirety any
street. their operations having been confined to
keeping old streets i'll good condition. We do
not speak thus to detract from any credit they
mn have deserved but order that the
munity NAV understand the injustice OF the
criticisms which may have been lcveled ut the
present board.
Il, has been said that the commissioners did
little work last fall. when work could have ad
vantagcously been done, and thn. the streets were
left over winter in some respects, III II bad con-
dItiou. This statement has "A certain degree of
truth. but the reason should not be ignored.
While the smalktaxpayers as rule, during the
past year, paid their public dues with unusual
proniptness. the conduct of many OF our wealth.
Ter citizens was such rs to retard the progress
of the town and embarrass this board, for the
reason that no. until the middle OF January,
when no work the streets could be done,
were taxes paid by them. To this and to moth
ing else is due the fact that ne;riv all the work
OF the commissioners has been done within the
past sixty days, and could not have been accom-
rlishcd earlier. Some OF the mos. active critics
of the Commissioners have nos yet contributed
their share of public dues for the past year.
''r or me entire year. except during the past
two or three mcnths. the meetings OF the com
missioners have been held i'll public place.
although no outsiders have apparently cared to
be present, except pursuant To regular engage
nents relating to the administration of town
AFFAIR.". OF late no public place for meetings
has been offered, except at u rem: We did not
fee! justified III paving.
The supreme Court or the United States hav-
ing recently decided that towns ant. cities have
the right TO charge telegraph and other com
pgnies occupying the streets rental for their
use. have passed ordinance fixing the
rental NJ IS cents per year for the space occu-
pied by each pole, provided that If the citizens
of the town were furnished appropriate facii-
ties the rent should be but 10 cents We regardit
rs even more important to the public tina: owner
ship o. the streets should be insisted upon and
receive recognition than that any considerable
amount of money should be charged.
We congratulate the people of the town
upon the fact that while our revenues the past
year have been larger than before those
least able 10 paw have paid less and those best
able to pay have made up the difference. We
I condole with our citizens over the fact that
antiauated constitutional provision, enacted at
IA time of little general intelligence upon the
subject OF taxation. will compel successors
10 increase the burdens OF the poor and lessen
those OF the wealthy ut the same moment that
/ the tax rate is diminished"
! George Evans, the eleven-year old son OF Mr..
/ Geo. II. Evans of this village, while climbing
tall tree on Pike avenue opposite the residence
/ OF Mr. Markward last evening fell to the
ground. striking his stomach and head and
, seriously injuring himself. He was taken to his
fathers home aud DIR. Richardson attended
/ him.
! The LAYING Of the corner stone Of the new
Masonic temple Of this town will take place on
May at 3:I5 p. IN. Representatives of the
Grand Lodge OF this jurisdiction. together with
those OF the Grand Lodge of the District Of
Columbia. will be in attendance. The occasion,
If the weather proves favorable, will be men,
orable for the number of visitors present.
Everyt thing is now in readiness for carrying out
the proposed program.
Miss Lena Suit Of Bladensburg is suffering
with the grip.
DIR. Alfred III. Wells the newly appointed
postmaster of this village, is having portion
OF his drug store fitted up for the post Office.
he expects TO take charge Of the Office in few
weeks.