Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-17
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Interesting Facts in the Chemists
Annual Report.
WELLS INSPECTED, WATER ANALYZED.
What is Said as to Asphalt for
Pavements.
> II y r L p A r A G r A p H S .
S HORT PARAGRAPHS

The seventh annual report of Prof. Cliff
ford Richardson, inspector of asphalts and
cements, was submitted to the Commission
ers today. and contains statistics Of the in
vestigations made on cements and asphalts
during the year.
Perhaps the most important matter dis
cussed Is the destruction of water and gas
service pipes by escaping currents OF cleo
tricity. On this subject he says:
Among the most important investiga-
lions was the examination Of the amount
OF injury which is being done to water and
gas service pipes and mains by escaping
electric currents. 1t was found that In
several cases this had proved alarmingly
| rapid and that, as In other cities consider
| able damage had been done, some steps
should be taken to prevent such injury in
the future in the District
Prof. Richardson states that during the
year hfty-one wells were examined and
thirty OF them were passed. or the twenty
| one condemned five were In the northwest,
nine In the southwest and seven in the
southeast. Those examined in the county
and northeast were all passed. In connec-
ton with the examination Of wells he says:
THE percentage of wells condemned is
considerably greater than last year, owing
to the large number examined from the low
portion of the city In the southeast and
southwest sections. In the surrounding
county the wells have proved much better
than heretofore.
the evidence derived from the chemical
analysis should be used only in connection
with evidence as to the source. environment
and history of the water, without which
the analysis cannot be properly Interpreted,
and may lead to very erroneous conclusions.
1t Is impossible to fix standards of pur-
of any substance shall condemn any water.
For every locality standards of purity must
be established by a study of the waters
from that locality. and in the interpreta-
| ton of an analysis such standard must be
taken into consideration in connection with
study Of the surroundings or source of
the water, natural drainage. levels, prox-
unity of privies. sewers and the like, previ-
GUS or Old contamination Of the SOIL" etc.
The Aqueduct Water.
In touching upon this subject the profess
scr says: 1.-THE character of the aqueduct
water Is about the same as in past years,
the average solids and free ammonia being
slightly higher. The supply may be con-
sidered. as heretofore. a desirable one, and
only lacking opportunity for suitable sedi-
mentation."
More hydraulic cement has been inspected
during the past year than ever before, and
large proportion OF It was rejected. The
greatest amount of natural cement Is used
by the subsurface department, for which
over Y, 600 barrels were examined and near
ly 1000 rejected. AS heretofore. he says,
| the cements Of the Potomac valley have ex.
celled all others in strength.
American Portland cements. he says, have
ket. and are rapidly becoming more reIia-
BILE In composition. burning and grinding.
they VIII not as yet. however. stand the
brands endure, and seem unsuited for sur
face work.
Asphalt Pavements.
During the past year. he says a contin-
ued improvement has been observed in the
method of laying asphalt pavements. The
points to which attention has been particu-
larly directed are as follows:
1.-THE rather coarse sand of the Potomac
river, with voids Of large size. seems to de-
mand that considerable portion Of fine
mineral matter should be added to stiffea
the cement in these voids. With this end
In view the amount of stone dust has been
increased and the percentage main tanned at
more than 10 and not more than 10 per cent.
The results seem to be a tougher and more
In our examination of hydraulic concretes
the subject of voids in various aggregates
has been studied. with results which have
been reported from time to time
Extensive experiments have been carried
on with attempts to shorten the time ne
sessary for subjecting the crude pitch to
heat in the process Of refining at the works
Of the Maryland Paving Company and the
Barber Asphalt Paving Company The de-
parture has consisted in the use of high
pressure steam in large gangs of pipe as a
source Of heat, and of Jet Of air or of live
steam as a means of agitation of the mass
OF pitch, thus preventing the formation of
Of the pitch adjacent to the chell of the
still. A considerable saving of time and
material has been accomplished in this way,
but it Is still an open question as to
whether the quality Of the product will
compare with the old process material"
Prof. Richardson recommends that here
construction of hydraulic bases good
river gravel be substituted, as it rams much
better and would be an economy to the
Concluding his report he says: I'VE now
await the conclusions to be derived from a
practical application of the Bermudez Ven
street surfaces. in order to decide whether
an actual competition with Trinidad as
phalt has been found"
In his estimate for next year he urges
that new quarters be provided, and that
testing machine be purchased at a cost of
5000.
Protest Against Grny's Park.
Several of the residents in the neighbor-
hood of Grays Park, near 26th street, have
Joined in a protest to the Commissioners
against the place: They claim that the
noise emanating nightly Is nuisance and
disgrace to the community.
Real and Personal Property.
Some time ago the superintendent of GEN.
sus requested the Commissioners to furnish
his office with the amount of real and per-
sonal property exempt from taxation The
letter was forwarded to the assessor for the
District with instructions to answer the
queries.
His report was submitted today and is as
follows:
Value Of real property in the District of
Columbia as assessed for taxation from 1880
to 1890 inclusive: $780, $751; $50 $50; 1884, $751;
07S; 1882 500, $685. 495 1888 1872 533 6S5 1854 500
s4s,67i 1885, $93. 5O2 464 1856, s96,0j3 SO: 1857
sos 1902 10l 1888, Sill. IA $780, 1885, $ll5 ASS
1890, S137, 626, 4l9.
Statement of exempt property for the year
ending June 80, 1880. including United States
and District of Columbia:
Exempt-Washington $4,1SS 3S9: GEORGE
town, s349 1852; county $S52, 457.
District Of Washington. 81, 09S,-
917; Georgetown, $1l8 $50; county, SAT 999
United States-Washington $50 201, 1O4;
Georgetown, 81, AT; county, s., 142, 559. Grand
total, $9O0o7.475.
Cable Cars to Stop.
There are several points along the line of
the cable road where the cars stop between
long squares. Few persons know these
places, and the result is that numerous COM
plants are filed with the railroad company
and the Commissioners. AS means of
remedying this evil 1T was proposed that
posts with signs be erected at the noints