Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-18
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Captain Derby Favors a Large Loan
for Sewers.
WORK SHOULD NOT Be DONE PIECEMEAL
Report Of the Chief of the Special
Assessment Division.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST

OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST.
There Is one man. at least In the District
government who is In favor OF the Issuance
OF bonds to carry out at once many urgent
improvements. 1t is Capt. Geo. Mcclellan
Derby. the engineer officer who has charge
OF the sewer, lighting and water depart
ments OF the District. In his annual re-
port which will shortly be submitted he
VIII make several recommendations Per-
maps the most important one viii be that of
oonding the District, to the extent OF $1,000
wy or *S.oU.ooO for the purpose OF carrying
out at once the system of sewerage Disposal,
as recommended by the sewerage commits
sion some time ago. In conversation with a
star reporter today the captain said that
the sewerage system OF Washington needed
immediate consideration. No one he said,
who had ever seen the condition of affairs
at the James Creek canal and the b street
outlet would hesitate a moment to indorse
any scheme looking to their obliteratiou 1t
was unsafe and unbusinesslike for the gov
eminent to delay the improvements of the
c2plals sewerage system. IL the, old plan
out 1t will be forty-five years before the new
system could be put in operation. Under
the present order OF things an appropria-
ton which is made yearly for an extern sion
OF the sewerage system is spent in accord
ance with the recommendation of the sewer
age commission, but the sewers SO con-
structed cannot be utilized until the whole
scheme has been completed.
He will also recommend different sys-
tenn Of street l lighting together with re-
prices paid for electric lighting and gas
lighting are altogether too high. If a good
system Of incandescent lights could be used
for the lighting of the city streets he is in
favor OF 1t. He had been told that the troll
ley people had used as an argument for per-
mission to run its dangerous wires over
better lighted from its poles. This would
undoubtedly, he thought, be a great sa wing
In lighting: as the shade trees of the city
bic part of it. Lighting. however. from the
middle of the streets. he thought, may be
accomplished as well by The underground
cidedly opposed to the overhead system,
which he considered not only dangerous but
an eye-sore to the community.
In the water department there would be
a few recommendations. or course he
wanted to supply the high area and the sur
rounding county with water ana recon.
mendations to these ends would be made.
Report ms to Special Assessments.
The annual report Of the chief Of the spe-
cial assessment division was submitted to
the Commissioners this afternoon. He
states in the beginning OF his report that
his division has. under the various orders
OF the Commissioners. jurisdiction over all
records and papers relating to special as
sessments made for any class of work. ex-
cept water main assessments. 1t is charg-
ed with the duty of preparing the assess
permit system, improvements and repairs.
construction of county roads and for con-
demnation of land for alleys. After these
IL is also the duty Of this division TO issue
bills therefor for service on the parties in
terested. care for the return Of such serv-
ice. to keep correct accounts of each LOT
and part of lot affected by the assessments,
to investigate and adjust all claims for
drawbacks under the several acts of Con-
Gates that may be found due and keep
proper records and accounts both as 70
issue and redemption. He states that the
current work OF his division is one-third
greater than last year. L. $50 communica-
lions and papers having been filed. briefed
and acted on during the year. making a
total Of ss,s61 to date exclusive of the re-
ports made upon certificates as to taxes is
sued from the Office of the assessor
The special assessments are classed as
follows:
Old corporation assessments for sidewalks.
curbing, carriageways, sewers. nuisances,
water and gas services. lighting streets.
opening alleys. ETC.. prior to February q.
NJ. G. Emery assessments. including all
work done subsequent to February y, 1911
the assessments for which were approved
Va ",
H. ID. Cooke assessments for all work
done subsequent to the same date. the as
sessments for which were approved by III.
Board of public works assessments for
work done under contracts made by the
board.
assessments. including all assessments
made by the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia for work done under the boar
OF public works contracts and the extern
SionS Of Tho YnadA ~ tho Soio
ers for the improvements of streets, avenues
and alleys.
ment for land condemned and taken for
alleys by the United States marshars jury.
and the assessment for which was made
against the property benefited.
Compulsory permit assessments, includ-
ing those made under the acts OF Congress
approved July 9. 1886. March s. 1857, July 13,
1883 1888 March 2 1883 zoos august G. 1880. March 3.
improvements and repairs assessments,
under acts OF Congress approved March 3.
Construction OF county roads, under scts
OF Congress approved March 5. 1881. and
Under the head of drawback certificates,
Mr.. Roome reports that the total amount
adjusted during the year under the various
acts OF Congress was 81. SIS. OF which
sum sl Ss4 70 were under the act Of 1880
The amount Of drawbacks on hand await
ing satisfactory evidence before issued Is
Inc amount outstanding on the 30th OF
June. 1892. was SIS. 20. and there were H.
sued during the year s121&.l5
The amount redeemed during the year
was. in payment Of general taxes, sS5,.
6S9s. and In payment OF special assess
There was outstanding per cent cert,n-
Gates Of Indebtedness amounting par value
to S22.l50. and there were redeemed during
the year $3.50. To the amount outstanding
June 80. 1893. should be added the accrued
interest at per cent per annum from ma
turity, making an estimated total of about
Ssl.oo The special assessments pledged 70
the redemption of these certificates amount
ed on June 80, 1892. to s7S.6l6eS There was
Cancelled, In accordance with the decree Of
the supreme Court, certificates represent
ing S4.e3S.42. The balance outstanding now,
exclusive of interest. is SCI. 2355s
The report states that under the several
acts Of Congress relative to compulsory
permit work collections of assessments have
been made amounting to s57.512. There was
collected on assessments for improvements
and repairs the sum Of So. sss. and for coun-
ty roads 1903
Nuisance Complained of.
The Commissioners received q letter from
Health Officer Hammett today stating that
on the south side of NJ street between 18th
and 18th streets there is a large depression
in the carriageway near the curb, causing
foul and filthy water to remain therein,
sending of offensive odors In the interests
Of public health he says this place should