Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-10
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.


Dr. HANMETr DIscovERs PLAGUE SPOT.
Health Officer Hammett in . letter "a
the Commissioners reports that . row OF
twenty-four two-story brick houses, located In
Phillips court between Oath, 25th, NJ and N
streets northwest, have been built on a fifteen
foot alley. The ground on which these
houses were erected he says was prepared by
excavations in q bank, leaving Q fve-foot pub
lie alley between the rear Of the yards and said
bank The houses are in q very dilapidated
and filthy condition, unfit for human habita-
ton, caused by the constant filing up
of the alley by reason Of the earth from the
bank tumbling into 1t. This causes water,
mud and all kinds Of filth to flow under and
into the houses. There are no water or sewer
connections with the house. DIR. Hammstt
plague spot in what would otherwise be q nice
portion OF the city. To remedy this trouble
the front and rear alleys should be paved, q re-
tanning wall placed at the foot Of the embank-
ment and the mouth of the alley at the inter-
section Of 25th street should be severed. He
says in conclusion that ne deems this an urgent
case and one that requires immediate action.
CLAIMS FOR CANCELLATION OF TAXES.
In regard to the request Of J. J. Sanborn,
that certain taxes due on lot 8, in square south
of square $50, be Cancelled for the reason that
title to this lot was in the United States
during the whole period for which the
taxes referred to were levied, the assessor
says the conveyance authorized and directed
by the act Of Congress quit claims and re-
inquishes .'only Of any title that the United
States may have in and to said lot" and
In no manner requires the cancellation
OF District taxes as stated by Mr.. Sanborn.
He thinks the whole matter should be thor
oughly investigated before any final action is
taken and he recommends that the papers in
the case be referred to the attorney Of the Dis
trict for his opinion.
CAN LAY A DOUBLE TRACK.
Several days ago the attorney for the District
was asked to render an opinion as to the power
Of the Georgetown Barge, Dock and Elevator
Company to lay a second or double track after
the lapse Of two years. In an opinion rem
dered yesterday the attorney says that it was the
intention OF Congress in comforting these pow
ers which authorized the employment of means
for the establishment of the road, that it should
not be confined to a single track. II the pub
corporation should require double
track road and that it is clearly within the
chartered power of the company to now con-
struct another track. and that the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia should recog
nize this right.
PERMANENT SYSTEM OF HIGHWAYS.
At the session of the board yesterday
the Commissioners discussed the bill which
recently passed Congress establishing perma-
nent system of highways. and which gives the
Commissioners authority to widen and extend all
streets in the county. Columbia road, from
18th street extended to 14th street is only SO
feet wide and the Commissioners, under
the authority vested in them by the
bill above mentioned. decided to widen
this road to its full width of 80 feet.
This is the first action by the Commissioners
under the new bill. Immediately after the
order was issued they directed the inspector of
buildings to issue no permits for buildings that
would come within thirty feet of the present
boundary of the road. This will give a full
width of ninety feet between building lines.
BUILDING PERMITS.
Building permits has been issued to the
following R. O'Neile, one brick private stable
in rear of 63 and 65 G street southwest, $500,
A. P. Geier, one brick private stable in rear of
1909 l street northeast, $500; William
Mayze, three brick dwellings at 124O
p Hartigan, two frame dwellings in Anacostia;
$1,000 Chas. Gessford, SIX brick dwellings at
90S to 918 Canal street southeast; 81. 200 ]. H.
Lewis. five brick dwellings, at 636 to GA L
street northeast; $4,000. d. Moore, four
brick dwellings, at 20S to PA Maple avenue. LIE
Droit Park; $4,000. R. H. Taylor, five brick
dwellings at 625 to 633 L street northeast;
100000; Geo. j. yesterday, one brick dwell
ing at 1881 31st street, $4,000; Henry Rackey,
four brick dwellings on Canal road, 81, 800; II.
Blass, one brick dwelling at 90S 1st street north
east, s1,S00; b. Solomon, one brick store and
dwelling at 70S 7th street northwest, sc. 200;
Thomas Sullivan, one frame dwelling on Con-
duit road, $500.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Commissioners have dismissed Private
Matthew Malloy of the police force, found
guilty of gross neglect Of duty and intoxica-
ton.
Z. L. Coryell, axman on the temporary roll
Of the water department, has been removed.