Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-14
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT,
THOSE CONDUIT EXPLOSIONS.


THOSE CONDUIT EXPLOSIONS.
| Assistant Attorney Thomas has forwarded to
the Commissioners the following draft of reg
| ulation to cover explosions in conduits:
Whereas explosions have occurred recently in
| the maHholes of electric light conduits in Wash
/ ington city; and, whereas, such explosions we're
| dangerous to life and limb, it is ordered:
| That all companies in the District of Column
| bia owning or operating underground conduits
| containing electric wires shall provide for such
conduits and their appurtenances such means
| of ventilation as shall meet the approval of the
| Commissioners of the District OF Columbia, to
prevent the accumulation of explosive gases in
| such conduits, and until such means of yentla-
| ton provided said companies shall be
| required TO keep constant supervision over
| their lines, with reference to the accumulation
| Of gases in the nianholes of their conduits, and
| shall remove mxnhole covers at sufficiently
| close intervals as TO prevent explosive sccumu-
lations. And any person having charge, super
| vision or control of such electric conduits
| who shall knowingly neglect or fail
| to take the precautions to prevent explo-
| slons from gas accumulatious provided for in
this regulation shall, on conviction in the Police
| Court, be punished by fine of not less than
S25 nor more than 300 for each and every
| offense. and in default of payment Of such fine
shall be imprisoned in the work honse of a;d
| District for not less than one nor more lLan
| three months.
| CANNOT GRANT THE REQUEST.
Recently the Comm issioners received petit
| ton from l.. NJ Saunders and Others asking
! that Ger tain parts of Hanover street be closed
and the title be again vested in one of the
| petitioners. In an opinion rendered today As
/ sistant Attorney Thomas says that he does not
| think the Commissioners have any jurisdiction
to comply with the request. The act Of Con-
Sress approved July -, 1892, for opening
alleys, provided for the opening, extending,
| widening or Strengthening of alleys on appll-
| cation to the Commissioners signed by more
| than one-half Of the owners Of the
real estate in the square, or where
the Commissioners shall certify that the preser-
walton OF peace, good order and the public
| morals demand 1t, or where the health officer
shall certify that the public health demands it.
provided that in SO doing it shall be unlawful
to close original alley or part of such alley.
| the fee of which is IN the United States, which
may become useless by such opening. widening,
extending or Strengthening, and that it shall in
like manner be lawful to close any other alleys
or parts OF alleys the title thereto to revert to the
persons who dedicated the same for alley pur-
poses or other assigns. The proposition. Mr..
Thomas says. is that the Commissioners cut off
two little projections. not necessary apparently
to the usefulness of Hanover street." contain
| Ing upward OF S22 square feet of grounds and
give it to the abutting lot owner. Even il this
law applies. which he thinks is doubtful. it COM
prehends that the public gets something in ex-
change for the land it gives away.
THE ALLEY IN SQUARE SO.
The assistant attorney for the District has re-
turned to the Commissioners the papers in the
matter of an alley proposed to be opened in
square So He saws he has carefully consid-
cred the case and is OF the opinion that nothing
ages is obtained. without money the
law, if it applies to this case, can
not be executed. Those owners whose
damages exceed the benefits cannot be paid off
| In special assessments for benefits. They are
entitled TO money. Whether the law in regard
to opening alleys will cover the case of this one,
to be known as Newport place" is q question
he thinks that does not call for a decision at
this time.
THE PLUMBING REGULATIONS
! The new plumbing regulations, a digest OF
which has heretofore appeared in The STAR,
we're recently submitted to the assistant at.
! torney for the District for his consideration.
I Today he returns them, duly approved, con-
| curing in the suggestions OF Capt. Lusk, that
| the Intervals Of time within which unsuccessful
candidates may renew their applicat tons be re-
| duced to three and six months respectively.
PAVING CONTRACTS AWARDED
| The Commissioners today ordered that so
much Of E street southeast as may be paved
under the appropriation for the current fiscal
| year be assigned to the Crawford Paving Com
pany, to be paved with asphalt upon a
! four-inch concrete base, and that SO much
OF South Capitol street as may be paved on. Of
the current appropriation be assigned to VIM.
Chatfse to be paved with granite block, aud
that 80 much Of Road street as may be paw ed
out Of the appropriation for the current fiscal
year be assigned to the Barber Asphalt Paving
Company.
| STREET LAMPS ORDERED.
The following additional public gas lamps
have been ordered by the Commissioners: One
on the north side Of L between Sd and 4th
southeast, one on south side of L between Sd
between 4th and 9Th southeast, one on
south side Of N at foo. Of New Jersey avenue
| and head Of Canal, one on west side of I'd be-
tween and southeast, one on north side Of
Z between LIST and I'd southeast, one on south
| side OF 4 between LIST and I'd southeast
The following oil lamps have been discon-
tinued: One on northwest corner of 4th and L
southeast, one on southeast corner of 4th and
l. southeast, and one on the west side of 4th
between L and NJ southeast.
CONFIRMATION BY THE COMMISSIONERS NEcRs-
| sARY.
The Commissioners have notified Chairman
Norris of the executive committee on inaugu-
ration that it 10 theii opinion that the
Joint resolution authorizing the Secretary
Of War to grant permits for the use
OF reservations and public spaces in
the city OF Washington so far a. it refers to the
| use OF public streets, avenues and sidewalks
vests the authority to grant permits for the
| occupation OF such spaces in the executive
committee on inaugural ceremonies subject to
confirmation by the Commissioner
HE DOUBTS rBEIE AUTHORITY
The attorney for the District has reported in
reference to a proposition Of Mr.. Geo. f. Hun
to lease from the District certain lands along
the old canal In Southeast Washington, includ-
ing reservation, that he sees no objection to
leasing the ground belonging to the District,
but doubts their authority ~ to the public
reservation.
APPROVE THE LIQUOR BILL.
At the afternoon session Of the board today
the Commissioners took up for consideration
and discussion the liquor bill as passed BY the
House Of Representative yesterday and ap-
proved it unanimously.
| BUILDING PERMITS.
Building permits were issued today 10 the
following: J. n. Lewis, two brick dwellings st
llS0 and llS2 Florida avenue northeast;
5000. g. II. Walker, one brick dwelling a
COL d street northeast; tS, $50. Bertha solomon.
two frame dwellings ct IS and IS N street south
east; $500.