Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-30
STREETS AND TAXES
The Main Points Discussed by the
Northeast Citizens.
GRADING WANTEE BEFORE PAVING
Amendments Recommended to the
New Assessment Bill.
FIVE ASSISTANTS FAVORED

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There was not a large attendance at the
meeting of the Northeast Washington Citi-
zens' Association held in AIphenie Hall last
evening 1t had been announced that the
street schedule appropriation now pending
before the Senate committee on appropria-
lions. well as the assessment bill submit
ted by the Commissioners was to be dis
cussed, and In announcing the meeting the
members were notified that the bill men,
toned called for special vigilance on the
part Of tax payers.
Following the reading ard approval of
the minutes of the last meeting, Secretary
! Hinternesch read a communication from
DIR. George ]. Lochboehler. In which ne
said:
Il have to report the condition Of Della
| ware avenue between / and X streets north
| east. The street at this place is from one
| to three feet below the level OF the pave
ment and after every heavy rain a pond
OF muddy water remains, covering one-half
| or the square. no drainage being possible
owing to the elevated position of the sewer
| at the corner of 1 street The stagnant wa
| ter resulting therefrom has been the direct
cause of great deal of sickness among the
| residents in this locality, a number of cases
proving fatal within the past two years.
| There Is no pavement on the east sidewalk,
| and this with the state of the street itself
| during bad weather, renders it almost i'm
passable for pedestrians and vehicles.
| Another source of pollution, amounting
| to a nuisance at times, Is an alleyway COM
ing from LIST street near the corner of 1
| street Here garbage is deposited, cess
pools and water closets empty into 1t. carry
ing infection to the already defective Della
| ware avenue. AS this matter has already
been brought before the authorities, l beg
the assistance of the association in obtain
ing the means of relief"
Paving Streets.
Reports OF committees were called for.
and Chairman Johnston of the committee
on streets. avenues and alleys submitted
the following:
AT a recent meeting of the committee
OH streets avenues and alleys to consider
the needs of street Improvements in this
section your committee of the opin-
ion, in view Of the SIT allr of the appro-
priatiCns for street in prOvements as pro-
vtded for in the appro priation bill, as the
same passed the House of Representatives,
that it would be more to the material in
tere5ts of this section that We adhere to
our former declarations on this subject in
that We think it most advisable and more
to our interests to ask Congress for no
more appropriations for concrete streets
until all of our streets are graded and reg
ulated and opened up to all those who may
have occasion to use them. The schedule.
as heretofore adopted. while it contained
provision for the paving of two streets, is
leIG as duCI leu Dy the association.
The list of streets in the report referred
| to shows that a large number of streets in
the northeast section are not graded and
regulated.
The Streets Chosen.
"By the APPROPRIATED, as stated in the
BILL, the report continues there is allow
ed to this section the sum of 81, 800, which
Will finish the first three streets on the
schedule. as stated in the appropriation,
and possibly do par. of all of the fourth
street in the schedule. which streets are
follows:
Fifteenth street. from East Capitol to E
street, grade and regulate, 5000.
| &c street. from 18th street to Tennessee
avenue, grade and regulate, 5000.
1850.
Massachusetts avenue, from I'd to 4th
street, $4,000.
Fifteenth street, the first street on the
schedule, may possibly be finished from the
appropriation for last year, and if this is
possible. then this years appropriation will
be expended on the remaining three streets.
The Commissioners, in their estimates, re-
Quested an appropriation of $4,000 for this
| section.
LAS the appropriation bill is now before
the Senate committee, We believe that it
would be for the best interests of this
ton to recommend to the Senate committee
that the appropriation for this section, in
view of the condition of it's Streets be in
creased to the same amount last year,
and that whatever sum may be appropriate
ed for improvements in this section be
pended in accordance with the report rec
commended by your committee as herein
stated.
Railroad Tracks.
your committee is also of the opinion
that all the streets now rendered useless by
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks
should be opened and made free to the use
of persons having occasion to use said
streets. and where the tracks above
grade suitable openings be made, SO that
the streets may be open and free to travel,
and where they are below grade that suit
able crossings be made that they may be
free to travel unimpeded pending the ele-
| walton of the tracks of the company.
| The appropriation bill as the same pass
ed the House also contains an appropriation
OF $SOD for the construction of county
roads and suburban streets. of which
amount $1,000 will be applied to grading
and regulating 18th street extended from
University Heights to Austin street and NJ
street extended from 18th street to Trinidad
| avenue"
Mr.. Sowerbutts. acting chairman of the
committee on assessments and apportion-
nent Of appropriations, submitted the re-
port OF the committee. as follows:
The Assessment Bill.
1.-The bill is known as House dill No. GALS
1t provides for a permanent board of three
assistant assessors appointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners at 4 salary of 5000
Per annum, their duty being to revise and
equalize the assessment. returned by the
| board OF assessors appointed by the Presi-
dent in 1892. and also every third year
thereafter, to make out and deliver to the
| assessor Of the District of Columbia a re-
turn In tabular form of the amount, de-
scription and value of the real property
subject 10 be listed for taxation in the Dis
trict of Columbia"
After citing other provisions in the BILL
the report continued: your committee
realizing the importance of this measure
| to the taxpayers of the District. have given
| the bill careful consideration in all its de-
tails. ard respectfully recommend that this
| association urge the passage of the bill
| through Congress with certain amend
mantS.'
| Amendments Recommended.
The committee recommends the appoint
ment of five assistant inspectors at $1,000
each, instead of three at $1,000 each; that
the appointees represent the various sec
lions Of the District and that they shall be
| appointed for term of five years, and OF
| at the pleasure of the Commissioners IT
! is further recommended by the committee
| that the returns of The assistants be made
| the first Monday In August, instead of
January, 1895 and a number Of other