Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30

obtained for small pieces at private or pub
lie sale. yet the difference was not looked
Upon as excessive for the reason that il is
equitable to allow compensation to property
owners who are compelled to sell their
property. The railroad company did not OBJ
tain their property by the usual condemna-
ton proceedings as the government did, yet
1t was necessary for their purpose to secure
the entire square, and in consequence some
OF the individual owners on that square had
to be offered Inducements in the way of
high prices to persuade them To give up
their property and go elsewhere.
1t Is sometimes said that when the gov
eminent attempts to buy property in this
city exorbitant prices are demanded.
The acquisition Of the post office square and
OF the square by the railroad company TAX
val shows that in this instance
the government was treated exactly
as private individual. and secured prop
erty on equally as favorable terms Like a
good many other statements that are made
In regard to this city. this charge is shown
to be without foundation, and there is no
doubt that If the government should under
take to secure sites for the public buildings
which are so badly needed IL would
meet with the same fair and just treatment
Sewers and the Water supply.
The action OF the District Commissioners
In directing the closing Of wells the water
OF which was found to be impure is only
another indication. in a small way, il is
true. OF the growth Of the city. As a rule
the public is densely ignorant IN regard to
the disposal OF sewage. This is mainly be.
cause the machinery for carrying of the
waste from houses is hidden away beneath
the ground, and. therefore, what is out of
sight is out of mind. 1t seems difficult for
the average resident of a city to appreciate
the fact that the sewer pipes which form
a network beneath the ground In a thickly
populated section. are liable to leakage from
defective joints. In the course of time the
ground naturally becomes soaked with sew
age matter. Citizens are occasionally forci-
bly, reminded Of thin subterranean condition
when trench Is opened or an excavation
Is made by the sickness which enters their
households from the pollution which is thus
exposed. This being one Of the conditions
Of city life. II is rot unnatural that the
wells which are sunk through this corrupt
mass of earth should become infected with
poisonous matters.
The fact is that a pure water supply is of
more importance to the health Of the resi-
dents Of a city than q sewer system, al
though. OF course. In a thickly, densely
populated section IL is essential that there
should be sewer facilities. Residents Of sub
urban towns might learn a wholesome les
son from the discussion that Is now going
on in regard to the causes OF corruption OF
the water supply. Instead Of looking upon
a sewer system as the first and most i'm
portant essential, an effort should be made
to secure a water supply which will be free
from all danger Of infection.
Citisens Seek the Suburbs.
Street railroads enter very largely into the
summer life Of the people Of this city. Ev-
cry evening during the heated term the
cars on all the lines are thronged with
people enjoying the rapid motion and the
cool air. The suburban lines come in nat
urally for large share Of this patronage
1t Is now possible to ride from the city
limits from fvs to seven miles out into the
country.
There are four suburban roads carrying
passengers to distant points into the coun-
try to the north of the city, and IL is prob
able that they find the summer travel the
most profitable OF the year. In addition
to the street railroads there are the steam
roads and the river boats. SO that quite a