The Washington times., 1894-12-04
WHAT THE DISTRICT WANTS
Suggestions and Recommendations
Made by the Commissioners.
CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL SITE
Argument Made for Municipal Building
The Garbage Service Should Be Increased
Police Force NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Appropriation Asked for Street Cleaning

The District Commissioners completed their
annual report ye sterday, and forwarded 1t to
the President
From it the following important extracts are
taken. They say: San absolutely accurate
statementi of receipts and expenditures cannot
now be made for the reason that in few cases
of unfinished contracts further expenditures
out of the revenues for that period will have to
be made
Tho total appropriations payable out of the
general revenues of the District of Columbia for
said period, were S5, ,9lsO8
''The funds available for the payment of those
appropriations and obligations amounted 10
1908, ,l25. So; S3,425, 5000 of this amount was
derived from general taxes on private property,
fees for licenses and other privileges, and re-
ceipts from all sources other than the nited
States and the water department., including a
balance on july !, 1893, of SS3,,91.l 10 The re-
manning S2,6l2 S49.76 represents the proportion
ate amount due from tae United States 10 pay
its legal share Of the appropriations aforesaid.
The balance of 1925, ,2O7. .I5 applicable TO the
payment OF the Districts share ot future appro-
priations.
THE expenses of the water department which
are wholly payable out OF the revenues derived
from water rents and taxes, amounted to S36i.-
s1l.E The revenues of the water department.
cal year, were s577,4Sl.
BONDED DIET AND OTHER DEBTS.
1.-THE Commissioners only duty in relation to
the bonded and other interest bearing debts of
the District is TO include in their annual esti-
mates for the support of the District govern
nent an estimate for the interest and sinking
fund on these debts. and for the salaries and
contingent expenses needtul in transacting the
sinking fuT business.
he hp I'D HnIt Ion mn Wp
620 IS
ION June 30, 1894 the District owed the United
States s6S32l4 50, on account OF advances for the
construction OF the water supply tunuel and ap-
purtenances, and $3.50, ,403. it on account OF ad-
yances for the 4S-nch water main and the Four
teenth street water main and connections, with
per cent interest.
THE FLOATING DEBT.
''The floating debt of the District is very
small and consists mainly Of judgments of the
courts rendered after the passage of the an
nual appropriation law"
The rate of general tax was fixed al 81 80 per
500 on personally and 81 per 800 for realty, ex
cept upon that used exclusively for agricultural
purposes
"ihe decision of the supreme court of the
District of Colum bia, that the purchase of prop
erty at tax sales relieves said property OF the
lien OF all unpaid prior taxes upon ii is still a
bar the collection of a large amount of ar
rearages of taxes The Commissioners have
sought 10 cover the defects OF existing law on
the subject by the preparation and submission
the tirst session OF the Fifty-thsd Congress OF
H. r. bill 1898, aud now earnestly reiterate their
recommendation for its early enactment"
PERSONAL TAX CHARGES.
Reference is made TO the large amount of per
sonal tax charges on the collectors books
against persons who have discontinued business
and deceased persons, and authority Is asked TO
cancel the charges
The markets are mentioned and it is stated
that in the aggregate they net q considerable
revenue 10 the District
A further appropriation of 81 600 for the bath
ing beach Is recommended.
Speaking of the difficulties attending the Sc
lection of a site for the contagious hospital and
the final choice of ground at Pleasant Plains
the Commissioners review thedprevious efforts
TO locate the institution and say:
They were advised by those deeply interested
in the matter and who were largely instcu-
mental in securing the appropriation therefor
IS well as by prominent mem bers Of the Medical
Society of the District OF Columbia, that no
smallpox, cholera or other diseases of highly
contagious character would be treated III the
proposed hospital. They were further advised
that site suitable for the purpose must be
located on high and well-drained ground free
from liability to malariaI influences, convenient
of access, and not remote from the center of
population.
SITE FOR CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL BOUGHT.
Failing TO secure a site upon United States or
District property, the Commissioners made sew
eral attempts to purchase private property for
the purpose After months of unsuccessful
effort to secure site satisfactory to the owners
OF contiguous property, it became apparent
that, owing TO the prejudice existing in the pub
lie mind against such hospital and the general
belief in its damaging character, il would be
impractlcable to purchase site with the con-
sent OF the adjacent lot owners Therefore the
Commissioners proceeded TO acquire title TO lots
6, Z, -, aud %, block 3, in Todd IL Browns sub
division of Mount Pleasant Plains, without con-
he of u6Ip vai1lsr
These lots, aggregating 10000 square feet of
area are situate few hundred feet northeast
OF the Garfield Hospital, on the elevated plateau
west oil seventh street eXi ended, and about mid
way between that street and Sherman avenue
! There are but few buildings--chieny iaeXpen-
sive frame structures-very near, and none i'm
mediately abutting upon those lots.
''As soon as IL became known that ii was pro-
posed TO locate contagious hospital these
lots the residents and property-holdefs in the
vicinity and along the entire northern boundary
line of the city between Seventh and Sixteenth
streets, and extending as far north as Bright
wood became very much excited over it, and
/ forcibly indicated by resolutions passed at a
public meeting and by numerous letters in the
newspapers their opposition TO erecting hos
pitai anywhere in that region. The protestants
numbered among them many of our most
prominent and influential citizens
The deep-seated prejudice of these people and
the character of the opposition to the erection
of hospital upon these lots leave no DOUBT in
the minds Of the Commissioners that the pro-
testants, however unreasonable and chmericaI
their fright may be- are sincere and earnest in
their opposition, and that they believe that their
lives and property would be put in jeopardy by
its erection there. How hospital on these lots,
in which such diseases as scarlet fever and dipb-
liberia only would be treated, could endanger
the lives of the residents of Mount Pleasant and
BrghtwcOd, from one to three miles away or
impair the value OF property in those suburbs is
beyond the power of the Commissioners to COM
lrehend.
AN INSTITUTION so UNPOPULAR.
"They do not desire, however, to force upon
the people of this or any other section of the
District institution SO unpopular as this
hospital has proven to be, and they are reluct-
antly driven to the conclusion that the people do
not want ii anywhere. Its necessity is recognized
by almost every one; but when site is proposed
no matter where-it raises a storm of opposi-
ton"
No other suitable site can be selected to which
all of the objections raised to this one will not
apply with equal fOrre, and If owners of abuttinc
property be q condition of choosing site thu
hospital will necessarily have to be abandoned
II the hospital be eventually erected the site
selected additional ground will be needed
referring to the urgency of the demand for a
municipal building, the Commissioners say:
ITO adequately accommodate all of the courts
of the District and all of the departments of the
District government building should be erected
TO cost s., 100000
with widely separated branches of the pub
lie service housed in rented quarters the whole
community is Inconvenience and the pubic,
business hampered and delayed In the rented
buildings now used for District purposes records
and OF the District are constantly exposed to the
danger of destruction by fire, while the health of
all employees is menaced by the fact that said
building IS located Immediately over one of the