Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-06

Il
the water works at Helena, Mont, Is in
the city Inspecting the Districts water
supply. He spent considerable time at the
District building today looking over the
situation.
An Order Changed.
The Commissioners today changed the
order of September 8, 1885, making the
auditor of the District of Columbia GUS
todian of the official bonds of the officers
of the District, and hereafter the assessor
will be their guardian.
Praise for Decision.
At a meeting of Anacostia Tent, No. 1873.
Independent Order of Rechab;tes, held De-
cember 4. 1894, vote of thanks was unan-
imously passed, and the action of the Com
missioners highly commended in the
case of Sergeant John C. Daley. who they
regard as a most trustworthy and efficient
officer, entitled to the respect and conf
dence of all good law abiding citizens. A
letter of thanks was received by the Com
missioner5 today, warmly commencing
them in their action in the case.
BuilJinG Permit.
The inspector of buildings has issued a
building permit to Samuel w. Mahoney for
the erection of one brick dwelling at 707
North Carolina avenue southeast, to cost
81 500.
Have No Authority.
The attorney for the District has rem
dered an important opinion to the Commits
sioners upon the question raised by Mr.. L.
r. Smith, the owner of a lot fronting On
18th street extended, whether the assess
ment against his lots may not exceed one
half the cost of widening the streets OPP
poste the same, and asking that he be not
charged with any portion of the expense or
widening the part Of the street opposite the
lots of other parties. In clause in the
District appropriation bill approved August
Z, 1884, under the head Construction OF
country roads," il is provided that one-half
the cost of widening 18th street from Flor
ida avenue to Columbia road to fifty feet,
and paving the same with sheet asphalt,
and changing the grades wherever deemed
necessary by the Commissioners, shall lie
assessed and collected from the abutting
property except the cost of paving and
changing the grade within the space re-
quired to be paved by the railway COM
pany) in the same manner as assessments
and collections are made under the law
governing assessments OF permit work.
The law In relation to assessment permit
work, also found in the same statute, fixes
the hnear frontage as the principles of
assessment. Mr.. Thomas, in his opinion to
the Commissioners today, says they have
no power to vary the assessment, so as to
meet the differences in the expense of grad
ing i'm front of different lots abutting the
improvements, as proposed by Mr.. Smith.
Filth Reported.
r. c. Balnger of 1924 31st street, George
town. has written to the Commissioners.
requesting them to have the accumulation
of debris end filth at the intersection Of
31st and South streets removed at their
earliest possible convenience.
Flour Inspection.
r. r. Shoemaker Inspector of flour. in
his report submitted to the Commission
ers today for the month of November
shows that during the month Re inspected
5,20S barrels at one cent each, total of
s5@.0s and expenses attending the same
amounting to $40. making net profit of
$42.0S
Against smooth Surfaces.
Several days ago Capt. Ficbeser called
the attention of the Commissioners to the
fact that he hid noticed some people put
ting in vault covers made of perfectly
smooth iron. Such covers, he thought, were
dangerous to pedestrians especially when
there is a slight TALL of srow on the
ground, ana he recommended that the
building inspectors attention be called to
the matter, and that he be directed to Al
low none bait corrugated covers to be used,
and these to be SO constructed that there
shall be no obstruction above the general
level of the sidewalk.
Inspector Brady, in compliance with the
request of the Commissioners, recommend
cd the following amendment to the build
ing regulations which was approved by the
Commissioners:
Vaults in front of business property, the
area shall be charged at the rate of Is
cents per cubic foot, end in front OF dwell
ings at the rate of 10 cents per cubic foot;
nor shall permit be issued until plan IS
submitted and approved, showing OF an
ings, which must be covered with heavy
cast-ircn frsmes, set fair with the erada
of sidewalk, perforated with Hyatt or SIM
liar lights, avoiding a smooth surface and
providing security to pedestrians passing
over the same"
Asks Extension,
Richard G. Israel Of 734 18th street north
west has requested the Commissioners to
extend his contract for grading Massachu-
setts avenue extended for thirty days.
Finding 1t impossible to complete the work
by December Is, 1894, which the con-
tract calls for, he has requested an extern
sion of his contract.
Held for Trial.
John w. Brawner, the man who was ar
ted On