Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-02

ers being allowed. at their option, to bid
upon any one or more OF the subdivisions,
or upon the tracts in entirety.
Under the provisions of this law these
lands could not be sold at less than their
appraised prices. One Of the tracts. con-
tanning IL acres. was appraised at Sl4l.-
4ot.oI, fraction less than ON cents per
square foot. The other tract, containing
LIS acres. was appraised at $1S.569.63.
Aside from one proposal. which related
10 subdivision only of one of the tracts.
and could not therefore be accepted, no
onerS to purchase the tracts in question at
or above the appraised prices were re-
ceived No sale was contaminated. and the
department has not, therefore, been able to
purchase the lands necessary to complete
the governments ownership of the observ-
atory circle.
The department. having waited for
months for other bids. by its order under
date of October 20. 1895. reconvened the
board of appraisers to consider whether or
not 1t would be advantageous to the inter-
at which the lands had been appraised:
and II SO, to what extent. This question is
now under consideration by the board"
A Pavement Question.
The Secretary calls attention to the fol-
lowing extract from the report of superin-
tendent of the State. War and Navy De-
partments building:
THE roadway on the east and south sides
of the building is unpaved, and the prevail
ing southerly and easterly winds in the dry
season blow the fine dirt from this road
way. not only on the east and south Sides
but into the windows, and complaints have
reached this office that the records are be-
Ing damaged. A northeast wind brings
raln which has so beaten the yellow dirt
into the projections and even the fiat sur
faces on the east side that its beauty Is
greatly.marred. The driving easterly winds
and rain have so washed the joints of the
projecting stones that they will require
pointing in the near future. We have washed
the north and part OF the east front with
water from our pressure pumps; the north
side was readily cleaned but the east side
was not much improved"
During the past dry season, the Secretary
says. he has called the attention of the
Commissioners for the District to the con-
ditions set forth in the above extracts, and
requested that this roadway be paved. 1t
was ascertained that the Commissioners
had no authority or money to make this
Congress be asked to make the necessary
appropriation.
Labor in the Navy Yards.
In regard to labor at navy yards" th.
Secretary says:
-Four years ago the registration system
OF employing laborers and mechanics at
navy yards was inaugurated, and 1t has now
come tc be generally understood by appli-
cants that 1t is necessary to register with
the labor boards in order to be employed.
that after registering workmen are taken
On In the order of registration. that political
or other influence plays no part in securing
employment as a laborer or mechanic and
that the department does not interfere in
the matter of employing or discharging
workmen at navy yards unless the rules
have in some way been violated. AS a re-
suit there are few requests made upon
the department for the employment of la
borers and mechanics al navy yards, where
as much time was formerly consumed in
hearing and answering applicants and their
friends.
The rules governing the employment Of
labor ct the navy yards were devised and
put In force by my predecessor four years
ago. That the work was well and faithfully
done sufficiently appears from the fact that
very few important changes or amendments
have SO far been found necessary. 1t an
peared, however. during the last summer,
when work was running short in the sew
eral yards. that the rigid enforcement, al
ways insisted on, OF rules preventing trans
ferS from one trade even to another allied
trade or occupation, and some other kindred
provisions, were so operating as to render 1t
exceedingly difficult to keep together such
force of skilled workmen as every business
establishment finds 1t important to main-
tain. To remedy these and certain other de-
fects which experience had pointed out II
became necessary to make a somewhat ex-
tended revision of the whole system. This /
have done after visiting the yards and con-
sulting carefully with the Commandments at
Washington. Norfolk and Brooklyn
THE several amendments made, though
none of them are radical. II Is believed will
tend to the betterment of a system which
mas so far met with general commentator
throughout the service. To give an idea of
the extent and importance of the work done
it may be stated that from September l. 1894
to August 81. 1885. there We're 3,S6S mechan-
les and la5orers employed through the
boards of labor employment at the various
navy yards. The number of appointments
made through the United States civil service
commission in the depai tmental railway
mail. Indian, customs and postal services,
as shown in the last annual report of the
commission, was 4.SI2"