The morning times., 1895-08-09
Surplus of General Revenues Liqui-
dated 5000, 900 of the 4 Amount-New
cussion of the Extension of Mount
Vernon Electric Railway.

ington." The original appropriation made
available for the enterprise was 2,570,-
2793 80, one-balf of which only was TO
be borne by the District.
The first SUN set aside for the invest
ment was under the act of July 10, 1882,
and amounted TO 81, 4S5 1880 and by
subsequent acts, in July, 1884, March,
1855; August, 1886, and March 80,
1855, four several sums, amounting in
the aggregate to $1,OS5, 900, were added.
AMOUNT ACTUALLY EXPENDED.
The amount actually expended, however,
prior to the collapse of the venture, was
but 81 ,073, ,916.4S, and payment of this
sum, with interest, has been eXacted in
annual instaIlmeuts, twenty-five years be-
ing given in which to liquidate the total OBJ
legation.
BY act of Congress it was two years ago
provided that the ''surplus general reve-
nues" of the District should be drawn upon
TO the extent OF its available funds for the
more rapid extinguishment of the indebted
ness. Under this act, in addition to the an
nual instanment there was paid for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1885, the first
sum of 100000.
There was due July L, 1894, $6S4, ,214.S3,
which was reduced by the subsequent pay
ments to 1884, 4,2I4s3, and, with the ad-
dition of one-half the estimated expense of
the tunnel for the year 1895, stated at
S24O, and one-half of the amount of
Court of Claims judgment, 81, ,209.44, the
amount due July /, 1895, was So 81 ,663.69.
There is now available from the surplus
general revenues in the treasury the sum
OF 100000 for the further reduction of
debt, which the officials say viii be ap-
piled within the present month as the means
OF saving the interest. This Will leave
but S91 ,663. so for subsequent liquidation,
and with the regular annual installment
paid in, the balance viii be reduced in
round numbers TO $50 900.
WHEN BALANCE WILL LBEPAID.
The residue Will be paid from the sur
plus revenues early in the next fiscal
year, and tl.e Lydecker tunnel debt viii
hereafter linger only as an unpleasant
memory.
tits Interesting in this connection to note
that in the last Congress an appropriation
nation OF the tunnel, TO ascertain whether
or not il can yet be utilized.
The test is now being made, under the
direction of Maj. Knight, OF the United
states Engineer partment, and upon
the result of his inspection hinges the de-
cision whether or not the expenditure
viii be dead loss, or the burden become
a blessing in disguise.
The inventor OF a new device for laying
underground conduits has been in conference
with the Engineer Department with the
view OF having it introduced in the District.
The invention consists OF a new style OF
curb with a conduit traversiDg the lower
edge that, he believes, can be utilized
for all wires now strung on poles. He
asked for permission to make test of the
appliance on G street, when the new curb
is placed after the street is wideued, and
was referred to Col. Wilson, representing the
United States, and Manager Morean, of the
Western Union Telegraph Company.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The Washington Gaslghr Company has
been notified by the Commissioners of the
intention to lay cement sidewalks on certain
streets, and directions are given to have the
OF the company boxes. The streets listed
for the improvement are: Eighteenth, be-
tween and northwest, both sides;
Pennsylvania avenue northwest, between
Seventeenth and Eighteenth, south SIDE
S, between Fourteenth and Sixteenth, both
sides; Thirteenth, between L and Massa chu-
setJs avenue northwest, both sides; Twelfths
between F and G., both sides; Eleventh,
between H and 1, both sides.
The managers of the Washington, Alex
andria and Mount Vernon Railway Com
pany, in preparation for the extension of
their road into the District, have had sew
eral interviews with the Commissioners with
reference to the kind of rail they will be
expected TO use in constructing the line after
1t leaves the Virginia shore.
The object of the company is to have a
rail that Will accommodate a rapid transit
flange This will require q broader groove
than the regulations permit. The company
viii want to run at a high rate of speed
between points in Virginia, and the groove
necessary would admit bicycle and buggy
tires, something that is avoided by the Dis
trict regulations.
THE MODELS EXAMINED.
Assistant Engineer Hunt has examined the
models of rails submitted by the managers,
and says that the groove would allow
buggy tire one inch wide to become engaged
for a depth Of one inch and a length OF
thirteen and one-half inches, while a wagon
tire, one and one-fourth inches, would be-
come engaged to "a depth OF one half inch and
a length OF ten inches.
Mr.. Hunt recommends maximum groove
Of one lnch, while the models showed the
width Of one and thrce-eighths inches.
1t is understood that the Commissioners
viii shortly promulgate an order pro-
hibiuug delivery wagons from recklessly
distributing oils and gasoline on asphalt
paving, and prescribing a penalty therefor
Great damage has resulted heretofore from
the carelessuess of the drivers of these
vehicles
Contractor Eslin will begin work on the
Reno reservoir early in the coming week
The work will involve an expenditure of
OF about $5O,oO0
Inventor Anderson has proposed to the
Commissioners, it is alleged, that upon an
assurance from them of the acceptance of
his system in case it proves to be salts
factory, he will construct a garbage-dis-
posal plant in the District for their in
spectioD.
Agent Totten, of the Dixon crematory,
who was at the District Building yester-
day, insists that the choice of system,
in his judgment, lies between his Gre
matory and the Brown plan, but that in no
event can the Commissioners adopt the re-
duction method.
In case they should abandon the cre-