The evening times., 1895-11-21


The Commissioners this morning made
an order regarding the relations of the
city water system and any system of un-
derground traction that may be introduced
here by n street railway company.
1t is directed that all water mains, ex.
cepting cross connection and salves, shall
be removed from under or between the
tracks of such system. All changes in the
Location OF water mains made nccessary
by the rule shall. in the option of the rail
way company, he made by moving odd
mains or laying new. When a new main
ia laid the entire expense is to be charged
TO the company. This Includes cost-sf all
labor, material, new pipe, and replacement
OF improved pavements.
If the District elects TO lay second
main at the time an old main is moved or
replaced by new main. in der to atcom-
modatc the construction Of such railways.
the entire expense. including cost OF re-
placement OF improved pavsinents. shall
he borne by the Water Department.
When it is necessary TO move old me ins
for the accommodation OF the railway the
entire expense, including renaking exist
ing service, hydrant and cross connections,
including cost of labor, material and re-
placement of improved streets, is TO be borne
by the railway co:npany,uofaatte tter whether
the connections are remade TO new mains
or to old mains in new locations
This order carries out the rule applied TO
sewers built for the use Off thc underground
electric systems Tue recent experience on
the Ninth street line where travel was Sc
riously iu,erfered with by the accumula-
tion OF water in the conduit, taught a lesson
which is being used in laying the r street
line A I several points the sewer system is
not sufficient to relieve the sudden gather
ing from rainfall, caused by the change in
the street in making the road.
BEARING THE BURDEN
II is therefore necessary. tn MAKE rev
sewers In some cases; in Others to enIarge
existing lines The cost III such instances.
Is assessed to the railway company. The
Inconvenience of having the streets torn
up is borne by the people 1t is solely to
give sewer accommodation to the Metro
po!itan electric line that a sewer is being
laid from the Capitol grounds to- ID street
on the east side of Della ware northeast.
Great progress is being made under the
act passed by Congress last winter. making
the cost Of cleaning sidewalks by the Dis
trict autho rites a lien upon abutting
property. The law is clear and unques-
TONED, and there has been little doubt that
it would cause snow to be kept off the side
walks alongside vacant lots this winter
as never before. Property owners have cal
culated on this. z--ia-sl-' --.- 7
What some of them, especially nom
residents, have not thought or, is that very
much unla wful litter collects on the walks
and has been collecting there for years.
They have five days notice, but this is
often overlooked. There has never before
been any law by which the District could
recover with certainty the cost Of clean
ing. and many places have become turf
grown. covered with weeds and occasionally
filled wi Ill roots oftrees that have burrowed
their way through the bricks. The street.
cleaning department is clearing these way.
and Will have a pretty large bill in the
aggregate to collect for this work.
a CURIOUS COMaUNICNTiON.
Commissioner Ross. as president of the
board. has answered a letter from E. A
Keeling. at the Sherman Bank, No. S74
Broadway. N. Y. asking for cooperation
in extending the foreign commerce OF the
people or the United States. Mr., Keeling
signs him mseif as temporary secretary,
but fails To state OF what organization.
He points out that it costs great deal
for business firms to secure acquaintance
with Individual i'll foreign countries and
to secure their confidence so as To enter into
trade relations. This expense is so large.
he says, that individuals and firms hesi-
tate to undertake it. lie considers the
policy Of oar government short sighted in
not making some public provision to in
sure easy opening OF business relations
abroad for any house. but is hopeless that
Congress will ever do anything. He sug-
gests the wisdom of combined effort of
merchants to provide for this opening or
business relations, not in the interest of
,ne trade, but Of all. He assures the
he asks ror ever Will ask |
money. He only wants sympathy.
Col. Ross says any movement to extend |
our foreign commerce has the sympathy |
II the board, as of all other bodies OF in |
lelligent public men, but the Commis- |
iioners are busy. They cannot actively CO. |
operate. He says nothing at all about |
money.
1t is serious lack in Mr.. Keeling's |
that he does not say who I
ire his New York associates, and where |
md when the temporary organization was
.ffected.