Evening star., 1895-10-17
Local Estimates Being Very Ma
terially Scaled Down.
The EXTENSION OF STREETS
Water Meters Still a Matter of
Official Interest.
OTHER LOCAL AIRS

many needed improvements, the Commits
| sioI ers have been forced to greatly reduce
| their estimates. For several days past they
have had the heads Of departments before
them, and the instructions. 1t is understood,
| have been to scale as much as possible.
1t Is understood that the estimates for
public charities alone have been scaled near
ly $4,000.
Other departments will also suffer a cut.
There Is little doubt that the Commission
ers will try again this year to get bond
| bill through Congress to insure the quick ex-
tension OF streets, according to the general
| plan Of the city.
Highway Extension Plan,
The engineer department is hard at work
upon the second section of the highway ex-
| tension plan, and before another month
nope to have the same before the highway
commission. Every day Interested property
holders appear before the Commissioners
ard, after examining the tentative mans
OF the second section, discuss the features
OF the new plans with the Engineer Com
missioner. Now is the time to look after
matter pertaining to this part of the ex-
tersion plan After the subject has been
carefully considered and the maps all
Drawn 1t will be difficult matter. indeed
ty Is now given to all who desire to offer
any suggestions in the matter
Inc tentative map, as now drawn, will
De somewhat changed. it is expected, but in
row stands.
The engineers who have been engaged in
this work have not found the problem a
difficult one. Subdivisions are few in num-
ber, and the land along the proposed ex-
tension is cheap. About $500 acres are
embraced in this section. The topography
OF the country is well adapted to the
extension of the city's streets. There are a
number of subdivisions included in this Sec
tion which. Of course, will not be inter-
fered with. 1t is definitely determined not
to interfere with the subdivisions of Trini-
dad and Brookland. because of the many
improvements that have taken place there.
Perhaps the most important extension to be
&C nsidered is that of Delaware avenue.
The present place shows a detection at
Florida avenue as to include the
Branch road. and runs directly to street.
being bent at T street SO as to run direct
to the circle located at Rhode Island ave-
Newton and Mr.. Goodfellow, the latter a
property holder along the line of that
avenue. appeared before the Commission
ers The object of their visit was to urge
a DETECTION of Delaware avenue at Ran
dolph street instead of at T street, as at
present proposed.
1t was argued that If the reflections were
so made the avenue when extended would
not cut through any houses and would
assist in the matter of filling and exca-
waiting. as the topography of the country
ted than along the other one. This matter
will be considered by the Commissioners.
Another important extension just decided
upon is that of extending 9Th street north
west from the Boundary to Vermont ave-
nue. The extension of this street will cut
right through the base ball park at the
head of 1th street and destroy its useful
ness as an exhibition ground.
Water Meters.
1t looks as though the water meter law
was practically dead letter so far, at
least, as this year is concerned.
Some time ago the Commissioners de-
| cided to enforce the law on the first day Of
October. Rules and regulations were printed
and distributed and number Of water
meters were erected.
A question, however, has arisen that
| throws the whole subject into a tangled
| problem. and the attorney for the District
| will have to lend his assistance to unravel
| the problem.
The question is. Have the Commissioners
| the right to insist upon the erection of a
water meter when they have already ac-
cepted from householders the water rent
| for the present year in advance? 1t is gen.
orally believed that they have no such au-
| thority and there are some people who will
refuse to erect a water meter until the
question is settled. All water rents for oc-
cupied buildings are due July 1, and unless
| the same be paid within thirty days the
water will be shut off and not resumed un-
| til penalty OF - IS paid.
There are comparatively few who delay
| the payment of a water tax, and in a ma
jority of cases the places where water
meters should be erected have already paid
their water rent. under the old system Of
assessment. Having already paid the water
| tax for the present fiscal year (water rents
always being payable in advance) it is not
believed by many that the Commissioners
| have any right to insist upon the erection
Of meters, and the consequent payment
| quarterly of the amount of water con-
sumed. At any rate, the Commissioners
are impressed with the serious complica-
tions and have ceased installing water me-
| tiers. Meanwhile the attorney for the Dis
trict will wrestle with the problem and
make a report to the Commissioners.
Resident Medical Student.
George NJ Godfrey has been appointed
| resident medical student at the Washing
ton Asylum Hospital, vice c. E. Young, re-
signed
Physlctnn to the Poor.
The Commissioners have accepted the
| resignation of DIR. ]. F. Price, physician to
| the poor in the southwest, and appointed
| DR.. E. E. Richardson to the position. DR..
| Richardson is one of the physicians who
recently passed the medical examining
| board and attained high standing. He is
| a graduate of Columbian Medical College.
Orders Issued Today.
Inc commissioners have d"dI0eu d SOu-
| tract to construct an egg-shaped sewer in
Georgia avenue between 14th and 10th
streets southeast to Harry c. Nichols.
The Commissioners have remitted the
penalty of SO per day for failure to COM
plete the work on Florida avenue between
New York avenue and Brightwood road
with Cudmore and Frawley.
The Commissioners have rejected the
Portland cement delivered by Contractor
| Donaldson because 1t failed to pass the
tests prescribed in the specification, and
| have authorized the purchase of the ce-
ment in the open market
On the recommendation of the engineer
department., the Commissioners have or
dered the abandonment of the 3-inch water
main in the west side of I'd street south
east between East Capitol street and Penn
sylvania avenue, and the laying Of sos feet
| of 6-inch main in the east side of said
street.
TOday's Orders.
The Commissioners today ordered:
That water main assessments be Cancelled
as follows, on account of the decision in the
| Burgdorf case:
Against lots IL and IL, block 8. Meridian
Hill; against lot 13, Senor's subdivision,
| Morris Lane, and lot 6, block II, LIE Droit
Park; against lot "a, block q, Brookland;
| remaining installments against lot %, block
1