The Washington times., 1895-02-24
Officials RejuiCed at Prospect of
Increased Mater Supply.
TO RAISE GREAT FALLS DAM
Municipal Building Left Ont, but commis-
sioners Grateful for Favors Received
Favorable Executive Action Recon-
mended on Senate Bill No. 2521-Union
Street Railway Station in West End.

10 secure adequate appropriations for the
serving of public interests, are not disposed
| now TO discuss the bill as it finally passed
through the conference mill.
Small favors thankfully received, larger
| ones IN proportion" is the sentiment ex-
pressed by the Commissioners, and doubt
less by every interested citizen.
Major Powell, the Engineer Commissioner
| said yesterday that the board found reason
for congratulation in the fact that the Ly.
decker tunnel is finally to be tested. This
is project originated by the Commissioners
nearly two years ago, ana the conferees
agreed upon an appropriation of $25, ,0000
for the work
II is the opinion of Col. Elliot and Gen.
Casey that the tunnel can b. made To dis
charge the functions intended. and at much
less expense than was estimated by the ex-
perts appointed to examine it, who were
also of the belief that the conduit can and
should be utilized
GREAT FALLS DAM TO BE RAISED.
Another item in the bill That was retained
by the conferees was that of $125, 900
for raising the Great Falls dam This is
also a recommendation of the Commission
ers, made two years ago and since urged re-
peatedly by them upon Congress. The ne.
cessity for an increase in the water supply
has been so often commented upon that
every District citizen is familiar with the
subject.
The-.ams stricken out include the ap-
preparation OF 100000 for the business
affrl rlIar.I II
boat. both OF which the Commissioners
desired TO have retained, as wen as that
providing for reconstruction of Wallack
Sc hool.
Among the items retained are the re-
duction of the penaltyforthen non-p " mentof
taxes from per cent. to / per cent. per
month; various items forstreet Improvement,
street lighting by gas and electricity, the
new truck house In the vicinity OF New
Jersey avenue and n street, and for the
lexington Valley and Kenesaw avenue
sewers. the latter appropriation aggregat-
ing S27 coo. The number of additional
assistants to the bu Hiding Inspector is
fixed at three
The garbage item nets $50 900, three
fifths for the collection and removal, and
two-fifths for the establishment of a
crematory or reduction process. This
special services OF Architect Won Her
is in fun what was estimated for by the
Commissioners.
MUNICIPAL BUILDING GONE GLIM-
MERING
The new municipal building still re-
tains the form and substance of an ex-
ceedingly airy castle, neither House OF
Congress having deemed il expedieDt to
give ii more substantial shape. The
Commissioners will therefore retain their
For ffnlU ON
tended period. In connection with the
preparations OF plans and calculations
for the proposed structure the ComInis-
sionerS were obliged TO procure the
special services of Architect Van Her
bulls, whose bill for collecting the data,
and doing other necessary work was $3.50.
This charge the Commissioners regard
as Just and reasonable, ana have, there
fore, requested Senator Cockrell, chair
man OF the committee on deficiency ap-
preparations, to have the item included
in the pending bin.
The President has been asked by the
District Commissioners TO give his approval
to Senate bill No. 1921, Ito amend the
charter OF the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pany,'' and to House bill No. 1898. Ito
promote anatomical science and TO prevent
the desecration OF graves in the District" !"
both measures having been submitted for
the opinion of the board. The railroad
bill is for the proposed extension and
change of route OF the Metropolitan.
Inspector Brady and his first assistant,
Mr.. Bradley, were in Georgetown yester-
day afternoon inspecting the deep cut being
made In preparation for the construction
of the Union Street Railway station.
CUT SIXTY FEET IN DEPTH.
The cut is twelve feet in width and at its
base is sixty feet below the level of Dun
barton avenue. The pressure of the earth
upon both sides is already something
tremendous, and the object of the in
spector is TO determine the thickness that
will be required to be given the retaining
wall Several weeks ago it was stated
that the width of the wall would have to be
increased from five feet to eleven feet, but
it is now ascertained that it will have to
he still further increased, probably to six
teen feet.
The purpose of the cut Is to permit the
cars oftheseveral street railways -atpresent
four in number-to enter the Union station
on alevel track. The Metropolitan road Will
come in by way of Dunbarton avenue, the
Washington and Georgetown by M street,
the proposed Virginia electrical road by
the Aqueduct Bridge, and one other coming
down the river from Glen Echo.
The request of John j Weed for the allow
testify before the coroner, having been re-
ferred to Auditor Petty FOR report upon
the validity of the claim, that officer yester-
day reported to the Comm nissioners that the
section quoted by the claimants counsel
as justifying payment TO CoToners' jures
was repealed, and that the act of repeal has
been generally accepted as applying to wit
nesses also. and fees have not haen allowed
under that law since the passage OF an act of
lnrr laf fTr-ln
abrogating jury fees. Congress passed an
act March 3, 1881. allowing 81 per diem
each to coroners' juries, but made no pro-
vision for witnesses
As the law quoted by the attorney is OBJ
solete. the auditor adds and for the addi-
tional reason that no appropriation is avail
able. the request for payment must of neces-
sity be denied.
In his communication Mr. Weed asked, in
case the auditor doubted his authority to
pass the claim that the case be referred to
the attorney for the District, and this will
probably be done.
SENATE WANTS INFORMATION.
Secretary Cox, of the United States Sen
ate, has transmitted to the Commissioners
a resolution of that body, calling for the
names of streets in the city now unpaved
unsewered, and without water mains, with
the estimated cost of improving the same;
also. for an estimate Of the amount re-
quired to carry out the provisions OF the
act providing permanent system of high
ways outside the city; also statement of
the amount of taxes collected in Washing
ton. Georgetown. and The county from
1873 to 1898 inclusive, and the amount
OF surplus revenues of the District covered
into the United States Treasury for the
same period.
Hon. James Mcmillan, of the Senate
District Committee has been requested
by the Commissioners to use his Influence
to secure favorable action by the Senate
upon House bill No. 6443. ito establish
harbor regulations for the District"
This bill was prepared by the board, after
thorough consultation with the harbor
m star and the attnrnar FOR tfao Dintriot