The evening times., 1896-04-27
Senator Vests Proposal Con-
cerning the Hall Of Records.
THE PROBATE OF WILLS
Bill to Let Another Trolley Line Into
theDist strict-Farmersw w Ill he Heard
TOmOrrow-New Superintendent of
the House Document ROOm-Other
Local Measures.

.
northwest, if adopted, will dispose Of
| both the wholesale market problem and
| the storage of great masses OF papers
that are growing at an accelerated rate.
| in all the departments OF government.
The proper disposal Of the archives or
the Treasury and War Departments has
been a troublesome question ever since the
civil war. There have been at least two
plans suggested before the present for the
erection OF separate hall of records on
one of the government reservations.
The first was presented by Gen. NJ. G.
| Meigs in the report OF Secretary Mccrary
OF the War Department in 1873. He point
ed out that there were 12,77S bundles OF
papers representing S6,947.OOO OF claims
in one lot in the War Department, and
other large accumulalions both in the War
and Treasury.
These were exposed to danger of fire,
as pa ri of them arestill. They occupy rooms
which cost the government Originally mil
lions of dollars and which could be used
for other purposes to better advantage.
The cost OF the building proposed by
Gen Meigs to be placed on some reservsi-
lion convenient to all the departments,
would be 100000. 1t was to be one
story with watch tower, fire proof
throughout. and arranged to give the great
est storage room at the smallest cost.
USE A WHOLE SQUARE.
A whole square was 10 lie used, the di-
meusions outside being 3O2 by 5O4 feet.
This was 10 be around court III by 3O3
fcet. The floor space was to he 10000
square feet, paved with asphalt; the stor-
age room was 1,750.000 cubic feet.
Gen. Meigs planned that the interior
court could afterwards be roofed with iron
and lighted with gable windows, so as to
give a large amount of additional space as
needed.
The other design was submitted in 1888
by Supervising Architect James q. Hill IN
answer to a resolution of Congress. 1t was
for much more rretentious building. TO
De located on Armory Square, between
Sixth and Seventh northwest. where the
Baltimore and Potomac depot stands.
The cost was estimated at 81 .o36,o5i.
The structure was to be of brick and iron,
freproof throughout, and heated by steam.
1t was so arranged as to permit very large
extension; also. the wings of the plan could
he omitted. reducing the cost to 1896 ,6e6.
The outside dimensi ions of the main build
ing was to be 267 feet by 62, flanked by
TWO wings, each 60 feet by 1873. II was 10
be four stories. with the top of the COR
nice SO feet from the ground line. The
walls and partitions were 10 lie brick,
with iron floors. Rcd pressed brick were
10 lie used for the facing. An ornamental
tower was to surmount the principal en-
trance.
THE PROBATE OF WILLS.
Mr.. Babcock has, by request. introduced
in the House a bill relating To- the probate Of
wills in the District. II provides that no
caveat or other proceeding inlpeaching the
validity of any paper writing hereafter ad-
Initted to probate i'll the District as last
will and testament, either as TO real or per-
sonal estate, shall be deemed valid or be en-
ter:ained by yanyCourt nfla W or equity unless
such cayeat shall be filed or such proceeding
begun in the court of competent Jurisdiction
within six calendar months from and after
such paper writing shall have been ad-
mitted to probate.
That in every case where any infant or
lunatie may be interested in any paper
writing prOpOunded as a last will and tcsta-
ment. the court. before proceeding to the
probate thereof. shall. in addition to the
notice or notices required by existing
law, appoint some fit and disinterestcd
person guardian ad litcm. to appear for
and ans wer in behalf of such infant or luna
tic within such time as the court may desis-
nate.
Mr. Babcock also. by request, introduced
A bill to authorize the Baltimore and Wash
ington Transit Company. of Maryland, to
tor
minus at Takoma Park by the following
route: Commencing at the northeastern
boundary line of the District-of Column
bia on Carroll avenue, in Takoma Park sub
division: thence in a westerly direction
along said Carroll avenue to Maple avenue;
thence southerly along said Maple avenue
across the clair road; thence Dorthcry
along Blair road to Umatilia street: thence
westerly along Umatilla street in such man.
ner and to such point on Umatilla or other
streets as will he most feasible to form
junction with the Brightwood Railway. the
entire distance being about one-half mile.
The baltimore and Washington Transit
Company shall be empowered to construct.
maintain, equip, and operate single or
double track street railway over the said
line. with all necessary devices to operate
the same by cable. electricity, compressed
air. storage battery or other motive power,
to be approved by the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia. Provided. that the
right of said company to use an overhead
single trolley on a street or part of
street shall cease six months after the
date of the approval of an act of Congress
appropriating money for or otherwise au-
thoriZing the paving of the roadway of
such street or part of street. except in con-
nection with continuous track rails.
Mr.. Shannon. as special committee of
the House District Committee, will. at IL
O'Clock tomorrow morning. give hearing
20 those interested in the resolution of in
quiry as to the authority of the Commis-
sioners to remove the farmer gardener from
the Center Market stalls
d. E. Award of Michigan has been ap-
pointed superintendent of the House docu-
ment room, tosucceed E. s. Miller. resigned.
STREET EXTENSION PROTEST.
Mr.. Mcmillan in the Senate presented the
memorial addressed to the Commiss !oners
by the Brigbtwood Citizens Association.
1t discussed the question of sewer and
street extension, and favors s 2S in oprosi-
tion to s. 2444, and H. R. 699S. 1t
states that neither of the latter bills will
receive their support unless amended to
provide 81 100000 for the construction of
trunk sewers.
They state that the provision OF the
highway act which requires 90 per cent
of the cost of street extension to be as
sessed against abutting property will
bring fina ancial ruin upon owners of pron-