Evening star., 1896-01-21
VIII Take Both to Furnish strest
Extension information.
COMMISSIONERS HR& A LETTER
The senate's RSsoettion at Was Ex-
t'eme!y Sweeping:
OTHER LOCAL NEWS

Ine sweeping resolution OF the SENATE
calling upon the Commissioners to furnish.
as soon as possible. list of the streets.
avenues. alleys and reservations in the city
which are partially or wholly unpaved, the
total length thereof. together with other in
formation. will require. according to the
Commissioners. a number Of weeks to an
10000 for doing the work.
In a letter to the Vice President this af-
ternoon. the Commissioners say: 1.-THE
Commissioners will Immediately commence
the preparation of these statement with the
object Of furnishing the information at the
esrliest practicable moment, but the scope
OF the resolution is 30 vast that with their
present resources their response to some of
the inquiries can only be made at a very
remote day.
The requirement of the second section,
except as to the first estimate mentioned
therein. involves the major part Of the
LABOR and difficulties in effecting compli-
ance with the resolution. The Commission
ers are also confronted by the difficulty Of
deciding as to the extent of the application,
especially In view Of the fact that no part
under the act Of March 2 1893, has been
ultimately submitted. While one section
OF the map required by said act has been
prepared by the Commissioners and ap-
proved by the highway commission. COM
posed Of the Secretary of War, the Secre-
tary of the Interior and the chief of the
engineers, United States army, 1t is still the
subject Of judicial proceedings. and the
maps OF the highway extension under that
act in the remaining part Of the District
are yet in a tentative stage.
II 1t should be taken for granted that all
OF these highways and reservations are
those referred to in this section Of the reso-
luton, the preparation Of the required an
swer as to the extent and cost of public
work thereon would involve the surveying
and cross sectioning of the projected route
OF said highways. which would probably re-
qu1re Tor several weeks at least the SER
vices OF as many field surveying parties as
would be practicable to assign to the duty,
without having so many at work that they
would interfere with and impede each other
Also the employment of an additional force
OF computors and craftsmen in making de-
signs and calculations for that work and in
preparing estimates for sewers, water
mains. bridges. etc. II the information is
desired for early use by the Senate an i'm
mediate appropriation approximating $2O,-
OOO Will be required to enable the Commits
sioners to employ the extra force needful to
obtain and compile with sufficient exnedi-
ticn."
Acted as Arbitrator.
Auditor Petty acted as arbitrator this
morning in the case of a number of people
who had claims against Mcintosh & Brax-
fecting plant. A number of laborers and
merchants who had Claims against the con-
tractors presented themselves this morn
ing before the auditor to have some set
tlement OF the trouble. After each claim
ant had been given an opportunity to
speak, the claims were all adjusted. with
the exception of the one made by a sub
contractor named Boiden and number Of
laborers. Bolden claimed a balance of SIP
due him, which the contractors repudiated
hn In hnr
and unless he receives his claim the Dis
trict, by virtue of stipulation in the con-
tract will step in and pay them. How
ever, the auditor can do nothing but hold
up the remainder of the money due until
the court has decided the claim of Bolden.
Public Administrators.
The Commissioners have reported ad-
versely the bill providing for a public ad-
ministrator. They submit substitute bill,
however. which provides for the sale Of an
estate of a person dying without leaving
heirs when the estate does not exceed $50.
If 1t Is valued at more than that amount
an administrator is to be appointed by the
Orphans Court.
New Municipal Building.
The bill for the erection of q new mu-
uicipal building was yesterday favorably
reported to Congress by the Commission
ers. together with the following letter, in
Whlch they say: "Our municipal offices are
now housed in rented buildings. and the
accommodations are not capacious enough
for the work Of the employees or the conve-
nj snce of the public. Some of the District
officers and many of the records occupy
other buildings.
1.-THE District courts are also lily ac-
commodated in the old city hall.
"a municipal building Is needed, with
separate parts for the courts and the Dis
trict offices. 1t should be located on Judi
ciary Square, adjacent to the city hall site.
A structure of that character. which would
be in keeping with the dignity Of the ma
tons capital, would involve cost of ST.
10000, as proposed by the bill.
Comparison with the cost of municipal
buildings elsewhere shows that the esti-
mate for the Washington municipal build
Ing Is moderate. In Providence. esc 3 Sa5 l.. the
cinnati 81. 100000; Buffalo, $1.45O,OOO; Chi
cago, 81, ,716O00; Baltimore. 100000; San
Francisco, 100000. and Philadelphia,
$14, 100000. The Commissioners have esti-
mated for 100000 to commence oonstruc-