Evening star., 1896-12-07

! population. the federal capital is the only
one which, for a quarter of a century, has
had TO have recourse to such rented quar-
ters as could be obtained for that part of
the public service which executes the will
Of Congress as to all matters within the
purv!ew of municipal control.
The growth and the extension of the cap:-
tai, and the increase in the number of the
interests cor centrateG here. have been such
that the Commissioners would be Justly
| censurable If they should fail to bring t.
the attention Of the Congress, with all of
the emphasis possible, the fact that long
before now structure can be completed
the greatest embarrassment and confusio::
In the conduct of the public business mas;
Inevitably result from the want of build
ing erected for the uses of the District OF
Columbia
In their estimates for the next fiscal year
the Commissioners have Incorporated an
item of one hundred thousand tslu0,a;D dol
lars. which they request may be appro-
prlated Tor the beginning of building. to
be erected on and near the site of the old
City Hall, to be used for municipal and
court purposes.
1t is we'll known that a large portion of
tEat building Is very old and in not the
hest sanitary condition. The Court Of Ap-
Peals is already cramped for room. and has
no such quarters assigned to it as befits
ITS dignity and Importance. Even in the
District building which is more comforta-
bile than any heretofore occupied. the police
department is seriously incommoled for
| tHe want OF more room. one room. about
| 12X16 feet is occupied by seven clerks, and.
| Including visitors, has on average of
twelve occupants at all times duriug bust
Eess hours: another room in the same de-
pertinent, 9X15 feet, has to accommodate
| thirteen men a large portion of the
| DAY. Such use of both rooms has been con-
demned by the health officer of the District
| In order to begin the erection of a new
| building 1t will not be necessary to inter-
| fere with the use of the courts of the pres
| ent city hall until such time the erection
| of new wing Of the proposed new build
| ing can accommodate the courts of the Dis
| trict.
| Our people and our influential press gen.
orally approve of the proposed location. If
an appropriation be made at this session of
Congress 1t may well be expected that by
| the beginning of the next century the
courts and the District government may be
| adequately provided for in a fire-proof
| structure, SO arranged that the business of
| the courts need not be interrupted by any
| &C ngregations of people who may visit the
part to be assigned for municipal purposes.
The Fire Department..
| During the fiscal year 1896 the engine
| house on NJ street between New Jersey
| avenue and 1st Street northwest. for the
| use of truck ID, was completed, and the en-
| gine mouse on ID street between 18th and
| 14th streets northwest was nearly COM
pleted.
With the growth and development. Of the
| city and the populCus suburbs equiva-
| lent extension of the fire service becomes
| Indispensable. The recent report of the as
SCISSOR of the District of Columbia modified
! by more recent Information from United
| States officers, shows that the value of
| buildings in the District aggregates abou,
$50. .241 921; of this amount buildings of the
| value Of $1OS. .52S 100 are owned by the
| United States of America. For the protec-
| ticn of all this vast investment in buildings
| from destruction or injury by fire the
| equipment Of the fire department of the
District consists of ten fire engines four
| hook and ladder companies and two chem
| ical engine companies The Commissioners
! have appended to their estimate of appro-
priations for the fiscal year ISIS a table
| showing the population Of the principal
| cities Of the Union and the equipment of
| each of said cities for protection against
! fire. OF these cities San Francisco, Cleve-
| land. Buffalo and Pittsburg approxima te
| the District in population. The other cities
named in the following table Go not equal
| in population the District: