The morning times., 1896-02-09

The Commissioners were engaged the
greater part of yesterday afternoon in the
preparation of reports upon measures pend
ing in Congress, and it is believed that
among other things under consideration
was provision for cheaper gas.
1t is the understanding that the board
viii treat this subject elaborately, and
that the report will be ready for trans
mission to the respective District Com
mittees of the Senate and House on Mon
day.
The well-known position OF the Com
missioners, which has been emphasized
several times inIreating ofvariousmeasures,
rs that the proper way TO deal with the
question is to oblige the present monopolies
TO reduce the price and not by admitting
rival companies TO occupy the field, ana
IL is, therefore, just presumption that
III the coming report the question will
De argued from that standpoint.
The board has more than once taken the
ground that it is not good policy to permit
the streets to be torn up for the purpose of
laying new mains, or for other similar
purpose.
WILL ADVISE PURCHASE.
1t is believed, also, that when called
upon TO declare themselves, and it may
be i'll the contemplated report, the Com
chase of the existing conduits for under
ground wires, and this, IL is thought, will
De accompanied 10y proposition 10 after
ward rent the privilege OF using The con-
Quits, and thus make provision for the
admission OF new companies, should any
such get permit from Congress 10
occupy the field.
A bill for the relief of the legal repre-
sentatives of the late John H Crane, who
claims compensation for some service per-
formed by the decedent in his lifetime in
connection with the work of laying water
mains, was returned TO Congress yesterday
with an adverse report.
a similar bill has been before previous
Congresses. when the same opinion was ex-
pressed. A report made by-Capt. L. Lusk,
in 1892, is quoted in the present instance,
and indorsed, part OF which is fol-
lows:
From time to time there have appeared
in the newspapers over Mr.. Cranes name,
statements concerning the cost of laying
water mains in the District. These state
ments seem 10 have been voluntarily pre-
pared, and so far as my experience goes,
have not been OF material benefit
Captain Burr, assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner, says he knows orno grounds
for the claim, and recommends that adverse
report be made. "
LAKE PAVEMENT.
The Commissioners have returned to Sena-
tor James Mcmillan, the joint resolution
recently adopted, requiring inquiry to be
made into the advisability or having a
block of Lake pavement laid in the city
with the view of testing its adaptability,
and with it sent copy of report made
upon the subject by Assistant Engineer Com
missioner Fiebeger, which is adverse to the
test.
The particular merit claimed for the Lake
patent is tRat its component parts will pre-
vent pushing or showing of the pavement,
such as sometimes occurs where there is a
lack of bond between the foundation and
wearing surface, or where there are inter-
nal defects in the wearing surface, due to
lack OF proper proportions between the
silicious and bitnminous parts.
1t is Captain Fiebeger's judgment that it
will cost more TO lay the Lake pavement
than to lay sheet asphalt, according to the
present methods.
The Barber Asphalt Company does not
approve the use of the Lake process.