Evening star., 1896-01-20
DIS R4CT AFFAIRS
A New Aeth6apf Making Street Improve.
b n,nt..
M.tters Of Iaas.eat to Local TaxDayers
From Il District B"ildins
- -ER oma's Main. -


Hereafter when it is desired to improve a
sidewalk or pavean alley, the Commission
ers will not be required to first get the con-
sent of the adjacent property owners. or
have the health officer certify that the i'm
provement is. necessary in the interest OF
public health. Heretofore when such I'M
provements we're necessary the Commis-
sioners called upon the fund set aside by ap-
preparation for improvements under the as
sessment plan. That is. when property
owner desired his sidewalk relaid he could,
upon depositing one-half the cost thereof,
have the work done, the District paying one
halr the cost. Again, when it was found
necessary to lay q new sidewalk along an
entire square. it was necessary to first OBJ
ta1n the signatures of all the property own
eis before an assessment could be levied.
In tn.s way one obstinate property owner
could hold out against the majority and
forbid the Improvement. Not with un-
healthy alleys. When the health officer
certined that the paving or other improve
ment of sn alley was necessary in the inter-
est of public health, the Commissioners
forthwith ordered the improvement.and one
half the cost was made a lien against abut-
ting property. Now, however. it has been
decided that such action is not necessary,
and all the authorities have. to do is to state
the Improvement is necessary and forth
with proceed to complete it.
Takoma's Water Main.
For some time the residents Of Takoma
Park have been clamoring for water, and
the District authorities have not only been
willing. but anxious, to furnish the water
If the property owners who were to be
benefited thereby would pay for the laying
of the water main. Accordingly, plans were
made and the situation examined by the
engineer department, and it was deemed
eXDediont to the water main out lima.
tilla street. The Brightwood railroad owns
the right OF way over part OF the pro-
posed extension of this street, and the
water main was to have traversed that
part of the street. But legal complications
have arisen. 1t seems that Umattlla street
between Brightwood and Piney Branch
road Is not a public street. and II the Dis
trict lays a water main there 1t cannot col
lect one cent of assessment from abutting
property owners. On the other hand, 1t is
questionable If the authorities have the
right to lay water main In private prop
erty.
And SO further proceedings have been
blocked. and nothing can be done unless a
right of way is secured for the laying of
the water main and the same decided to the
District. -...s.
Had u Scare.
Commissioners Truesdell and Powell re-
ceived scare at the District building today.
They were on their way to lunch, and were
about to. enter the elevator. when portion
Of the ceiling at the top Of the elevator
shaft gave way and fell, striking the car
and covering the Commissioners with plas-
ter. They hurriedly jumped out of the way,
but seeing no further danger entered the car
and proceeded to lunch.
Municipal Lodging House.
The report, Of the superintendent OF the
Municipal Lodging House for the past week
shows an increase of thirteen persons cared
for ever the previous week, with an in
creased daily average of two.