Evening star., 1896-07-28

the attorney for the District has decided
that the clause in the specifications for gas
lighting with reference to the time for be-
ginning to light and extinguish was not au-
thorized by law. This opinion has been ac-
cepted by the Commissioners and stricken
out, and with this change the specifications
accepted by the gas company. The contract
Tor Nshtlng the streets, avenues and alleys
with gas was today awarded to the Wash
ington Gas Company.
Bicycle Regulations.
Mr.. r. o. Holtzman had an informal talk
this morning with Commissioner Truesdell
upon the subject Of the bicycle regulations.
He prefaced his remarks by saying that
he was not opposed to bicycles; on the con-
trary, he was in favor of them. But he did
believe In regulations governing their use.
and said he hoped the Commissioners
would not amend those not in force, but
see to 1t that they were rigdly enforced
Yesterday afternoon. he SAID. while his
wife was crossing G street at 18th, she was
knocked down by negro bicyclist who had
no bell She was injured to such an extent
that she was taken into the Ohio National
Bank. and later conveyed to her home
This was only an Illustration. he said, of
the needs. the absolute necessity OF regula-
tions governing the running OF bicycles
Two years ago his father had been knocked
down and injured in similar manner. He
hoped the Commissioners would stand by
the regulations.
improvements Needed.
Professor Gallaudet of Kendall Green
called upon the Commissioners this morn
ing with reference to the improvement Of
Florida avenue and NJ street, adjacent to
the gro lnds Of the institution. He referred
to their bad condition. and pointed out that
an appropriation had been made for their
improvement. He hoped the Commissioners
would get the work of improvement under
way at an early date. in order to have II
completed befbre the new college term.
school House Site.
There washa hearing given by the Com
missioners tHis afternoon to the agents Of
certain piece Of property in the north
east Square 774). which was offered as a
site for the new eight-room public school
building in the northeast.
Under date. OF July 21 The Star printed
the fact that the Commissioners had about
agreed to accept the site offered by ex-
Gov. VIM. Pitt Kellogg, which was located
at the corner, Of 9Th and X streets north
east. and witch he offered at 80 cents per
square foot. Also that there was slight
hitch in the matter. owing to the fact that
Cardinal Gibbons would have to first give
his release 70 an old alley that had been
It was this notice that brought the rep
resentatives of another piece Of property
in the same locality to the Commissioners
with a protest against the consideration OF
ex-Gov. Kellogg's bid. They claimed that
the governor was not the owner of the
property represented in his bid; that por-
tion Of 1t was included in the alley which
belonged to Cardinal Gibbons. Upon this
protest the Commissioners granted a public
hearing which was held this afternoon.
The hearing did not last long. Commits
sioner Truesdell, speaking for himself and
referring to the bid under consideration.
that is. the property represented by the
protestants. said: Il do not consider that
suitable tract for school house and 1
shall never vote for it,"
This seemed to throw a damper over the
proceedings. which shortly came to a close.
The protesting bidder was represented by
Attorney j. F. Scaggs. He stated that he
did not dispute the right of the Comms-
sioners to reject any or all bids. The bid
submitted by his client was much cheaper
than the one offered by ex-Gov. kellogg
and was within the section named by the
Commissioners in their advertisement in
viting proposals. Ex-Gov. Kellogg submit
ted piece of property for sale to the Dis
trict which he did not own. The public
records show he did not own any such lot
described as 100 feet front by a depth of
125 feet. This being the case the bid was
irregular. Illegal and fraudulent, and should
be thrown out.
The square originally belonged to Car
dinal Gibbons. ard there was an alley run
ming through the square north and SOUTH
After the title to tie property became
vested In .exGov. Kellogg and NJ NJ
Parker. this alley was closed and another
alley opened The title to the first alley
reverted to Cardinal Gibbons. To obtain
lot Of the required size it would be impos-
sible to do so without closing the east AMI
west alley. But the regulations were
against this. for all new buildings must,
under the existing regulations, abut on a
public alley. He thought the District could
not obtain title to the property
Commissioner Truesdell answered rather
emphatically. that the District was not in
the habit of paying for something which it
did not get.