The times., 1897-11-20
CAPTAIN BLACKS REPORT
Streets, Sewers, Water and
Other Spbjsess Discussed.
CONCRETE WALKS FAVORED
Appropriations Needed for the te-
pair Of Bridges s-Law Recommend
ed to Make the Use of Metropoi-
itah's Electric system Compulsory
for Street Railways

Engineer Commissioners Blacks part Of
the Commits ioners' annual report To Con-
gress was completed yesterday afternoon.
A Large part OF it is devoted to re-
viewing The past years work. II also
elnbracea in great measure The salient
features of the reports of Capt. Burr and
Capt. Beach. the Assistant Engineer Coin-
missioners, which have been published
heretofore in The Times.
In. the paragraphs relating to street ana
alley payements, Capt. Black adyerts 10
.he trouble experienced by the department
in compelling railroads. to keep the pave
ments between their tracks in repair de
recommends the passage Of the law with
relation to this trouble suggested by Capt.
Beach. The cement sidewalks, which are
comins more generally into use anu favor
every year, are, ne says cheap anddurahle.
The latest contract price is 50 cents
square yard, with a five years guarantee
BE strongly RECOMMENDS larger appropria-
tions for the country roads. AS to brid ges
he says:
Tue appropriation for the ordinary care
of bridges and construction and repar oI
bridges has been Tor some years too SIna II
to hermit any but the most necessary re
pairs TO be made, and these in the most
economical manner possible, a hihlb mas
been reached which cannot oe passed win
safety, as several of the bridges are IN
dangerous condition..
Under the act OF Congress approved May
2S. $50, the Capital Railway Company was
at,4 4hs.rE m rFtf f- 4 AfEtp
electricity, across the Navy Yard bridge.
The weight or motor car varies from
$4,000 to 10000 pounds, and ~hen loaded
with people its weight must De cOnslaefe eu
in computing the strains as 30 200 10 Do
900 pounds. The Navy Yard bridge was
never constructed TO bear sdch strains. In
addition TO this, the structure is very
unsIghtly one and Inadequate 10 meet the
demands or travel, and should be replaced
by a better and new structure, Tor WbRh
estimates havc been submitted
IN the last appropriation act the CoWmis-
Sioners were directed to obtain by competi-
tion plans for a bridge across Rock Creek
OIL tile line oI Conuecucut agenae extended,
Ii is expected that the plans VIII be ready
Tor submission 20 Congress, with estimates
in detail, before fhe beginning OF the next
calendar yearI The work or widening +
street bridge, 3s provided for In the last
appr opria ton dct,sis now in progress
After a!iuding 10 .the experiments nf
the Capitol Traction Company Brox.l
e,ectric system and the lexington md
Soldiers' Home Company's air nlOtoTs Capt.
Back says Of street railroads;
The underground electric system In use
on The Metropolitan line has been operated
throughout the year in manner IEnst sat
,SCactory To the citizens, and, IL l. under
stood, financially satisfa ctoTy TO the com
| paDy. 1t is a question for serious consider
| atiun whether sound public policy would
not dictate that. until some otEer methcJ
| of street car propulsion has heen proyec
| to be better, Congress should StlIutate tha'
! ali the street ralwny compa nies operated
within the city limits be equipped witt
this form OF pTDpHisIon. as Being tie NOS
satisfactory KNOWN anywhere ttfrs date
The lengthy report OF Mr.. Allen, tht
sapcTi endent Of electric lighting. Gn tit
| eleetrolytic action OF return currents from
| the trolley railroads and the Potomac
Electric Lighting Company, is alludei Il
| by Capt Black and legislation asked fIr
III the para sraphs relating to sewers h
SAYS:
The sanitary conditions of the cit
| lave been vastly improved III recent yea
| 10y the recia nation OF the Potomac flats
The recla nation OF the Anacostia flats /
| a similar manner is strongly urged, an
will be grea tIy in the lnteresE tot the eeneTa
| healtnfuineSs. But a third cause OF III
IealthruIness viii remain until the pla
OF sewage disposal, SO ably prepared b
the commission convened 10y Congress j
1883 and set fortn in their report, silal
have been completely carried out. A
present the sewage is eInptied into tn
Potomac aud Anacostia rivers immedi3tei
along the water front of the city and i
carried hack and forth by the tides,
large portion Of 1t being deposited ol
the banks. Ia addition TO this the Jane
Greek and street canals, which extend Z
| within $50 yards OF the Capitol and rot
| yards of the w fIite House, respectively, re
| main sinks of pollution. These canals Nee
| only TO be examined at low water ard Ills
turbed slightly. to convince the NOS
skeptlcal OF their dangerous condition, eS
| pecially during the summer season.
The cost OF the whole system of sewer.
he says, VIII be S4,029,635. At tn
present rate Of appropriations and col
struction he points out that the work wouI
not be completed until 1928. This, b
saws. is too slow for many reasons. E
adds:
Under all Of these circumstances. it
deemed but proper that this constructiC
should be paid for by funds prOvid ed
the sale of bonds, the revenues Of eaG
year to be aXed for the eSta Adjustment
a sinking fund sufficient 10 distribute IL
cost equitably over a reasonable time.
bond bill looking to this end is being pr
pared, and will be presented to Congrel
at its coming session with request for earl
action thereon.
As to plumbing, he SAYS y b;ll d
signed TO maintain a high standard
plumbing work viii be promoted at ii
coming session OF Congress
The water problems OF the District,
Outlined by the assistant engineer, nav
been published in full in The Times heTet
) fore. Capt. Black devotes considera bic spa,
to the question of the enormous waste
: water, found in recent experiments.
: lie recommends more liberal appropri
tions for street and alley lighting, ar
also calls attention To the need of a deffnit
law To govern TIE extension and conJr
+ OF al. the electrical systems OF the ID
trct. ~
p, With regards to she building inspe
ton, after reviewing the report of Car
} Burr, he calls attention to the ill-effeo
of making fixed and definite appropri
: tion for each enginehouse and schoolhca
OF q given size. The prices of land (
4 sites vary greatly according to their Ioc
r ton He recommends that in making a
preparations foi d definite number
: buildings, the amount be appropriated
:, lump sum.
THE GARBAGE CONTRACT.
NIr. Warfield Asks for Payment