The times., 1898-11-05
WHY ALGHR..SUCCEBDHD
Secret of How His Alley Was
RaVsd.
PROTESTS DID NOT AVAIL
Story to the Eject That Major w. n.
Black, Formerly District Engineer
Commirsioner, Favored the Sec
Rotary Of War-Its Bearing ON His
Candidacy for Reappointment.

The specter of Algerism. which has
cast Its shadow over SO many OF the de-
partments of the War Department, seems
now to have stalked forth even more
boldly. and there is strong reason to be-
lieve that it has even reached the local
municipal government. At least SO goes
the story, which gained publicity from
thoroughly trustworthy and re,iab.e
sources yesterday afternoon.
1t in q measure explains the delay OIL
the Administration in announcins ITO III
tention of retaining Capt. Lais5 a.
Beach, of the engineer corps VI Tue army
as engineer Commissioner OIL ehe D's'ric'
of Columbia. and makes clear what seems
to Secretary Alser very excellent reasons
for nro,notiug the reappointment Of
Major william Nj. Black to fill the posi-
ton.
The statement is made that Major
| black, while he was engineer Commits
! sioner of the District, just prior to the
outbreak of the war. rendered the Secre-
tary of War most valuable service IN
securing for him yitrified brick pave
ment for the alley in the rear OF MS
premises at No. 1851 X Street, In square
1S4. This was not only done, but In spite
of vigorous protests on the part OF tie
neighbors of the Secretary OF War, hence
the assertion that Secretary a ger feels
that Major Blacks services should not
pass unrewarded.
The request for the paving of the alley
was made in August, 1887, by Secretary
Alger 1t was made to Major Black, thea
COMMISSIONER
captain of the army engineer corps. 1t
was referred to C. b. Hunt. the comput-
| ing engineer of the District engineer de-
| partment, who reported that the alley
| was well and substantially paved with
! cobble, and that, with few slght re-
! pairs, it might be put in excellent condi-
| ton without going to the expense OF
paving 1t with vltrified brick, as Requested
| by Secretary Alger.
Though Engineer Hunt reported the
| pavement In good condition, secretary
| Alser who had drecentiy purchased
| pneuma tic-tired carriage. thought that
| the old pavement was injurious 70 ms
tires and that q new yitriiied brick pave
| pent would be much better suited to
| them.
The most interesting feature OF the en-
tire story. in addition 10 the statement OF
its bearing upon the candidacy OF MAJOR
BLACK or at least, OF Secretary Alger
favor toward the same, is the fact that
the cost of the luxury was assessed
! against the otherfproperty owners on tue
square. Secretary Aiger very naturally
had no objections to the ievying OF the
assessment as he did not own out mao
merely leased the premises occupied oS
himself
Several of the neighbor,ng property
owners. however, learned that tn repaNe-
ment of the alley was contemplated ana
called upon Capt. Black and the other
Commissioners and protested against the
| work being done, alleging that II was mol
needed and that they did not desire 70 De
put TO such an unnecessary expense Inc
other Commissioners, or. at least, one OF
them, it is asserted. considered that the
| protest of the property owners was
| nrouer one. and that it should be recog-
| ntzed Among those who most strenu-
| ously objected to the Improvement or the
| repairing of the alley as II was styied
| in the documents in the case, were Hon
| James B. Edmunds, formerly member
| of the Board of District Commissioners,
and Rev. DR. Randolph H. Mckim, the
pastor of the Epiphany Church. owner OF
| a valuable piece of property at No l62o
| X Street, and very influential resident
| of that section of the city. Ex-Commis-
| sioner Edmunds resides at No 1871
| Street. and he, as well as DR.. Mckim,
were affected by the paving of the alley
| with vitrified brick
| Notwithstanding their protests, 1t seems
| that Capt Black was determined to serve
! the Secretary of War, and 1t is asserted
that. feeling that he could not nave the
| order for the repaving of the ailey ep-
| proved in the regular way by the en-
| tire Board of Commissioners, he taxed his
| ingenuity, and embraced the order for
| the proposed work in a batch of routine
| orders which were approved by the Com
| missioners in board session. The order
| seems thus TO have been passed without
| having been very closely observed, and
the paving of the alley was hurried
through before further notice of it could
be brought to the attention of the Com
| missioners Whether Secretary Aiger will
| WELD his influence with the President to
show his appreciation of the services OF
| Capt. Black, by recommending him for
| reappointment as the Engineer Comnis-
| sioner of the District remains to be seen.
The papers in the case, bearing ant the
details of the story, are on file in the
| archives of the engineer department. at
the District Building.
|