Evening star., 1898-12-05

st-ated during the last outbreak. was pre-
seut.i to Congress several years ago. but
the proposition "a erect such a building
was 50 uufavcrahIy received that it has not
been gain submitted. 1t may, possibly, be
received better At some future time. The
recently erected hospital for smallpox has
proven Of great value, but attention Is again
invited to- the fact that except when it is
occupied by patients. it is without any one
to care for the extensive stsam-heatlnS
p'aU' and the steam disinfeCting machinery
connected with it. The absence of an en-
giuHer will som" day be the cause Of dan
g"rrrs delay in removing n patient to the
hospital II has Already proven expensive
C-rBETy- ny reason Of injury 20 the water
and War services and TO the heating ap-
T1r.-lS by frceZiuE. The recommendation
for Iu appropriation for the services Of
.I. engineer. which has been made annually
for several years past, IS respectfully re-
1-Ns.I.
Municipal Building.
Vl.h she retura Of prosperity and with a
fuL treasury. u Is hcped that the obiec
ti'us heretofore made TO granting an ap-
p-rpE.atIou FOR "a municipal building have
o. last been overcome and that at the
GcmiuE session of Congress the pending
hi. or mobilization Of It. will receive
favorable action aud a start made in secur-
ing structure worthy Of the nations cap
lfai The highway extension act, railroad
SIttr 'E'i~SltLS. Inc ltG!dHdIlFQ oil the
Eastern branch fats and street railroads
have engaged The attention of the Com
mt~SiUucrs. the citizens and Congress dur
ing the past lew years to the exclusion of
other important considerations All these,
however. have tecn settled or are in d fair
state Of adjudication. so that tae energies
Of all interested may he cenjered on the
accomplishment Of this worthy object with
every assurance Of success.
Free Public Library.
Ths Commissioners call especial attention
to the public library Of the District. " hich
in pursuance Of legislation and spprcpria-
tIou by Congre -. is new in operation. This
institution has been established "as a sup
plemcnt Of the educational system of the
District. and IL is developing rapidly on
lines which will make It of special value
To- the school children and workingnen of
tn. community. in addition 20 its general
us fitness as a popular circulating library.
which the capital has long greatly needed.
The creation of a tax-sustained library
here merely puts Washington on an equal
footing in This respect with the prugre ssive
municipalities of the United States. inClud-
ing scores of little New England towns.
The Commissioners heartily approve the
estimates for the maintenance and onlarge-
ment Of the work Of the library. A sight
lUCr' ase in the library fore" and an appro-
pridjion for books are asked. the 1880
volumes now in the library are all private
donations and there will be other additions
from similar SoNGt tS- But IN OrUer that
the library may be Systematically develop
ed iu such manner 10 be OF the create
usefulness, al appropriation for the pur-
chase of books is essential The statistics
furnished by the trustees show that the
library estimates submitted are in all re-
sPects modest ard reasonable. and the
Commissioners believe that In the interest
OF the community these appropriations
should be made
business NanaG Improvement.
During the year the Commissioners, de
string To ascertain whether the business of
the nffice was being conducted on the best
and most modern principles, appointed a
committee. consisting Of the auditor of the
District. the secretary Of the board of Com
rnlssioners ard the head Of one of the divi-
sfpnS of the engineer department. This
committee was further augmented by the
addition of Mr. L. T Bushnell. who super
yi~-s the examination of District accounts
st rn- Unired States treasury.
In order thar wide scope of INQUIRY
might he afforded. this committee was au-
th,rized To proceed to other cities and there
Investigate the methods in vogue. As a
r-~r.J of this invest igatlon important infer
nation has been acquired in connection
with the systems Of tax collection and other
municipal tTausa CtiOnS. OF especial value
were their ohserya ations in the auditing de
partmpnts Of some Of the largest railroad
t1mDanieS in the east.
The report OF this committee is expected
shortly and marked Improvements are an
J.Cipared. II IL nolieVed that by the appli-
cation Of more approved methods better re-
suits viii attend the work of the clerical
force.
EsOIating Wards.
Reference Was made in the last report to
The appropriation Of 10000 for the erection
o, TWO isolatinas buildings, 10 be constructed
IN The discretion - the Commissioners on
the grounds II two hospitals Provision
v,~ made for one II these wards a the
Providence Hospital. When preparations
Were completed and work about TO begin
J.e Commissioners were enioined in the
courts from preceding further in the con
s-r-i"tlpu of this building. This Injunction,
h,Nr''-r. was aftcruaTd dissolved by the
ClUE- If Appeals
In The meautiTce Congress had made 4
u-N appropriation Of S1J.UuU for the erec-
ton n m tsrlating ward on the grounds Of
Garfield Hospital ana Il like amount for j
similar structure 10 be erected on the
grounds of Providence Hospital While
there had been previously some opposition
On the part Of !nt officials uf Garfield Hos
pt'I 10 that part Of The legislation affect
lE their Institution they gracefully yielded
ti-.g consent This building has been begun
and win soon he completed. The building
~ the Providence Hospital Will very soon
lie commenced and pushed 70 completion "a
rapidly possible.
Provision was also made for the equip
nrut and maintenance of these two build
tngS and claus. il the appropriation bin
specifies that they shall receive such cases
OF minor contagious diseases as may be
sent them by the COmm ssloners. a condi-
ton is thus met " nicn had become a source
o. considerable anxiety to those charged
With the public health. Cases Of diphtheria
and scarlet fever may now he practically
Isolated there IA wing been up to this time
- place where they could be treated ex-
Cept in the rem0deled sta BILE of Providence
Hospital
The smoke Nuisance.
Attention is invited TO the extensive con-
sumption OF sof, coal which has so rapidly
increased that il promises at no distant
date 70 very seriously mar the beauty Of
tie city and destroy the pleasures which
enhance its value as "a place of residence.
4 hii providing tge necessary re ief has
passed tr" House and il now pending in
t-- senate Its enactment would result in
t.- abatement IF this terrible nuisance. of
which just complaint is So frequently made
He .ur citig Ms.
The RemoyaI of Garbage
The removal Of garbage has been attended
vltH comparatively N-tl. complaint. under
an arrangement by which the contractor
has -