Evening star., 1898-11-15


posal project to speedy termination.
' The committee On water supply traces
the successive steps OF the board hEnt
for an increase of the quantity and I'M
frovement of the quality of the citys wa
ter. First, the raising of the dam at Great
Falls was secured, next in order to sup
plement this work and give it practical
value by enlargement of the means of
storing and distributing the increased vol
time of water. a committee of experts was
appointed to examine into the feasi-
biiity and wisdom of completing the tun-
mel and the reservoir near Howard Univer-
sity. In accordance with the report of
this committee, which was strongly in
dersed a: public meeting of the board of
trade, Congress at its last session appro-
priated S;594, ,421 to complete the tunnel, and
some work has already beer done upon it.
An effort to impose water meters indiS-
crminately upon all water consumers was
met and defeated in the House of Repre-
sentatives in a fight in which the board
through its committee and its officers, ac-
lively participated. Filtration is recon-
mended as a subject worthy of municipal
thought and skill, ard a welcome is ten
dered in advance to any system of puri-
fication demonstrated to be practical, efti-
| cient and reasonably economical.
The committee on river and harbor I'M
provementS presents convincing reasons for
the development of the reclaimed Potomac
flats as a park; for the removal OF the
menace of the present Long bridge; for the
dredging of the Georgetown and Washing
ton channels, and for the improvement of
the Anacostia river navigable stream
as far up as Benning bridge. and the deep
ening Of its channel and reclamation of the
flats above that point as national and
| municipal sanitary measure Col. Allen.
United States engineer in charge, will make
a full report the reassembling of Con-
greSS of the work done under last sessions
appropriation of 81 200 for a survey of the
Anacosta river, and project for its i'm
provement.
Committees Which Promote Business
interests.
The material welfare of the city is also
promoted by other committees which deal
almost exclusively with business interests.
The committee mercantile interests
reports among the interesting and import
ant events of the year in the local business
| world the aboiishing of the trading stamps,
which were viewed as a menace by mer-
camille Washington. The District Court of
| Appeals decided that the issuance of these
stamps violation of the local law
against gift enterprises.
The committee notes that the condition
of business at the present time among the
merchants seems to be much better than
it was at this time last year. The war
| undoubtedly has been a great benent to
Washington's mercantile interests, causing
the disbursement here of a great deal OF
money which would not otherwise have
been put in the channels OF Washington's
business
The committee on commerce ana Ildlu-
factures reports that it favors the aCquisi-
ton of the water power at Great Fails ty
the government when and only when We
have proper assurances that the govern
ment viii Immediately make its use avail
able to the citizens OF the District for iSnt-
ing and manufacturing purposes, and mat
without such assurances the mere "clnlSi-
ton Of the land and water rights as pro
posed would have only the injurious effect
of putting it out of the power Of PIRATE
enterprise to make proper H5e 3f such
water powc". On the general subject oil
the advisability of encouraging the lntfo-
duction of new manufacturing plants IN
this city the committee points out that the
smoke nuisance can be easily localized al
an unobjectionable distance by ine Gonver-
sion and distribution of power in the form
of electrical currents, and 1t recommends
that, as Washington is immense and
important center of distribution for govern
ment supplies, the energies of the board he
devoted, for the present at least, to urgin;
upon Congress the desirabilitT of manufac
turing here many articles for which it has
constant and imperative use.
The committee on insurance has been
active in a campaign against wildcat in
surance companies operating in the Dis
trict The committee estimates. after care
full inquiry, that there are policies actual
ly in force in this District agsrcgating at
least a quarter of a million of dollars
which are utterly worthless, and on which
not a penny could BE- recovered in case of
loss. Legislation designed to correct this
evil was proposed by the committee, in
dCrsed by the board of trade, and reported
faVorably to the Senate from the District
committee. Action upon it IS hoped at the
approaching session of Congress.
l may add that this community seeks
both to protect itself against worthless in
Surance and to secure good insurance at
the lowest rates. The twofod task will
doubtless receive the careful attention this
winter of the board of trade, as well as of
the insurance committee.
The committee on public order demon
strates clearly the urgent need of an in
crease of the police force. Originally there
was one patrolman to about 900 people in
the District: now there is about one to
l,Gb, and in one instance a single patrol
man is assigned to 4 territory including
thirteen miles of beat.
The value to the community of the Ma
tional Guard and the Importance of its ade-
quate maintenance are pointed out In
creased appropriations, especially for drills
camps of instruction and practice marches
are recommended; also an appropriation to
enable the naval battalion to utilize the
United States ship Fern, which has been
transferred to it for its use
may with propriety add that this com
mlttee raised money by subscription to
equip the National Guard and District reg
iBlent of volunteers for active service in
the war with SPAN. The board contributed
not only from its means, but from its mem
Gership to the national defense, and it loan
ed to the government to command the Dis
trict regiment its valued secretary efficient
in war us in peace. The record of the Dis
trict of Columbia for patriotic public spirit
Eegun in the war of 1872 and continued in
the civil war, in which the first volunteers
came from the District, whose quota was
more largely exceeded than that of any
state except one is enlarged by the addi-
ton of a new and creditable chapter based
upon the history of the war with Spain
The volunteers accepted from this commu-
nity in the recent struggle vastly exceeded
the Districts quota. and the prompt and en-
thusiaSuc tender of service by the National
Guard placed the local force at the disposal
OF the President in advance of all compet-
ltors for that honor. 1t was not their fault
that they were not first mustered in as vol
Gnteers. The fame of the District has been
enhanced both at home and abroad by the
soldieriy bearing of the well-discplined and
effective regiment which the capital sent to
Santiago.
The committee bridges reports that
the replacement of Long bridge by a
more durable structure is expected as
a part of the plan of terminal i'm
provement by the railroads entering the
city from the south. The project of
a national memorial bridge across the
Potomac has during the year received the
enthusiastic Endorsement of the Grand Army
of the Republic, and the committee believes
Il