Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-12
WANT MORE MONEY
Commissioners Ask for Emergency
Fund of $4,000
FOR The REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ice
Provisions of the Law Requiring
Work to Be Done.
EXHAUSTED APPROPRIATION

Anticipating another heavy fall Of snow,
the District Commissioners today addressed
a communication to Representative Cannon,
chairman of the House committee on ap-
preparations, requesting an appropriation
of 5000, to be made Immediately available
with which TO remove the snow and Ice
from the streets, cutters and crossings Of
the city, the Commissioners explaining that
the sum allowed them by the current Dis
trict appropriation bill, $1,000, has been ex-
hausted.
By acts of Congress. approved respect
lively, March .. 1895, and March q 1897, it
is made "the duty of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia Immediately
after every fell of snow on the crosswalks
or in the cutters, forthwith to cause the
same to be removed from the said cross
walks to width of ten feet and from out
of the said cutters to a breadth of one foot
in the said cities, respectively, and in such
other part parts Of the District of Co.
lumbia as the Commissioners of said Dis
trict shall from time to time designate;
and the said crosswalks and cutters shall
be kept clean and free from distractions,
and in case the crosswalks are covered with
ice 1t shall be their duty to cause such
crosswalks to be literally sprinkled with
sand or sawdust, or such other material as
will insure safety to pedestrians"
Objects in View.
1t is to carry out the provisions of the
acts that the Commissioners desire the aD-
preparation of $1,000, and until this emer-
gency appropriation Is made by Congress
they will be able to do practically nothing
in the matter. On this work it has been the
practice of the Commissioners to employ
such men as stood in great need of en-
ployment, and In that way the fund has
materially assisted in the relief of the poor.
The act of March 2, 1895, also provides:
That it shall be the duty of the superin-
tendent of public buildings and grounds in
the District of Columbia Immediately after
fall of snow or sleet or as soon thereaf-
ter as practicable, to engage such assist
ance as he may deem necessary when
funds are available, and proceed to remove
from all paved sidewalks cross-walks
which may be used as thoroughfares
around, about, or through the public parks
within the cities of Washington and
Georgetown all Accommodations of snow or
sleet to a width sufficient to accommodate
winter pedestrian travel; or in case the
same be so CONCEALED as to make removal
by ordinary methods impossible, shall cause
such paved side or cross-waiks to be liber-
ally sprinkled with sand or sawdust or
such other material as will insure safety to
pedestrians who, in the lawful and legiti-
mate pursuit of their respective avocations
find it convenient to pass around. about or
through said public parks
ana II snail be the duty of the superin-
tendent of public buildings and grounds,
visit each public park in the cities of
Washington and Georgetown as soon as
possible after any snow or sleet storm. as
aforesaid, and carefully inspect the work
as herein provided for
"Snow and Ice Acts,
The two acts referred to are known as
the snow and ice acts" and, as has here
tofore been stated in The Star, they pro-
vide that the owner, agent or tenant of
each house or other building, or lot or lots
or ground in the city and in such other
parts of the District as the Commissioners
snail designate, shall, within the first four
hours of daylight after every fall of snow,
cause the same to be removed entirely
from off the sidewalks opposite each house.
building lot or land. under a penalty of a
| fine of one dollar for each lot
In addition to this penalty, the Commits
| sioners are directed to remove the snow In
| the event of its non-removal by the owner
agent or tenant, and to assess the cost
| which tax shall be collected from the owner
| the collection of other taxes Where the
| sidewalks are covered with ice 1t is made
| the duty, under like fine of the owner
agent or tenant to sprinkle them with saw
| dust, sand or such other like material as
| will insure or contribute to the safety of
passing pedestrians.
As was stated in The Star at the time. the
commissioners recently ordered that the
| provisions of the snow and ice acts" shall
| be extended as to include the sidewalks
| of the entire District