Evening star., 1899-01-02

ex-coroner, November %: Maj. George Hill.
November 26; Barnes Compton. December
B; David E. Holmes, December 10.
The Phenomenal Weather.
The past year has been phenomenal
here from the weather point of view. The
first real snow storm of the period came on
January 81, and more than five inches OF
the fieecy stuff fell. The blizzard was gen.
eral all over the country. The coldest
morning for many years was on February
4, when the temperature was but two de-
greeS above zero. Washington on that day
was the coolest place in the country. Rain
and snow alternated on day as late as
April s. and freezing weather damaged
buds and fruit. The heaviest rainfall ever
known here came on August II, and nearly
five inches of water turned the streets into
small rivers. September l The Star record
ed the fact that the city had just passed
through one of the hottest summers in its
existence, and that after June IL there
were forty days out of eighty when the
thermometer ranged at 90 or above. Much
of the time it was a. many days at 9S and
once 101. The fall set in unusually early,
and there was a remarkable number of
snow storms before the coming of the New
Year. During the last two months of the
year the seasonal temperature was often
exceeded, but no records were broken.
The Free Public Library.
Earnest and untiring effort on the part of
the promoters of the Washington free pub
lie library resulted in placing the institu-
ton on a practical working bass. On jan
uary is the legislative committee of the
library trustees, composed of Theodore w.
Noyes, B. H Warner and Weston Flint,
were given hearing before the subcom-
m1ttee of the House appropriations COM
mittee. They eloquently urged reason
able appropriation. The Senate passed the
amendment in the District appropriation
bill providing money for the library on
March T. despite opposition by Senator
Chiffon. BY June 80 the long, hard fight
was satisfactorily ended by the House and
Senate adjusting their differences and
agreeing that the United States should bear
half the cost of maintenance. as proposed
by the board of trade The District bill,
then about to become law contained an
appropriation for its support that was
small, but sufficient to effect a beginning of
the work. No provision having been made
for the purchase of books The Star on July
II printed and issued Il blank form intended
for persons desiring to donate books AT
the same time there was reported memorial
subscriptions of money, and the transfer
of the entire collection of the former free
city library to the new institution. The
recommendation of the trustees that the
library be located at No. 1926 New York
avenue was approved by the District Com
missioners September 16. The residuary
legatees of the estate of the late Anthony
Pollok, for many years a resident of this
city and who, with his wife, was lost on
the La Bourgogne last summer, rendered
about November ii to the District Commits
sicners, through the American Security and
Trust Company. Mr.. Polloks general
library for the use of the city. 1t consisted
of about 1,ooo volumes. Librarian Flint
stated November 80 that he would soon be
ready TO throw open the doors to the pub
lie. The first annual report of the board
of trustees was submitted by the president,
Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes, to the District
Commissioners December q
NOnuments in the District.
Interest in the erection of suitable me-
MORALS to distinguished persons who have
passed into the beyond was evidenced upon
several occasions during the year First
steps were taken on February % toward
the building of a monument in this city in
honor of the rank and file of the army and
navy who served during the war of the
rebellion.
The Star announced May p that the
President had approved the bill authorizing
the Secretary of War to designate site in
this city for such monument. The work
was in the hands of the National Reunion
Monument Association. and it issued an
address to the people of the country on the
date mentioned The first statue of Fred
erick Douglass was made here, and on
August the plaster molds were packed
and ready to be shipped for bronzing and
erection later It Rochester n. y, where
it now stands.
Col. Theodore F. Bingham, in charge of
public buildings and grounds, made an in
teresting report December IA concerning
the breathing of the Washington monu-
ment. He declared that it rises and falls
and inclines one way and then another, but
in no degree affecting its stability.
Sewer Construction.
Main sewers were constructed during the
year to the extent of IL, ,9o9. 90 lneal feet, at
a cost Of $500, SOFAS There Were construct
ed -, S31 20 ineal feet of pipe sewers, at
cost of ss7 PASS. One hundred ard twenty
seven catch basins were constructed and
1,G03 pipe connections made, at cost of
81 .42250. Nine flushing basins were built,
with twenty-seven terra Gotta connections
and 2l3 lead connections, al a cost of ST.,
o7I.S4, the total cost for the whole being
1896. 6.jS2. 10 In addition to the above, the
regular maintenance force was employed
in cleaning and repairing sewers and in
replacing obStructed sewers.
Streets and Roads.
The work of repairing and improving the
streets of the city and the roads of the
county has been prosecuted with energy
during the year, Congress having appro-
priated literally for the work, although not
in every instance granting the amounts
asked Tor Dy the DlSlrlct COMMISSIONERS
More streets and roads are lighted today
than was the case a year ago, this work
having also been earnestly prosecuted
Progress has been made in the cleaning of
the streets and alleys, Superintendent Slut
Ter of this department having during the
year demonstrated that the work can be
done much more cheaply and more satis-
factOrily by hand labor than by the ma
chimes under the contract system. There
fore, the Commissioners recommend that
the contract system be done away with and
the work be done by the District. Several
propositions for the remaining of streets
were submitted, but no plan has yet been
authorized by Congress.
Local Sports.
The sport record of 1898 in the District
was marked by many events of more than
usual interest, the first Washington horse
show being held in Convention Hall during
the early part of May being a novelty of
great interest There were many entries
in the various classes of fine animals, but
the constant downpour of rain that ac-
companied the. four days of the exhibition
seriously interfered with the attendance
and prevented the substantial success