davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
EXT (. 7 r 4! !!
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Annual Statement Of Affairs Submitted
TO the President
EXHIBIT MADE FOR PAST FISCAL YEAR
Police and Fire Departments and Public
Schools.
INCREASED FACILITIES WANTED


The annual report of the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia was transmitted
by them to the President today. for sub
mission to Congress. 1t Is as follows:
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia herewith submit for the infCr-
nation of Congress. as required by law
their annual report Of the official dongs Of
the government of said District for the fs-
cal year which ended June 80 1899.
The appropriations for the year which
were payable out Of the general revenues,
and embraced all but the appropriations
for the water department. We're 81, 2;i9, 675. ~.
The receipts from taxes and other resources
applicable to the payment Of said appro-
pTiatiOns Including The amount contributa-
bic by the United States as its share of the
District expenses ami a surplus Of S9J6-
T;216 Of District revenues Of former years.,
were S7.sl2,@DI2
The expenditures Of the water depart
ment were 2195. .s7S. %. and were wholly pay
able out Of the revenues received from
water rents and assessments. The revenues
Of said department. including d balance of
former years amounting to $2;u IlJ.21. were
S547.5g@33.
Debt. Funded and miscellaneous
THE funded debt of the District Of CO.
lumhia ON June ~. 1899 was J.SgI. .G2O1S
No portion of IL was incurred under The.
present form Of the municipal government.
The treasurer Of the United States who is
charged with its mana cement. reports il in
detail:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

section might entail material delays in the
recording of deeds. But as the routine pre-
scrlbed would not require more than a few
minutes In any instance, the opposition
was based on a misapprehension of the
situation.
The Commissioners recommend the en-
actment of this section as early as prac-
tiCable
ModihcatiOn of business Methods
Since the Commissioners made their re-
port for the fiscal year 1898 the committee
appointed to examine the business methods
In operation in the District offices, and to
recommend such changes therein as might
appear advisable, has submitted an account
o1 It's doings, and suggested certain modifi-
cations designed to improve the man,7.r
of conducting the municipal business
ne change recommended consists to
great extent Of the adaptation of a card
system to a large portion of the records
now kept in books. ard il is believed would
result in saving of time, labor and ma
teriai tn the District and conCiuce to the
public convenience by the greater accessi-
afford.
The Commissioners were so IMPRESSED
win IN" advantages Of many of those rec
concentrations that they ordered their
adoption, and hope in the carly future to
nave them in practical application.
horc Room Required.
The recent transfer OF police headluar-
ters to the Harper building, on C street be-
tween AZ and 9th streets northwest will al
low the Commissioners to give more office
room to the collector of taxes and enable
him and the assessor to better arrange
thelr forces and methods for the conduct of
the office business and the accommodation
of the public.
additions to the force of the collector
nave not kept pace with the great in
crease IN the office work due to the growth
OF the District in material prosoeritv and
tor other reasons set forth in the collec-
tors rep pprt, but the Commissioners have
reason to believe that with the rearrange-
ment of business which the increased office
capacity will afford, and the increase in the
office force recommended. much Of the en-
barrassment existing on that account NAV
be ubviated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

personal property and for all real propertv
except that used solely for agricultural mn
poses. the rate of which was SI.oO per SIOO
OF assessed valuation.
The EstimnteS
Estimates for the fiscal year 1900 were
prepared as required by the organic Law
ana submitted through the Secretary of the
treasury They amounted to 81 J22 432131
including $13|.%41. payable out of the water
funds. The details of these estimates Will
he found in the book of estimates uranared
lay the Treasury Departments
Designation OF Lots for .ssess.
A very Important advance was made in
the matter Of designating parcels of land
lor convenience OF reference in making as
sess'nents, by the passage of An act to
distinctively designate parcels of land in
the District of Columbia for the purpose of
assessment and taxation and for oth,r mr.
poses, approved March 3, 1899, which es
ta5lIShed system designed TO give to each
laFcel of land a designation to distinguish
II from every other parcel. But through a
misunderstanding the scope of this law docs
not lHliH cover the subject in that il onni1s
70 maxi any provision for specifically des-
lSr"iihs parcels of duly designated lots
Whth the utle 10 such parce 5 passes nv
ihetes and bounds The bill prepared and
submitted by the Commissioners contained
III adatuoh 10 the provisions in the Law a :
SnacIed, section as follows: .Sectto, .
NAT hereafter, before any Instrument ~
conveyance OF land IN said District sboIl
pe recorded in the office of the recordar ~
dtTuS, Such instrument must hear cors,,o-
ucuSiy lndorsed thereon a certiticate r.,
tlv office of the surveyor OF said Dfstrint
showing the proper designation. for tbe
purposes Of this act, of the land So con,
teStu' "Scording to the surveyors records
as provided IN section l; and sucb cer
uHC''e Shdl be entered upon the rec1rds
ot me Sdid recorder as part of the recor1
VI '"e S''Id instrument of conveyance
Present Conditions.
NJ present parcel of land bearing q
distinctive designation upon the surveyors
and assessors records may In fact consist
of number of parcels of different owner
ships In case ii should become necessary.
to advertise any of these parcels for sale
Tor taxes in arrears, the advertisement
must contain full description of the
| bounds of such parcels. and thereby entail
a vast and unreasonable amount of work
and expense.
The section was stricken out of I ! hill
"hiie IL Was in the Senate, during the clos
ing hours Of the session, when there was
not time to deliberately consider the force
or certain objections which had been made
10 II by a number of real estate firms in
the District These objections were essen
'iaLy that The proceeding set forth In the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
\ Merchant Marine,

The value OF an American merchant ma
rine to the extension of our commercial
trade and the strengthening OF our power
upon the sea invites the immediate action
of the Congress. Our national DEVELOPMENT
will be one-sided and unsatisfactory so
long as the remarkable growth Of our in
land industries remains unaccompanIed nv
progress on the seas. There is no lack az
constitutional authority for legislation
which shall give To the country maritime
strength commensurate with its Industrial
achievements and with its rank among the
nations OF the earth
The past year has recorded excentiopa1
activity in our Fhipyards and the PROMISES
OF continual prosperity in shipbuildirlr- ara
abundant. Advanced legislation for tho
proteeuCn of our seamen has baeD en-
acted Our coast trade, under regulations
wisely framed at the beginning Of the gov
eminent and since, shows results for the
past hscal year unequaled in our records
or those of any other power. We shall fail
TO realize our opportunities, however if we
complacently regard only matters at home
and blind ourselves to the necessity of Sc
curing our share in the valuable carrying
trade OF the world.
Last year American vessels transported A
smaller share of our exports and imports
than during any former year in all our his
tory, and the measure of our dependence
upon foreign shipping was painfully mani
Tested to our people. Without any choice
of our own. but from necessity, the Depart
ments of the Government charged with
military and naval operations in the East
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
the beach before the beginning of the next

the beach before the beginning of the next
bathing season.
Attention is invited to the recommenda-
ton of the committee that an appropriat tion
be made for the transformation of a por-
tion of the inner basin on the Potomac
park into bathing plant which would not
be subject to the fluctuations of the tides,
on the general plan proposed by the super-
intendent of the beach, and urged bv a
number Of public spirited citizens inter-
ested in the improvement and extension
of the public bathing accommodations.
STREET CLEANING.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
Bathing Beach.

THE insufficiency of the amount appro-
priated for the bathing beach for the past
season seriously hampered the committee
having this branch of the service in charge
in its endeavors to secure the best results
and was especially embarrassing in Dre-
venting the completion of the work of grad.
ing the bottom. The Commissioners hone
that adequate means will be provided for
that and other necessary improvements at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
A LIBERAL EDUCATION.

Whether or not you wish
TO buy anything the adver-
tising columns of The Star
amply repay the most care
full perusal.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
Municipal Building.

THE Commissioners are still impressed
With the conviction that the civil seryic,
laws if made applicable to the Distric
government would result advantageous. :,
to the conduct of the municipal busiaes:
and adhere to their previous recommenda A
tions on :he subject
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
THE EVENING STAR.

PUBLISHED DAILY. EXCEPT SUNDAY
- Hy Business Office II09 Peuusylv ania Avenue
fhe Evening Star Newspaper Company.
5. II. kAUFFNANN Prest
New York Office: 81 Tribune Building
Chicago Office: Boyee Building
LOuton Office: Trafalgar Buildings trafalgar Square.
city hy carriers. their account. at 10 cents
per week. ~ cents per month Copies at the
counter. cents each BY mail-aHy " here in the
United States ur Cauada-poStage prepaid-50 cents
Der month
foreign o. stage added. So OS
tEuteIed It the Post O,itce at Washington d c..
n second -cla~S mail mattps.i
c All mat subscriptions must he paid in advance
Rates II advertis uG made known on Application
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
The Sanitary Omcer.

"A report of the police department would
be incomplete without a reference to the
excellent work of the sanitary officer Com
paratively few people know what is done
in the sanitary office. There the Door the
insane, the Yagrants ordered to leave the
city and the sick are taken or go for a
disposition of their cases. The sanitary
officer has entire charge of the ambulance
service. the placing of the INDECENT sick in
the various hospitals, the TRANSPORTATION
of prisoners and paupers, and the commit
ment of the insane to the asylum Pecu-
liarly fitted for these trying duties lis
sanitary officer, with patience and skill
in a quiet way. has accomplished vast
amount of good work for the District IT
is pleasure to have been able to provide
him with new and increased accomrnoda-
tions, where he has better facilities for
handling this important branch of the c1ty's
work. Some idea of the labor in this Of
figures for the past year: 800 persons were
furnished with transportation to their
homes 4,0fO persons were sent to the sew
eral hospitals, 22S insane persons were
properly tried and admitted to the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane; there were
3,019 calls for ambulances which were re-
sponded to, while innumerable "cranks''
and demented persons have visited the Of
flee, airing imaginary grievances, consum-
ing valuable time, and have been sent away
either pacified or SO cared for as to- pre-
vent their doing harm to themselves or
others.
Additional Privates.
Congress has made provision for the an
pontment Of what are known as additional
(COntinued on Fourth Do ore I
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

seks and bonds
i-~itp The Unite
"
: stock
M f.f,a,. . 80
1000
~
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28

speech and told them that the people ough,
to rise mp out of their lethargy and make
this free country. A declaration of in
dependence was written ont and signed
and the bell was rung, as we have said
When old George Threetimes heard of
this he sent over more soldiers and tried
to wipe out the little band parading under
George Washington.
Bat Mr.. Threetimes' gingerbread SOL
dlers couldn't fool our George-nit! Our
George let them chase him around New
Jersey and Pennsylvania and when they
iinally did catch him the" at once tried to
let him go. Bnt George didn't go-not
much! That night our George crossed
the Delaware river and made old George
l'hreetimcs army look like boiled Holsters
Our George found the most of them at
5O-cent dance. but he sailed right in, new
ertheless, and history tells us that he
broke up the ball. Because he won the
war we made our George President and
we have been having Presidents and
Fourth of ,Iulys ever since.-Exchange.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28
Folk Lore.

The research into popular beliefs is
an absorbing and not proftless stu
dy. Scarcely day passes that we do
not run across some piece of superstl-
ton that dates, in one form or another
from far antiquity. Salt is spilled at
table, and with jest with our neighbor
over the prospect of quarrel, half
believing in the sign, though we may
not know that the Romans did the
same. A dog bowls at night. and we
recall the widespread belief that the
bowling of a dog foretells death, but
forget that our early Aryan ancestors
assigned to, the dog the office of mes
senger from the world of spirits.
The every day custom is as old as
humanity; the nursery Jingle may be
traced back to an origin in the worlds
babyhood; the familiar fairy tale
which delights nineteenth century
children is found in varying forms in
all countries. pointing TO common
origin in remote age. embodying old
Aryap myths, and giving vs. interest
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28
roardman viii conte,t End.,

Arbitration has succeeded in ending the
litigation that promised to be practically
interminable against the heirs of the es-
tate of the late Millionaire Boardman at
Marshalltown. An amicable division of
the estate and the withdrawal of all pend
ing suits growing out Of the contest were
agreed upon. The widow of the deceased
receives 100000 aud surrenders her dow
err interest in the landed estates, pays a
third of the costs of the litigation and the
same share of the Indebtedness. The
temporary receiver turns the property
over to e. III. Conover of Chicago, hus-
band of Boardmans daughter. Mrs.
Boardmnn also conveys the family home
to Mrs. Conover at the close of this year.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28

If the statement of Harry Benjatied,
a health officer in Tasmania. is exact,
that country must be conducive to long
life and its cities healthy to live in. He
says that the population of Hobart and
its suburbs Is 10000. and that in 1898
the total number of deaths was SCI, or
about II in every 1000. He says,
further. that of the 561 persons who
died 3S5 We're more than TO years old,
representing 9h per 1000 Of the deaths
of children and all others under IS
kXears old. He believes he is justified in
any other city in the world
sf6 Produce equally favorable figures,
sb&Sb cularly the small figures for
fhs under TO years of age. Tas-
a1HHAia has been under British control
fora bout one century, and a large pro-
Sh9rtion of Its population is native-born
yof British parentage.-NewY York Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28

The Grand Army of the Republic vet
Grams of Iowa held their twenty-tifth an
mai encampment in Waterloo. For three
| days the city was in the hands of the ma
tons citizen soldiers, having capitulated
without resistance. The surrender was
complete and unconditional.
The early attendance was large. Des
Moines. Sioux City. Davenport, Marshall
town, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and other
large cities We're represented by larger del
egations than these places have taken to
State G. \. Il. encampments for many
years. and many smaller towns We're
equally well represented in point of at
tendance The city presented gala APP
rearance far beyond anything ever before
attempted.
The first day II reception was rendered
/ by the w. X. C. 1T *. of +. Hall. and it
was attended by 1000 veterans. In the
evening there We're two camptires. and
reception i'll the home of Maj. II. III. Lor-
ing.
The feature of the second day was the
arrival of Col. ID. b. Henderson, and the
ovation his presence inspired. In the
morning the session of the veterans con-
sisted of the annual address by Command
err X. W. Thrill and responses by Senator
c. w. AIullan of Waterloo and s. w.
Moore of Fairfield.
In the grand parade that afternoon We're
fully 1000 veterans. who marched to the
stirring music of the bands and drum
corps. The local volunteer company late
ly returned from Cuba marched with the
soldiers of '6l 60. recalling the latter con-
ilict Election of officers took place later
i'll the afternoon. with the following re-
suit:
Department Commander-C. f. Bailey,
lreton.
Senior NiceCommander-P III. Lemon,
Guthrie Center.
Junior e-Commander-Wm. Good
win. Pennington.
Medical Director-Dr. H. Il. Mccoy,
Algona.
| Chaplain-Rev. w. w. Gist, Usage,
AT the evenings two great camptires
Congressman Henderson was the princi-
/ pal speaker. Several Others. however,
briefly addressed the meetings, compli-
! menting Waterloo and the officers of the
G. A. Il. and paying n tribute to the ora
tor of the evening.
, The encampment closed the next night
with IL musical campfire nj Chautauqua
Park and with Il public installation of all
the officers of the Grand Army of the
Republic and auxiliary orders at the opera
house. The attendance of veterans was
larger than at any encampment for many
years
Adjt. Gen. Dyer has issued some statis-
ties making comparisons for the past
eleven years of membership and deaths.
His table shows the places of meetings.
the number of posts, the total membership
and the deaths each year. as follows:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28

The latest returns from horticul;urists
IN Iowa show that the per cent of damage
to the local fruit crop varies somewhat
from the returns of month ago. Tween.
ty-one counties have been heard from.
Most of them lie in the central fruit belt
of the State, where the damage has been
greatest. Secretary Greene of the horti.
cultural society believes that when all re-
ports are i'll they will show about half a
crop of apples. plums and cherries, and
very little change from the following fig
ures in the crop of small fruits. The per
centage of bloom month ago is given in
comparison with the last reports in the
following figures: Apples 81 per cent, last
report 60; plums 96, last report 62: cher
ries S3. last report 80; grapes 40, last re-
port 20; blackberries 20. last report IS;
raspberries 81, last report So; strawber-
ries 81, last report 30.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28
dji dID (l i1 diiI fiiD dIIl fiID
mortal Declaration of Independence be

immortal Declaration of Independence be
gan:
when in the course of human events
it becomes necessary for one people tc
dissolve the political"
Boom! BangY
Unheeding this interruption. which was
caused by the patriotic small boys on the
outskirts of the crowd. the prominent citi-
zen kept right on. He was there to read
the immortal Declaration.
With another, and to assume
among the powers of the earth. the sep
arate and equal station to which,
Bang. Boom. Snap. Cracklc! Smt
teri
-"Declare the causes which impe
them to the separation. We hold these
truths to be self-evident:-"
(Fizz! Sputter! Bang! Snap. Crackle
Boom! Whsh-sh-sh-
He has refused his assent"
Crack. Snap! Boom. Bang. Boom
Boom! Bang! BangD
Formidable to tyrants only
Boom! Crack! Snap! Fizz. Sputter
Woosh! Crackle! Boom,J
-'invasions on the rights of the PEG
pie
Bang. Bang. Fizz. Snap. Boom
Boom. Boom. Floosh.J
.'Without the consent of our legis
latures-"
(sputter Bang. Boom. Eizz. Fizz
Fizz! Crack9
Imposing taxes on us without our
consent"
Csnap! Crack. Tizz Bang. Boom
Boom! Bang! Enthusiastically
domestic insurrection agains
u.s.
Boom! Boom. Bang! Crack! Snap
Sputter! FizzD
-"Nor have we been wanting
tSnap! Bang. Bang! Boom. Boom
Crack! SnapD
For the rectitudc of our inten
tons"
(sputter. Snap! Boom! Bang! Bang
Bang9
-"our lives, our fortunes and oul
sacred honor."
cloud applause,
Somebody called out Three cheers fol
the grand old Declaration of Indcpen
dence. Hip! Hip"
Boom. Snap! Bang! Crack. Boomy
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28

A good story comes from an up-
country mission station at the Cape.
The occasion was native wedding,
and, as usual, the bride was attired in
white hat, white dress and white
shoes, but great surprise was occasion
ed by the fact that she wore black
gloves. The native women on such
occasions try to be quite la mode,
and there was good deal of Inquiry
about the girls departure from the
usual custom Of dressing entirely in
white. The mystery was explained
when she told the clergyman's wife
that she had studied an English fash
ion paper, and had there read that the
custom now was to wear tlesh-colored
gloves.-London Tit-Bits.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28
the time the whistle signal sounded thu

the time the whistle signal sounded the
Clotilde was at an absolute standstill.
Measurement showed that from the
time the brake was let fall the vessel
had travelled only twenty feet.
The ide,- of the thing is simplicity
itself. The brake, which is the inven-
ton Of noted Hungarian engineer
named Svetkovich, consists of large
curved plates of steel attached to the
stern of the steamer. The shape can
be varied, but it is preferably that of
parachute. 1t can be lowered at will,
and instantaneously, into the water.
The screw of steamship. it should be
explained, when working ahead, causes
stream of water Of terrific force to
flow back In the direction from which
the ship has come. BY lowering the
plate of steel into this stream the
power is obtained necessary to check
the ships way and bring it to stand
still Independent of the engines.
Since the stream caused by the screw
is of greater force when the ship is
steaming fast, the brake would work
equally well whether the speed We're
twenty knots or ten knots.