davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-28
Foreign Capital In spain.

There is much French and Belgia,
capital invested in the principal rail-
way lines of Spain, while England owns
many of the shorter lines and is also at
the head of the mining interests.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-28
A marrying ranily.

A Whangarei (New Zealand) youth
who advertised for wife was amazed
to find among the replies letters from
two Of his sisters, with photographs In
closed.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-28
Extrayaxance,

Mr.. Black-Sam spends all his money
on clothes.
Mr.. johnson lpityingly)-Yes; hs
nethah has cent ter play policy
Puck.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-28

If all flesh is grass cannibals must BE-
-Chieago Daily News.
The times., 1899-12-06

which they are employed, they are COM
missioned as additional privates, which
gives them police power only in these par
tcular localities. This privilege has been
abused in the past and has worked serious
annoyances to the department. The police
force should be large enough TO everything
in the way of police work so that there
would be no necessity for additional prt-
Yates or watchmen OF the kind mentioned.
It has been the aim of the Major and Su-
perintendent of Police TO make these ad-
ditional privates subject to the rules and
regulations of the department, aud they are
now required 10 report through the patrol
boxes as are the regular police officers aT<i
TO report TO the lieutenants of the precincts
in which they do their watching when they
90 on and when they so off duty. In this
way some supervision is exercised over
these men, and conditions have been bet
tered, but the system is not q desirable
one.
Two years ago four members Of the force
were mounted on bicycles; today the squad
numbers forty, distributed among the sew
eral precincts, and the Commissioners have
been fsvorably impressed with the results
accomplished which show the advantages
derived from this method Of patrolling the
city.
revolver practice has been introduced
into the department for the first time in its
history, and many OF the officers who were
deficient in a knowledge OF the weapon have
been instructed as 10 its care and use.
This innovation has clearly demonstrated
the need of new weapons, as many of those
issued TO the officers have been in use for
the past twenty years.
During the past twenty years it has
been found necessary. from time TO time,
TO detail privates to transact the clerical
Wolk of the department, which has in
creased with the growth of the force.
Provision is made for chief clerk who
shall also be property clerk of the depart
ment lin other words. that official oceu-
pies dual position), and two clerks are
provided 10 assist him in disposng OF the
extensive details at headquarters. In Or
der that the policemen now detailed as
clerks may be relieved and assigned to
their legitimate duties, the Commissioners
urge that additional clerks be provided.
Should Congress increase the force, g
large amount will be required for con-
tingent expenses. to purchase equipments,
beds, bedding. and furniture, all of which
have been estimated for upon the lowest
practicable basis
The times., 1899-12-06

this beautiful residence city should DC
completely rid Of the smoke nuisance.
which is rapidly becoming a serious me
mace 70 the beauty and comfort OF the
Capital so as TO warrant the enactment
OF law that will make all buildings alike
amenable TO It's requirements In NeW
York city war is being vigorously wsged
against the smoke nuisance but on au
entirely different basis, the law there pre-
venting the use of soft coal, thus striking
at the root OF the matter. Difficulties iu
the way of enforcing such law should not
discourage a vigorous prosecution Of the
attempt to rid the city OF smoke.
A More Complete MorGue Wanted.
The work of the Coroner, as shown by
his report, IS another evidence OF the
growth of the District. During the past
year larger number OF autopsies and ex-
amiuations have been made than ever be
fore. The improvements in the morgue
have been completed, and. while greatly
better conditions exist than heretofore, the
little building being quite complete in it.
self, so far as IL goes, it Is sttll aoso-
lutely inadequate for such q city as
Washington, being only a remOdeled pOr-
ton OF a stable in the rear of one Of the
police stations. Delay in securing an ap-
preparation for a large and complete
morgue is only oCCasioned by the delay
in turning over 10 the Commissioners the
wharf property recently declared 70 be
the property OF the United States and
placed by act Of Congress under the con-
troll of the Commissioners. The result IS
now awaited of litigation whose object Is
to secure 10 the occupants OF the wharves
compensation for the improvements that
they have placed on the wharf property.
The Commissioners have refrained from
doing anything at all in the matter un-
til such time as this litigation shall be
ended It is the intention, however. when
I'm possession OF this property, TO select
a suitable site for the erection OF q moTgue
and for a sufficient appropriation 70 buhd
one that will be complete and adequate II
every respect.
The total number Of deaths investigated
by the Coroner during the year was ISL,
an increase of 143 over last year. For the
first time in the history of the District,
in connection with the Cor0neT's oihce a
horse and wagon is now provided for the
exclusive use Of this branch Of the Gov
ernment, aud the morguekeeper has been
relieved of all duty except the care OF
the morgue. The wagon does away with
the very Objectionable use which has here
tofore been made Of the police patrol
wagons for removing all dead bodies, and
is an improvement TO the service that 1t
is difficult to value too highly.
The times., 1899-12-06
THE HARBoRMAsTER's BOAT.
New Boilers and Engines Needed by
the Dcnnrtment.

The Harbormaster has continued to dc
excellent work with his boat, stilI Iaboring
however, under the old conditions of having
inadequate machinery, Congress having
failed TO appropriate the amount asked for
70 equip the boat with new boilers and
engines When so much good for the water
front is accomplished at such a small out
lay IL does seem as though the amount
asked for to make the boat complete should
be allowed. Especially is this true at this
time. inasmuch as the Supreme Court of
the United States has decided that all the
water front is the property of the United
States, and by a recent act OF Congress the
entire wharfage, with a5very slight excep-
ton, is placed under the control of the
Commissioners, with authority and discre
ton TO exercise entire supervision over it.
This viii greatly increase the work OF the
HarbOrmaster, aud he should not be re-
stricted and hampered with inadequate ap-
piances
A very important service rendered by the
HarbOTmaster. and enc for which he de-
serves high commendation. was that Of
breaking the ice In the channel Of the Po-
tomac River, providing for its escape down
the river in time TO allow the free passage
Of large blocks OF ice from the upper river
jHdb seriously luTSdIGnSU LutS CITY Wild
food during the extreme cold weather In
February of 1899. When this condition was
presented a request was made for So 0O0
from Congress to protect the city from
food and break up the ice in the river.
The amount seemed very small compared
with the amount of work TO be done, but
the HarbOrmaster secured a number Of
tugs, and, organizing them as a fleet and
engaging them for ten days, with them
managed to break the ice effectively and
keep the channel open. SO the crisis was
passed without any loss whatever. There
We're times during those exciting days
when simply a little negligence would
have occasioned a gorge at the forks OF
the channel, dammng the water and
throwing it back through B Street sewer
onto the streets and into the cellars be-
tween the Capitol and the Treasury and
Pennsylvania Avenue and streets south OF
it, which would have involved a loss OF a
million or more OF dollars. When the
work was completed il was found that the
total expense incurred in accomplishing
such great enterprise was $3.9OS.45, leav-
ing unexpended balance of this small
appropriation of $l,0Sl.55.
The times., 1899-12-06

| tested; many of thoss proving defective
| were destroyed, and generally improved
conditions are noticeable, and the number
of complaints regarding dishonest dealers
have been remarkably @few.s The recelp
| of the office show the amount of work ac-
cOmpished and II Is gratifying to note
that, although the expenses have increas-
ed, there has been larger increase pro-
poTtionately in these receipts, so that the
Office Is more than sef-sustaining. A few
facts reported to the Sealer may be Of in
! terest to the public. The total number CT
scales tested and sealed during the year
was ,494 the number'of measures tested
and sealed 905l; the number OF weights
tested and sealed, ,lS9. The Seaier says
the losses to the public by the use Of short
measures can hardly be estimated, but
surely IL has amounted to thousands OF
dollars and to class upon whom the loss
falls very heavily. From December /.
1897, to July /, 1898, seven months, .1,O24
| measures and in the past twelve months
| 426 measures were confiscated, showing
great Improvement during the past over
the previous year. Rigid examinations and
regular inspection of scales and measures
| has had the desired effect of diminishing
| the number of false weights and meas
ures.
Vigorous action has been taken by the
| Hack Inspector, supplemented with such
| assistance as the Commissioners could give
| him 10 improve the conditions relative 10
/ public vehicles in the District 1t Is sat
| isfactoTy to be able TO state that in addl-
! tion to the fine cab system inaugurated by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company there
| is a growing disposition on the part Of
! those engaged in the business Of keeping
! hacks for hire on the street TO Improve
/ them in appearance. Many disTeputable
| old vehicles have been abandoned, and in
/ their places are vehicles that are clean
and slightly Attention is given also to the
/ matter of rates to prevent imposition
charges. Arrangements have already been
| made whereby cabs will be distinctly de-
! signated as to number, and folders giving
| the exact rates will be plentifully supplied
! to each vehicle so that there may be no
| overcharging and no difficulty on the part
| of the passenger in learning the proper
rates It is confidently believed that an
! other year Will mark still greater improve
ments in the cab service Of the city.
| reduction in the number OF barrooms
| Is noted in the report of the Excise Board,
! the total number allowed being SIG re-
| duction of Is during the year, while the
| total number Of wholesale licenses issued
was 125, reduction of 9.
| During the year a bill became law pro-
| hibiting the sale OF bser on Sunday by the
manufacturers thereof, which has had a
markedly beuefcent effect and for the pas
! sage of which many citizens are thankful
A bill is still pending before Congress which
Will take the place of the various laws
relating to the sale of liquor in the District
which. it is believed will still further i'm
/ prove general conditions without doing any
! injustice 10 those who engage in its sale.
The times., 1899-12-06

The report Of the Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia, which was submitted
70 the President Saturday. was transmitted
by him TO Congress yesterday for its
consideration and approval. The report IS
divided into three parts, the first relating TO
the conduct Of affairs in the Police, Fire,
Health. and Street Lighting departments,
the Offices OF The Sealer Of Weights and
Measures. the Harbormastar, the Coroner
and The Excise Board, was prepared by
Commissioner Wight, President OF the
beard. The second section, de-
voted TO a statement Of the con-
dition OF the Districts finances,
public schools, street cleaning. Public Ii
brary. bathing beach, Assessors Office, de-
partments Of the Auditor and the Collector
OF Taxes, was compiled by Commissioner
Ross, and the third part, containing re-
sumo Of the operations Of the Engineer De
partment. which includes the paving Of
streets and alleys, sidewalks, street rail-
ways sewers, plumbing, Water Department
Building Inspectors department, ONCE OF
the Surveyor. highway extension plans, and
The direction OF Commissioner Beach.
These three statements, which 90 to make
MP the fun report OF the operations in the
Offices Of the municipal government, are
really three separate and distinct reports.
and are based Oh the statements Of the Va
Tious heads OF The departments over which
she three Commissioners exercise authority.
Accompanying the report Of the Engineer
Department are the reports OF all the sub
ordinate officers. In some cases, Captain
Beach allows The report OF the head OF the
department 10 go 10 Congress without al
teraton or comment. only referring 10 the
document in MS report and directing al
1enti0u 10 its contents.
il has been the endeayor Of the Com
raissIoners 10 place before Congress and
The citizens of the District in as brief a
manner as possible a full statement Of the
vast amount OF work they were called
upon 10 supervise during the twelve
months between July ! 1895. and june 30.
1899. In some Of the departments. tfta Po-
lice FIRE and health Offices. the lahors that
devolve on he chiefs and the subordinate
officers are vU.umir0Us jn character. and
The report OF their operations would MI a
much larger space than the Commission
ers desire 10 devote 10 their respective Of
fces The reports Of the three depart
meuIs mentioned are very much in detail,
and The summary which has been made
for the general report the municipal au-
tholities believe 10 be the briefest way ln
which the facts can be laid before Con-
gress- All OF the annual reports VIII be
submitted 10 the legislative committees
having ia charge the District affairs. The
estimates OF the Commissioner for the new
fiscal wear have all been published and
only a small paragraph was devoted 10
them IN the report, simply referring the
members Of Congress TO the book which is
ROW in The hands Of The Secretary OF the
Treasury
Few OF the suggestions for improve
ments which have been made are omitted
IN the Commissioners statement, most OF
them being included and the adyisability
Of their adoption recommended.
The report follows.
The times., 1899-12-06
THE SANITARY CONDITIONS.
Health Department Has Difficulty
in Enforcing the Laws.

in Enforcing the Laws.
The various branches Of the Health De-
partInent have each received energetic and
efficient service, and although the report Of
the Health officer shows a slightly in
creased mortality. il is true that the con-
ditious generally relating to sanitary
measures in the District have been greatly
improved Many houses have been con-
nected with running water which formerly
had no modern water closet accommoda-
tions Yards have been drained and sani-
tarv measures generally enforced Strange
as il may seem when considering such
matters as are Of vital Importance con-
cerning sickness and health. this is one Of
the most difficult of all the departments OF
the District government in which to en-
force the law, as there is apparently more
objection to slight payments Of money for
such sanitary conditions than for almost
anything else.
In the absence of a census during the
period covered by this report it has been
necessary to compute such ratios as are
based upon the number of inhabitants
upon the population as estimated by the
Health Officer. which is as follows: Whites,
1gS, 4S2; colored SO, 030; total, PSI, 1852 The
total number of deaths which occurred
during the past year was 6026, an increase
of Gil over the corresponding figure for the
preceding year. The annual death rate
rose, therefore, from 1882 per 600 to
2096 Among the whites there occurred
3 1872 deaths, an increase OF 500, and the
death rate rose from 1858 TO Is 90 Among
the colored people. there We're 2,654 deaths.
an increase OF 212, causing an increase in
the death rate of from 2f.51 to 29S1.
Infectious diseases have been unusually
| prevalent, and have contributed largely TO
the increased mortality. Some of these
! diseases are such as prevail from time TO
! time to a greater or less extent without
| known cause, but even in the case of such
| as are dependent upon conditions more or
/ less understood, as typhoid fever the fac
| tors responsible for the increased number
of deaths cannot be identified From each
| Of the following named diseases the NOR
| tality during the past year shows a ma
| ,erial increase over that for the year pre-
ceding: Dlarrh0ea, diphtheria grip mala-
| rial fevers, epidemic cerebro-sp spinal menin-
! gifts scarlet fever and typhoid fever.
! There was practically no increase in the
number of deaths from violence, although
| the number of fatalities resulting from the
operation Of steam railways increased from
| II to 20. and those from street railways
from TO z A detailed statement of the
mortality Of the District, and a more ex-
tensive analysis thereof appears in the re-
port of the Health officer.
The increased number of deaths from
scarlet fever and diphtheria represent, OF
course an increased number of cases OF
these diseases, and the amount of worl
The times., 1899-12-06
THE DISTRICT FINANCES.
The Resources Are Sufficient 10 Meet
the Pending Debt.

the Pending Debt.
The appropriations for the year which
were payable out of the general revenues.
and embraced all but the appropriations
for the Water Department. were $7239 r
675.S5. The receipts from taxes and other
resources applicable to the payment of said
appropriations tincluding the amount con-
tributable by the United States as its snare
of the District expenses and surplus Of
1856 O62 16 of District revenues Of former
vears). were SI.S42. .93o. -. The eXNpeudi-
lures of the Water Department were
Sl95. $685.. and were wholly payable out of
the revenues received from water rents and
assessments. The revenues of this depart
ment. including a balance from former
years. amounting to 5000. 1921, were
S547, ,590.33.
The funded debt of the District of Co
lumbia on June 30, 1898 was S15, Ssl 620.1S
No portion of it was incurred under the
present form Of the municipal government
The Treasurer of the United States, who
is charged with its management reports
il in detail. The District has no floating
debt that It's revenues are noJ much more
than sufficient to meet The District is
required to receive in payment OF special
assessments or OF arrears of general
taxes. S1O.543.54 OF drawback certificates.
which were issued as rebates Tor over
charges or interest on account OF special
assessments levied by former municipal
governments. and is also under obligations
The times., 1899-12-06
CONDITIONS TN THE DISTRICT
The Annual Report Of the Commissioners Pre-
SGnted to Congress Today.

Statement Detail Of the Work Accomplished by the
Police Fire. Health. Water, and Street Lighting Depart
nents During the Last Fiscal Year-Insuf6cent APP
preparations a Great Hindrance-The Recommendations
for the Various Branches of the Municipal Government
The times., 1899-12-06

On February ?, 1899, a bill vas approved
by the President providing for the aboli-
tion of the smoke nuisance it being a law
with the proviso that it should 90 into
effect six months from its passage, which
brought the enforcement Of the act up to
August 2 In accordance with this law. an
inspector OF the Health Office was de-
tailed to give his entire time and atteu-
tion 10 this matter. Observation was made
of the various stacks emitting dense vol
umes OF black or grey smoke" warrants
were issued for the arrest of the proprie-
tors Of the establishments bearing the same
the cases were called in court and dismissed
because the parties showed TO the satifac-
tion Of the court that they had made honest
efforts TO provide smoke consumers and sc
to comply with the law.
The Commissioners were not satisfied
with this condition, believing that an at
tempt to provide smoke consumer was
not Il sufficient reason for eXemptilrl from
the penalties of the lay inasmuch as it is
a well-known fact that there are other
ways of diminishing volumes of smoke
and that even when smoke consumers are
| applied a careless use of them accomp.ishes
! nothing in the direction of prevention; that
! The substitution of hard coal for soft coal
J will diminish quantities of smoke; that
/ careful firing will have the same effect
/ and. desiring 20 have the law thoroughly
/ tested, cases are now pending in the Po-
/ lice Court, which, il is believed, will be
/ carried to the Court of Appeals, so that a
/ final ana complete test OF the law may lie
/ made II is not thought however. that
/ the law is entirely satisfactory. as il eN-
empts certain classes Of property. and ii
| is the opinion of the Commissioners that
The times., 1899-12-06
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
The Public Saved Thousands OF Dol
lars by the Department.

The good work iaugurated by the Sealer
Of Weights and Measures last year has
been maintained the city has been thor
oughly canvassed and scales and measures
The times., 1899-12-06
CcncraI Assessment.

The assessment OF taxable real estate
and personal property in the District of
Columbia JaIy /. 1899, and estimated tax
derivable therefrom is as follows.
The times., 1899-12-06

TO pay out Of the general fund under act
OK March l. 1889. about $500. whenever a
certain outstanding invalid special assess-
ment Zen for SZ9178, bearing interest at
10 per cent per annum 70 July 2 1870. the
date Of the act OF Congress authorizing
the Issued Of said drawbacks. Is presented
for redemption To the extent of those
Two amounts the District Is practically iB-
debted 20 the owners OF the certificates and
the holder % the lien
There was outstanding July T. 1Sg9 In
the hands 0i private holders, 50 756.SS of
liens against private property for special
Improvements and secured by special as
sessmeuts and 81 343.fs Of scrip issued
against private property by the late corpO-
ration Of the city of Washington. and also
secured BY special assessment In case
any o. said assessments should for any
reason become uuCOlicCtible. the Hens or
scrip would be redeemahle out 81 the gen
eral fund. Amy ObhEa. ,on taaf tae Distsict
Is under on account ef any cf said eertia-
Gates is much more than Onset ty the spr-
ctal assessments due the District. amount
ing TO S1T,5o2-5S. and accrued Interest
thereon az the rate % 10 per cea, per- &c
mum.
Under the requirements o. section ~
the act approved March j. 1850 ths Treas
uTer Of the United States Transferred 90
the Commissioners as general revenues
S7,607u Of such collections. and retained
81. l.000 to redeem the S per cent certificates
and interest thereon called for payment
prior TO the act OF Congress Of august rs