The times., 1899-11-18

Old Landmarks on Sidewalks Be
coming scurce-More Help Needed.
The report Of the Surveyor of the Dis
trict for the year ending June 30. 1892
was submitted TO the Commissioners yes
terday Captain LOCKER states that ne was
mustered into The volunteer service Of the
United States in July. 1885 and was not
mustered out until November %, 1898.
During This time The office OF the surveyor
was under the supervision OF W p. Rich
ards who rendered efficient service The
report then states that during the year
just closed 500 lots have been surveyed,
in The city and county involving the max
ing Of the same number OF certificate plats
az survey in duplicate. a total of L6oO
plsts. In fully one-third Of these surveys.
il was necessary to prepare sketch Plats
OF either the entire square in which the
lot was found or at least a large portion
Of such square, in order that the field
work might be done with a clear knowl-
edge Of the existing conditions OF subdi-
vision OF each block front In all other
cases. careful revision and amendment OF
tAlel4Ak lildle tA survey A0tNE v G1 AANe
esssTy. a fair estimate Of the whole would
cover 400 of these plats or a grand total
OF 1000 plats under the one head Of sur
Yeys of mere lots.
Three hundred and eighty plats OF pro-
posed subdivisions were made, two piats for
each subdivision, and III subdivisions were
recorded in the books. making III more
piats under this head. or a total of 55I plat5
Of subdivision
The following surveys were ordered by
private parties in the county, Of unsub-
divided land resurvey on Terra Firma,
Fife e. Fife enlarged, Ciifiebourne, line
CT the Columbia Railroad between FIJI
teCuth Street east and the Driving Park,
and subsequently the remainder Of said
line 10 the District line near East Deane-
wood including preparation Of descriptions
al a large number Of rights Of way; part
of Mount Pleasant and Pleasant Plains R.
O. Holtzmsn's subdivisiOn1. the Kali tract,
asbUry Park Wilson tract. Manning tract,
Brigh,weH tract. ST. Patrick's Graveyard,
Shoemaker tract, the last TWO not yet hav-
ing been undertaken
For TIE District OF Columbia the follow
ing surveys were mac: Florida Avenue,
north side between North Capitol Street
and lexington Place; north line Of Porter
Place West lexington; lots 69, etc. Ana
costa 10 adjust east line Of Monroe
Street between Washington and Jefferson
Straets, Barry farm, section Z. lots 4 and >;
square ss1. lots !. >, and 3; square GA %
lots and locating 81 buildings, fences, etc;
site for new Government Printing Office.
and others.
The following county subdivisions have
been recorded; Asbury Park Clinburue
Tetw0rth. Kznilworlh Burleith, Mount
Pleasant and Pleasant Plains (HOltzman' 5
zubdiKlsi0nb and Woodbridge.
The following plsts have been recorded
Condemnation OF land Tor Connecticut Ave
nue. from FIoriCd Avenue 10 Watersids
Drive. Z, 1ication Of Ninth Street through
Moutelio; dedication of strip 10 widen Co
lumbia Read from Eighteenth TO Nineteenth
Streets. dedication of 5. Twenty second.
and Decatur Streets through the Kali
tract; widening Crescent Street, Meridian
Hill; widening Elm Street, lie Droit Park:
widening Minnesota Avenue; dedication OF
~ Street and part Of Observatory Circle,
dedication OF alley. block i, lie DroiJ Park.
widening OF Seventh Street Road, from
Florida Avenue TO Rock Creek Church
Road; dedication Of Third. Fifth Sixth ana
" Streets Centre lexington; dedication
OF par Of lot 68, square a.
For all purposes. 2.I9S plars have been
made
Estimates Of cos have been furnished
for ali classes OF work when made out iu
triplicate The entire city survey system
has been dependent for at least forty years
upon ordinary nails driven in the old brick
sidewalks al the block corners and else
shere. IT is needless to say how essential
II Is 10 the property interests that these
survey points should be preserved with the
greaJest care, now that each year shows an
increasing number of old sidewalks dis
placed by grauoIthic psyemeats- Wherever
II the course OF current work the latter
psyemenJs are met with q copper bolt is
sunk into q hole drilled In the pavement
This VIII doubtless be eventually the system
adopted for basis Of surveys but, pending
the complete change 10 grsnolifhic. the old
system Is satisfactory, provided the Office
IS able 10 preserve reference points about
to be disturbed.
Sufficient field force to permit this work
10 be done as fast as notices are received
is ali thar is necessary The loss of old
marks particularly al intersections Of ave
Hues with streets and other avenues has
added iu recent years probably - per cent
10 the total tine in city field WORK in many
cases necessitating a study OF an entire
triangular block. taking half a day, for a
tElhiuR survey which could have been done
in twenty minutes. SO large a number Of
the old monuments in the extreme eastern
part OF tne CITY nave Deen oDilleraiea by
vandalism, natural changes OF topogra ply.
and the destruction resulting from the
camping oi large bodies Of troops in that
secrion during the Civil War that a com
plete reconstruction OF The street lines OF
that section should be made at once.
The location Of the boundary lines Of the
District. the report states is very hard 20
determine without cutting through roads
and underbrush. ID is important that this
mauteT should be attended TO- The sur
veyor calls attention 20 the small force and
equipment Of the Office and makes several
recommendations for changes.
En conclusion he states thar I'm his opin-
ion an records Of original divisions and
squares should be placed liz his office
whore there are safer accommodations than
in the War Department where such rec
orGs are now kept.