davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
THE OFFICE OF CORONER.
Urgent Necessity for a Suitable
SIorGue-

The most important statement In the
annual report Of the coroner is that which
calls attention once more to the need for
a suitable morgue, which. as he says, IS
so seIf-evident as 10 require no demoustra-
tion.' The Commissioners recommend al
appropriation Of s15.OO8 for building for
that purpose It Is hoped thai the District
may no longer be Obliged to use a portion
Of the stable in the rear Of one OF the police
stations. which IS the only place now avail
able for morgue.
THE total number OF deaths lnves1-
gated by the coroner during the fiscal year
was rs. decrease Of six from the num-
Der investigated in the year before.
The greatly increased use OF electricity
In the District of Columbia has made It
necessary to establish a new department
Of the District government, which ought
10 have full recognition commensurate with
the Importance Of its work, which also IN
cIudes the gas and naphtha lighting sys-
TENS. telephone service, and FIRE alarm
telegraph portion of the officers and
sl7iR::s5es OF this department are on the
permanent rolls OF the District govern
ment. but considerable number are sim
ply on the per diem rolls. The efficient
head OF the department. the Electrical Ed
gineeT. Is himself carried on the per diem
rolls. As matter OF business OrganiZa-
ton and for the good effect il would have
upon the men engaged in the work this
department ought to be placed On the
same basis as other departments OF the
District government.
1.-THE Fire Department has maintained It's
Il
the year il had no remarkable fires to
ngat. It responded, however, to $50
alarms during the fiscal year, and did good
service as usual. The need for an enlarge
meRt Of the department and for the i'm
proTernent OF the existing buildings be
longing to it IS still great, notwithstand-
ing the fact that through the action Of
Congress two additional truck companies
and ore chemical engine company have
been provided The increased facilities
for rapid transit have spread the p0puIa-
ton Of he District over all portions Of
Il, SO that there has been a general and
rapid increase In the number OF buildings
In the suburban places which, therefore
appeal, with reason, for fire protection
that cannot be given without weakening
that 70 which the older portions OF the
Distri, It are entitled. At the same time
the nc NAL increase of population and the
number of buildings IN the city OF Wash
ingtoD, including Georgetown, demand an
increase of fire protection there The
Chief Of the Fire Department gives good
reasons in his annual report :or an in
crease Of three new engine companies
and two new truck companies. The Com
missioners would gladly ask for all Of
these, but, in rev of the other pressing
needs of the District, they have asked in
their estimates Cor ouIv one nov e1pi7a
company and one new truck company
and defer the others until next year A
stable whore the sick and disabled horses
Of the Fire Department may be treated
and extra horses kept, is greatly needed,
and is once more asked for
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
this memorable anniversary, and there is
every reason 10 believe that il will prove
20 be q notable occasion
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL system.
work of the New Board of Education
warmly Commended.

Warmly Commended.
Congress having provided, at its last
session, as result of an Investigation
made by the Senate Committee on he Dis
tTiet Of Columbia, for reorganization Of
the public school system, creating Board
OF Education OF seven members, In place Of
the board of school trustees OF the pub
lie schools, and superintendent. with two
assistant superintendent in place Of the
superintendent OF white schools and the su-
perinte1dent OF colored schools, the Com
missioners, according TO the direc>ion of
Congress, appointed the Board Of Educa-
ton to serve beginning the LIST of July
AS the act required that members Of the
board must have been for five years i'm
mediRtely preceding the appointment
residents and taxpayers, and as the work OF
reorganization which the board was 10 do
had to be performed largely between July
and September l. the Commissioners
were much limited in the number Of men
and women from whom selection could
be made, but the Commissioners
were fortunate in obtaining the services
OF c. J. Bell. George II. Harries. DR.. Rich
ard kingsman, J. HoIdsworth Gordon, Mrs.
Henry Litehfeld West, Mrs J. r. Francis.
and James T. Bundy. AS the work de-
vOlying upon them required them to fore
~ IL part EOC!E sumner VACATIONS ana 70
spend great deal of time by day and by
night in beginning their task, the Com
missioneTs feel that great credit Is due
them. and that they deserve the thanks Of
ali interested in the welfare Of the school
system They worked so expeditiously and
SO successfully that within a month they
had announced the new organization OF the
school system Following a conservative
policy, they made no changes, either In
personnel or curriculum. except such as had
been shown to be necessary. They graft
fed the citizens by promoting to the new
Office Of superintendent A T Stuart, who
had been for years supervising principal
of the community. They promoted to the
new Offices Of assistant superintendent Mrs
Ida G. Myers principal Of the Normal
School, and W. S Montgomery, principal
OF the ninth division. With very few ex-
cepiOHs, 30 other changes were made in
the teaching force Tut those caused by
these promotions. The board, upon the
recommendation Of the superintendent, al
tered the curriculum so as 10 make 1t more
practical, and 10 reduce the amount of
home study required Of the pupils. It also
made improvements in the business man
agemsnt OF the school system, which has
been most faithfully conducted By its
executive officer, H. H TWonbIy, Secretary
10 the Board of Education
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Confirmation of the Present Forest
Policy Urged

Confirmation of the Present Forest
Policy Urged.
The total area of public lands as given
by the Secretary of the Interior is ap-
proximateiy 1.071. SS1, 662 acres, of which
9I7,IS5. $50 acres are undisposed Of End
d54 rs. 7S2 acres have been reserved Cor
various purposes. The public lands dis
posed Of during the year amount TO 49,
Ass, SS596 acres. including 81, 423-09 acres
of Indian lands, an increase Of 4,2T1, 474.S0
over the preceding year. The total re-
Ceipts from the sale OF public lands dur
ing the fiscal year were S4.379, 10, an
increase of $1,309, 620.76 over the preced-
ing year
The results obtained from our forest
policy have demonstrated its wisdom and
the necessity in the interests of the public
for its continuance and increased appro-
priaticns by the Congress for the carry
ing Cn of the work. On June 80. 1860,
there were thirty-seven forest reserves,
creat ted by Presidential proclamatiOnS tn
der section q of the act of March 8,
1891. embracing an area of 46,425,529 acres.
During the past year the Olympic Re
serve. in the State Of Washington, was re
duced 265 O40 acres, leaving its present
area at 923. $40 acres The Prescott Re-
serve. in Arizona was increased from
10 .240 acres to 425. $50 acres, and the Big
Horn Reserve, in Wyoming, was increased
fem 1 l2T, $50 acres to l. $50 500 acres. a
lsg-w reserve. the Santa YneZ in Caiifor-
MIA. embracing an area of 145. 600 acres,
was created during this year On DC
tober 10. 1890, the Grow Creek Forest Re
serve in Wyoming was created with an
area cf 81, $50 acres
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE.
Efforts TO Improve the System Now
In Use,

Efforts TO Improve the System Now
in Use.
Speaking OF work in the sewer division.
the report states:
at is believed that the most vital ques-
ton now before the Commissioners is that
Of proper sewage disposal The sewage
which is now deposited in the Potomac
and On the fats of the Anacostia River
constitutes a noisome nuisance and con-
slant menace to the health Of the city,
which should be abolished 81 the earliest
possible date Congress at its last Ees-
sion appropriated $50, 900 for the prepara-
ton Of detail plans and specifications fo-
the seEage-dIsposal system. Work upon
these plans is being pushed 70 complexion
and as soon as they are finished the maj
ter viii be presented TO Congress with
recommendation for their immediate exc
eUtion.
During the year several material i'm
provements have been made in the water
service Of the District. One of the two
basins Of the Brightvood reservoir was
completed and put in service, which re-
suited IN an increase in pTessures on Capi-
toll Hill and relieved TO a considerable ex-
tent the undergraduates Of the supply in
that locality. Work upon the second basin
of this reservoir is now in progress, and
it is expected that 1t will be completed
during the fiscal year.
a pumping station has been recently
established in Anacsstia, which las
greatly improved the water service Of that
neighborhood-
"A large pumping station will be also
established near the Howard University
reservoir Competitive plans for this sta
ton have been received and work upon
the building viii be commenced during the
present fiscal year
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
BUILDING OPERATIONS.
A Great Increase in the Number OF
Apartment Houses.


Apartment Houses.
1.-THE value of the building operations
during the year amounted to 81, 250. 600
more than they did during the preceding
year. : noticeable fact in this ccnnec-
ton is the comparatively large number OF
apartment houses and the small number
of dwellings which we're erected.
Well founded complaints have been re-
ceived from prominent builders during tbs
year of the delay in getting plans acted
upon and permits issued by the office OF
the inspector of buildings. This trouble
is not due to any dereliCtion on the part
OF the employees Of the building division
On the contrary, these employees are
probably the hardest worked of any In tbs
District service They come TO the Office
before the opening hour and work daily
until long past the regular closing time,
and they get only small portion Of the
thirty days leave allowed by law Several
of them during the year have broken
down from oyerwork, which has made the
burden that much heavier for those re-
naming on duty. The force of the Office
is utterly inadequate to handle the vol
une of business devolving upon it.
1T was found impossible during the
last fiscal year to construct the school
buildings, with a single exception, for
which appropriations were made. This
failure to erect the buildings was due TO
the great rise in the price of building ma
terials, which caused the cost Of the
buildings to exceed the appropriations
made However, Congress at its last ses-
sion made the necessary increase in the
amounts, and all of the buildings are now
in process OF construction and it is hoped
to have them available for occupancy By
the beginning Of the next school year.
The system Of having the plans pre-
pared by various architects has been fol-
lowed with advantage, and 1t Is believed
that 1t ought to be kept up. as it has been
found that plans prepared by the same
architect are marked by more or less sim
Harity, and by engaging different persons
for the different buildings a pleasing d.
versity is secured
Congress at its last session, at the re-
quest OF the Commissioners, made pro-
viso that hereafter in purchasing school
sites sufficient ground should be obtained
to permit an eight-roem building to be
enlarged 70 tweiye-room one and in tins
purchase Of school lots during the year
this object was kept in view
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
The PENSIONS SYSTEM.
Increase of Appropriations Result
Ing From Recent Legislation.

Increase of Appropriations Result
ing From Recent Legislation.
At the end of the fiscal year there were
On the pension roll 99S,529 names, net
increase of 2,010 over the fiscal year 1899.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was 1854. The amount disbursed
for army pensions during the year was
SI34, 7G0. 59T-24, and for navy pensions
So. ISL. $50 Il, total of S13S, 1862 1906, leav-
ing IN unexpended balance Of S5,542, 49, %
TO be covered into the Treasury, which
shows an increase over the previous year 5
expenditure of S107, 077.7e. There were 6S4
names added to the rolls during the year
by special acts passed at the first session
OF the Fifty-sixth Congress
The act of May 9. 1900, among other
things. provides for an extension of in
come TO willows pensioned under said act
TO $3.50 per annum. The Secretary of the
Interior believes that by the operations
of this at the number Of persons pension
ed under it will increase and the increas-
ed annual payment for pensions viii be
between So .000. 600 and S4,000,00
The Government justly appreciates the
services of its soldiers and sailors by
making pension payments liberal beyond
precedent to them, their widows and or
phans-
Thf-e we're $3.50 letters patent grant
ed, including reissues and designs, during
the fiscal year ended June so, 1900; 1850
trademarks, $50 labels, and ninty-three
prints registered The number OF patents
which expired was 10, 9SS. The total re-
ceipts for patents were 81, 259, 22S- 90 The
expenditures were 8, 247, S275S, showing q
surplus of SI10, 40G.77.
The attention of the Congress is called
to the report of the Secretary of the IN
terror touching the necessity for the
further establishment of schools in the
Territory of Alaska, and favorable action
Is Invited thereon
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
THE CAPITAL CENTENNIAL.
Arrangements for a Simple But Dig
nified Celebration.

nified Celebration.
Under the action of Congress and tbs
steps taken by the committee authorized
to make arrangements for the celebration
Of the Centennial of the establishment of
the seat Of Government In the District OF
Columbia, Wednesday, December u. has
been selected as the day for the cere-
monies. A simple but dignifed and wsr-
thy celebration is provided in the pro-
gramme prepared by the Executive Com
mittee, representing Congress, the Gov
ernors Of the States and Territories. and
the citizens Of the District of Columbia,
who have had the corporation OF the
President Of the United States in their
preparations
"a reception by The President in honor
Of the Governors of the States and Ter
ritories - the Executive Mansion in the
morning, during wnicn brief addresses On
the history Of the White House. the his
tory Of the District Of Columbia, and the
development of the nation will be delfy-
cred. and addresses on the subject of the
celebration, by eminent Senators and Rep
ressntatives, az joint session of the Sem
ate and House, in the afternoon, are the
principal features of the programme.
"A military and naval parade IS to es-
cort the President and his distinguished
guests from the White House to the Ca2f-
to1 at n9cl. The people of the District of
Columbia lave shown deep interest Ia
the preparations for the celebration Of
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
TIE NAVY YARD BRIDGE.
DecIa-ed to Be Inadequate for Pres
emit Traffic.

DecIs-ed to Be Inadequate for Pres
emit Traffic.
Attention Is again invited to the need
Of better bridge In place OF the present
Navy Yard Bridge over the Anacostia
River. In addition to being entirely too
narrow for the traffic passing over it, the
bridge Is structurally weak, and it is be-
ieYed that the only satisfactory action
would be to replace 1t with a modern
structure of ample width. The Commits
sioners have frequently included this item
in their estimates to Congress.
After considerable trouble and delay
the necessary right of way has been Sc
cured for the Massachusetts, Avenue
Bridge over Rock Creek a contract has
been let for the work. which Is now being
rapidly pushed.
The current District appropriation act
contains an item OF s4o, 600 for the founda-
tons for the Connecticut Avenue Bridge
over Rock Creek. work upon which will
commence shortly.
During the year the District quarry a
DsckeTson. Nd, has been operated In a
satisfactory manner. A contract has been
awarded to the Standard Lime and Stone
Company, OF Baltimore, Nd, 10, oper-
ating the quarry for period Of I've years
Three powerful new crushing machine
are now being installed, aB1 tile esa-
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
TEE WORK OF TIE CENSUS.
Suggestions Looking to the Perma-
nency of the Bureau

Suggestions Looking to the Perma-
nency OF the Bureau.
The Director of the Census states that
The work in connection with the Twelfth
Census is progressing favorably This na-
tional undertaking, ordered by the Con-
gress each decade, has finally resulted in
the collection Of an aggregation Of stats
tical facts to determine the Industrial
growth Of the country. its manufacturing
6nd mechanical resources, its richness IN
mines and forests, the number Of its agri-
cGIturists, their farms and products its
educational and religious opportunities as
well as questions pertaining TO soeioIogi-
cal conditions.
Tie labors ST the officials In charge of
the Bureau indicate that the law of March
3, 1889, requiring the completion of the
four important and znost-desired subjects,
namely, population, agricultural, naanufae-
turing and vital statistics, viii be COM
pleted within the prescribed limit.
The field work incident to the above
enquiries Is now practically finished, and
rs a result the population of the States and
1efFltarles, including the Hawaiian Islands
and Alaska, has been announced. the
growth OF population during he last de-
zee zee alnounts 10 over l3,eo0,eeGe, a greater
numerical increase than in any previous
- - u eHO nistOlS o the country.
bulletins VIII be issued as rapidly as
possible giving the population by States
and territories, by minor civil divisions
several announcements Of this kind have
already been made, and 1t is hoped that
the Est will De completed by January ].
other bulletins giving the results of the
manufacturing and agricultural enquiries
VIII be given to the public as rapidly as
circumstances will admit
The Director, while confident Of his
EDlilty 10 complete the different branches
o. the undertaking in the allotted time,
2nas- himself embarrassed by the lack Of
trained force properly equipped for sta
astteal work, thus raising the question
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03

tractor will soon be able to turn out largo
quantities OF material.
The stone obtained from the QUART q
traprock OF excellent quality. IN making
roads with this material stone from oEe-
half inch TO two inches in size 10 arsE
placed on the road. generally 70 : depth
of about eight inches; upon this layer
Amer material, haIf an inch and smaIiss
in diameter, including dust, IS deposited.
It has been found that the grinding action
Of vehicles passing over the road ia prac-
tically so little that no account can Re
taken Of this wear with the trap rock. and
q larger quantity OF finer material has to
DC used than is necessary with other local
stones which wear down and make =
binding material Although a larger por-
ton of the finer stone Is required, the re-
suit is most excellent. and the stone binds
exceedingly well without the addition Of
any binder
During the year 5s,505 square yards Of
cement sidewalks were laid The price
for this work was IS cents per square yard
The cement walk costs but little more
than brick and its life and adyanta ges
are so much greater that but a COMPARE
lively small amount OF brick walk IS now
iaiG, only $500 square yards being con-
structed during the year.
The highly Desirable work CT replacing
the defective brick walks Of the eity with
cement is being pushed as fast as the ap-
preparations for the purpose viii permit.
The superiority of the cement walk Is
fully recognized by the people, as it Is ez-
eeptional now TO receive a request for
brick walk from any portion of the Dis
trict. The advantages OF cement ever
brick In this climate are very great,
as during the long summer with brick
walks there is certain to be more OF less
vegetation springing up between the
bricks. This, Of course, does not occur
with the cement walk, and in the outly-
ing sections It is actually cheaper 70 con-
struct cement walk at the contract price
than TO haul brick from the lower PORTION
OF the city TO these localities and then
sau
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03

sideration. decided that the entire sub
Ject matter OF the disposal of city waste
should be placed under the supervision
Of the Superintendent of Street Cleaning,
his department appearing TO them TO be
the one TO which the work most properly
belonged. The Health Office, which had
supervised the collection OF garbage and
night soil so efficiently for many years,
was thereby relieved Of this burdensome
duty and left TO devote its entire time to
the special duties for which It was estab-
Hshed.
Regulations and Specifications were
therefore prepared, under the supervision
Of the Superintendent Of Street Cleaning
and proposals were solicited for the va
rious classes OF work. For the collection
and disposal OF garbage and dead animals
the Washington Fertilizer Company was
the successful bidder at the contract price
OF So, 900 per annum. The garbage and
dead animals Will. under the contract with
this company, be disposed of by what Is
known as a reduction process, in regard
to which it is claimed that IN no instance
has it failed to give entire satisfaction
The material viii be conveyed twenty
miles beyond the city limits and N such
air-tight receptacles as to cause the laast
possible nuisance; and the people Of
Washington are to be eongra tuiated upon
the fact that the shores of the Potomac
River viii De freed from the deposit of
garbage and refuse whose offensive odors
Lave so long been a source Of annoyance
to travellers upon that river The con-
tract with the Washington Fertilizer
Company viii go into effect December 1,
1900.
1.-The accepted proposal for the coIlec-
ZION of ashes was that made by R. V.
RsIsk, for weekly collection service from
private residences, ct S29, 979 per annum
The appropriation was not sufficient to al
low the acceptance Of proposals for such
removals from other than private resi-
dences. nor for more frequent collections
The contractor began operations August
1, 1909, and while the service is not yet
all that might be desired, yet 1t is very
oo9nsnendable considering the time it has
been in operation and the time required
to inaugurate a new system
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03

made OF the Iong-pending question OF the
manufacture OF armor plate a reason
able price has been secured and the ne
cessisy for a Government armor plant
aveided-
I approve Of the recommendations OF
the Secretary for new vessels and for ed-
ditional officers and men which the re-
Quirsd increase Of the navy makes nee
essary- I commend TO the favorable ae-
tfon Of the Congress the measure now
pending for the erection Of a statue to
the memory of the late Admiral David D.
Porter. l commend also the establish
ment of a national naval reserve and of
the grade Of vice admiral Provision
should DC made, as recommended by the
Secretary, for suitable rewards for spe-
cial merit Many officers who rendered
the most distinguished service during the
recent waf with Spain have received in
return no recognition from the Congress.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03

whether in the interest of economy and
thorough execution of the Census work
there should not be retained in the Gov
eminent employ q certain number of ex-
perts not only to aid in the preliminary
organization prior to the taking of the
decennid census, but in addition TO have
the advantage in the field and Office work
of the Bureau of trained assistants to IA
cilitate the early completion Of this ener-
nous undertaking.
I recommend that the Congress at its
present session aPportion representation
among the several States as provided by
the Constitution.