Evening star., 1900-12-03

ADJUNCT TO the ldCllltlSS dAOIQeO TO the pup.
| lie for diversion, comfort and useful in
struction.
The experience on which those recon-
mendations are based entftle the views
therein expressed to the favorable consider
alton of Congress.
There is a pressing demand for certain
municipal improvements, which have from
time to time received consideration from the
committees Of Congress, and which, in the
opinion of the Commissioners, cannot long
er be ignored. 1t would be an insult to the
public spirit of our national legislators to
intimate that these necessary improve
If the revenues Of the District were now
sufficient to meet the Districts one-half
Of the expenditures required for their COM
pletion.
This demand includes q municipal build
ing; the completion Of the sewerage dis
posal system; the construction of a water
filtration plant and the installation Of a
complete system for the maintenance Of an
abundant water supply to all parts of the
District.
The Commissioners do not believe that
these important and urgent matters should
be postponed until the revenues Of the Dis
trict become sufficient in amount to pro-
vide for the payment OF the one-half
chargeable to the municipality. In view of
their paramount Importance to the very
wellbeing Of the people of the District, and,
SO far as the most of them are concerned,
to the health Of the public officials residing
here, the public works mentioned should
De OeSun at once ana carried TO Lnelr
earliest possible completion.
To accomplish this purpose one Of two
plans should be authorized by the Con-
gress: 1st, an advance by the United States
of the amount necessary to meet the Dis
trict's one-half of the necessary expendi-
lures, to be repaid in annual installments;
or, second, the issuance Of bonds to an
amount necessary to meet the Districts 8
one-haf of the necessary expenditures, to
bear interest at the rate Of 2 per centum
per annum, with the payment Of the prin-
cipal and interest guaranteed by the United
States.
The benefits to be derived from these
proposed public works would inure to the
benefit of the people of the United States
and the District Of Columbia during the
next century. The Commissioners believe
improvements for the Washington Of the
future and to pledge future revenues for
the payment of the same.
Improvement of the Anacostia River.
In response to joint resolution approved
April H. 1895, which required the Secretary
Of War to prepare and submit to the Con-
gress forthwith a project for the improve
ment Of the Anacostia river and the rec
lanation Of its flats from the line Of the
District of Columbia to the mouth of said
river and estimate Of the cost Of the
same, and to report on the area and owner
ship Of the land to be reclaimed, and II any
portion Of the said land be vested in private
persons to estimate the cost Of acquiring
the same, the acting secretary Of war SUBJ
mitted report on the 18th Of December.
1898. embodying a communication from
Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson, chief of
engineers. u. S. A, and a report with maps
by Lieutenant Colonel Charles J. Allen,
corps of engineers. of survey Of Anacostia
river, estimating the cost of the reclama-
tioE Of the Potomac flats from the mouth
of the Anacostia to the Navy Yard bridge
AMI from the Navy Yard bridge to Benning
bridge, at 81. 1914, 720. with statement that
s4OO,OOO could be judiciously expended an
nually under that plan.
While this matter Is wholly under the
control Of the federal government, the Com
of the District to state that they regard
this proposed improvement as one Of the
highest Importance to the best interests
of the national capital.
A recent statement has been prepared
for the use of the Commissioners showing
the number of cases Of malarial disease re-
ported by 433 physicians during the months
of July, August and September. 1900. For
the purpose Of the computa ton. an estimate
made by the health officer in December,
1893. showing population Of 287, ,462, was
used. From the said report 1t appears that
in the northeast section of the city, with a
population of II per cent Of the said total
there were found 21 per cent of the total
nu1.ber of malarial cases; in the southeast
section, with 10 per cent Of the total pop
ulation II per cent Of the total number Of
the Anacostia river. with per cent of the
total population. the number Of malarial
cases amounted to IA per cent Of the total.
The annual report of Surgeon General
Van Reypen states that in 1895, 9S per
cent of the persons employed at the navy
yard became Ill with malaria at various
times during that year.
report to the Commissioners from the
superintendent Of the Government Hospital
for the Insane, during the months Of July,
August and September. 1900 shows as fol-
lows: Intermittent. 317; remittent, 81; ir-
regular. 113; making a total of SOB malarial
cases in that institution during three
mCEths.
The Commissioners believe that no
stronger argument could be presented,
showing the urgent necessity for an i'm
mediate beginning of this important work.
Board of Charities.
Upon the recommendation OF the superin-
tendent Of charities, Herbert w. Lewis
who crowned his faithful service to the
District with this act. and in response to
the request of many Of the citizens VINO
are interested in philanthropic work. Con-
gress abolished, at its last session, the OF
flee of the superintendent Of charities, and
created in Its stead a board Of charities to
be appointed by the President of the United
States and to have supervision, under the
authority OF the Commissioners, OF all
penal, reformatory and charitable institu-
tions sustained In whole or in part by pub
lie funds within the District Of Columbia.
The board of charities was provided by
Congress Ito promote the effective and
economical management of the affairs' OF
the institutions under its supervision and
to coordinate their efforts so as to bring
them into genuine Cooperation. 1t Is be-
lieved that such a board, made up of emf
nent citizens. serving without compensa-
ton, will be able to do this work better
than a superintendent of charities, required
by law to be nonresident and receiving
salary for his services The people of the
District were gratified by the appointment
of S. w. Woodward, John Joy Edison, ST.
mon Wolf, George W. Cook and Charles P.
Neill as members of this board of charities:
They promptly took up the work assigned
to them by the act of Congress, and will
be prepared to submit the preliminary re-
port respecting it at the coming session Of
Congress, transmitting, in the meantime,
an estimate for substantially the same ap-
preparation as was made last year for the
institutions under the supervision Of the
board. 1t Is believed that this board will
be able to carry out the purpose of the act.
and thus bring about a better system OF
public charities. The reports of the charita-
BILE and reformatory institutions for the
past fiscal year indicate that they have
done their work as well as in former years.
The competition Of the new building at the
Reform sol for Girls will give inc. eased
accommou4 .ons that will greatly facilitate