The evening times., 1900-09-26

The Commissioners recently received per-
mission from the War Department to erect
seven iron poles u the extension of Sew
enteenth Street, south of B Street south
west and to string the necessary wires
thereon for the purpose of connecting ID
patrol box at the bathing beach with the
police telegraph system. In granting the
request of the Commissioners, Assistant
Secretary Mefklejohn stated that there was
no objection on the part of the department.,
provided that in tic judgment of the Com
missioners it would cot be in violation OF
the terms Of the ae= OF Congress approved
July Is. 1888. which prohibits the erection
OF any additional telegraph, telephone or
other wires on- or over any of the streets
or avenues of the city of Washington.
The Commissioners referred the matter
to their Attorney, who today submitted
his opinion. The act mentioned, that of
July is, 1885," he says, provides that the
Commissioners shall not permit any ad-
ditional telegraph, telephone, etc wires
to be erected or maintained on or over
any of the streets or avenues of the city
of Washington. 1t mas no application to
q Government reservation in the city of
Washington, over which the Commission
ers have no control The poles are not to
strung over, any street or avenue, but
on and over the Monument Grounds.
This Government reservation is, so far
as the authority of the Commissioners fs
concerned, in the category of private prop
erty, in reference TO which the Court -ot
Appeals in C,llum VS.. the District of CO.
lumbia Us Appeals d. c., 529l, held that
the Police Regulation based upon the act
OF 1888 had no appAcation to the case of
an overhead wire run on private property
for private purposes. without crossing or
encroaching upon a public street, alley, or
reservation peculiarly and properly under
the care and supervision of the Commits
sioners.
II am OF the opinion that the erection of
the poles and the stringing of the wires as
contemplated will not be violation OF the
act Of Congress of July Is, 1885,
The North Capitol and lexington CitI-
zens' Associa ton, through its SECRETARY, a.
o. Tingley, informed the Commissioners
today that its members most decidedly OBJ
Iect TO the location Of d colored school on
\ Street, between North Capitol and First
Streets west. The action prompting the
letter was taken by the association at q
meeting held on the evening Of September
q.
Why such a school, on a street where
tho residents are all white people they
ask, when there are so many streets that
are given up to the cUlored population?
1t was stated that this school is to be used
TO relieve the Colored High School, and in
that connection il was urged at the meet
ing that the building now used for that
purpose at the corner of First and Pierce
Streets be enlarged.
1T is not right TO depreciate property
by colored schools when the location OF
them in a colored neighborhood would be
in every way more suitable. 1t is hoped
that this school will not be located On n
Street or any street now principally in
habited by white people,
The Commissioners have noted the re-
ceipt of the protest of the association and
have fled the communication for consid-
Grafton at future Board meeting.
In July last James Robbins made appli-
cation for permit TO construct sewer
from the alley in square -30T TO premises
1920 Vermont Avenue northwest The per-
nit was refused by the Commissioners on
the ground that the existing subdivision
of lot %, on which the premises referred to
were built did not touch the alley.
y few days ago a similar application
reached the Commissioners from H. K.
Beck, asking for permit to construct the
sewer described. and requesting a recon
stderation of the action taken in the matter
in July.
Having considered the matter, Capt L.
S. Beach, the Engineer Commissioner. to-
day recommended TO his associates that
a temporary permit be given to connect
premises on Vermont Avenue lot 25
square 307, through lot &c same square.
in the rear and alley into the sewer in
Twelfth Street. One condition of the yer
nit is that when the sewer is extended
into Vermont Avenue the premises is to
be disconnected from the Twelfth Street
Sewer and drained into the sewer in Yer
mont Avenue, in agreement to this effect
TO be filed by the permittee prior to the
issue of the permit.
1t is understood that the Commissioners
will acquiesce in the recommendation of
Captain Beach and that the necessary PER-
nit will be issued in accordance there
with.