The evening times., 1900-06-09
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Various Subjects of Interest Con-
sidered by the Commissioners.
Dennis Murphy Wants an Old Well
Which Was Destroyed by Widen
cOrding to Gompact-NO Evidence
OF the Asreement-Other Cases.


calling attention. to an agreement enter
ed into with the District about four years
ago, and requesting that the terms of the
compact be kept1ass to the replacing OF
an old well. which was destroyed IN widen
ing Sherman avenue. Mr. Murphy in
forms the Commissioners that the restora-
lon of the well is a matter of great i'm
Dortance to him and he requests the an
thorities TO take steps TO grant prompt re-
lief. In making a statement OF the case
Mr.. Murphy says:
Some four years ago 1 donated to the
Government 1900 square feet of land TO
widen Sherman avenue. The arrangement
entered into was that in consideration OF
the donation Of this ground, my residence
was TO be raised and moved back by the
Commissioners to the new line, and that
my well, which was destroyed in the re-
mov2l Of the house, was to be replaced by
new one. This last condition of the
agreement has never been fulfilled on the
part Of he District, TO my serious injury
and inconvenience.
AT the time of this agreement. which
the authorities held must be verbal, Major
Powell, then the Engineer Commissioner.
positively assured IRE that a new well
would BE- built on the premises But this
promise has never been kept have ever
since had to depend upon the generosity
Of neighbor for the water needed in my
family.
II would, therefore, respectfully request
that the agreement entered into with me
be carried out. and that my well be re-
placed at an early date.
Tie letter of Mr.. Murphy having been
referred to the Engineer Department for
consideration, c. B. Hunt. the computing
Engineer, now reports that there is no
written evidence confirming or pointing
toward any agreement that a well should
be dug in the writer's property 70 replace
an old one alleged 70 have been destroyed
Il personally was connected with this
work" he writes ''aud in direct control Of
/ il from its inauguration 10 its completion
| and l believe that l had knowledge of all
| the circumstances conecJed with it, and
! yet cannot confirm the writer's statement
( as 10 the verbal promise made by the then
! Engineer Commissioner. Even admitting
/ every detail Of the writer's statement TO be
/ literally true I do not believe that there
/ are funds at the disposal OF the Commis-
| sioners which could be expended for the
/ construction OF such q we'll since the ap-
I preparation for Sherman Avenue, under
| which tle moving OF houses, etc, was au-
/ thorizei has been exhausted. l recon-
| mend. therefore. unfayOrable consideration
/ OF the application.
/ was approved by the Commissioners.
The District Commissioners today issued
| the following orders for public work:
| That New York Avenue northwest be-
| tween Nineleenth-- and Twenty-third
! Streets, De brought TO grade by day la
! Dor at an estimated cost Of $T00. -ehargeabIe
/ TO the appropriation for improvement ana
! repairs. northwest section. 1900: that $50
/ feet Of 6-iuch water main be laid in the
south side OF Massachusetts Avenue. west
! Of Sheridan Circle. at an estimated cost OF
! Sl4i; that 800 feet OF 3-inch water main be
! laid in Decatur Alley. square 669 at an
| estimated cost OF 1884; that William J.
| Hutchinson be granted license as master
plumber and sashtter for a period Of five
| years upon the filing Of proper bond that
, the resignation Of Richard Z. Crump As
4 sistant Inspector of Buildings. is hereby
accepted to take effect May 81, 1900, and
| that Harold Davis is hereby appointed AS
/ sistant Inspector OF Buildings al 81 O0O per
/ anuum. wee CTump. to take effect June l.
/ 1900; thar c. E. Wager is hereby appoint
/ ed chairman in the Sewer Division. Engln
| eer Department. at S2-25 per day, to take
/ effect when he reports for duty; that 500
4 feet Of 6-inch water main be laid in the
/ north side of r Street between Nineteenth
] and Twentieth Streets northwest at an
| estimated cost of 1906; that the proposal
! of Littlefield. Alvord & Co to haul about
I
/ lexington siding of the Baltimore and
/ Ohio Railroad TO Bates Street, for the
price of p cents per cubic yard is hereby
| accepted.
A few weeks ago the Commissioners re-
| ceived from John Bell and others. citizens.
| taxpayers. and residents of Lincolnville a
| petition asking for the opening, widening
| and grading Of Bell Street from Washing
| ton Street to Sheriff Road. with the neces-
! sary bridge across Watts Branch; for the
| grading and widening of Washington Street
! from Lincoln Avenue to the terminal of
said street, and for the widening and grad
| ing of Lincoln Avenue from Washington
| Street to Central Avenue
The petitioners represented TO the
| Commissioners that the said Washington
Street and Lincoln Avenue were their only
outlet to other parts Of the city and Dis
| trict, and that in some places the said
| streets are so narrow that ii is impossible
for teams to pass. They further say that
Bell Street is their main thoroughfare but
that the street has been only partly open
| ed, and that the part that has been opened
| is not in conformity with the regulations
| Of the ub-divisions Of the District of Co
| lumbia; that in some portions Of the street
| teams cannot pass II is also stated in
| the petition that the three streets named
| have never been kept in condition for
/ travel, and that during some portions OF
the year they have 10 be almost entirely
| abandoned. Continuing. the petition says
| I'VE have repeatedly petitioned the hon.
| orable Commissioners, and have had the
| promise of the Engineer Commissioner that
he would take the matter under advise
| ment, but we still find our streets in the
same condition, and in some seasons of the
year We are scarcely able 10 get from and
| to our homes Still every few years there
| is q new assessment, and the valuation OF
our property is raised for the least i'm
provement we make. Our property is
/ taxed as non agricultural land, and we de-
rive no benefit from such taxation
For the reasons stated we feel that We
are and have been unjustly treated, and
we pray your honorable body to give us
the desired relief"
The petition having been referred to the
Engineer Department, c. B. Hunt, the Com
putting Engineer, reported back to the Com
nissioners that the streets in question ara
in such relatively fair condition tsat minor
justiiable. and their general improvement
would only be proper in the event of theil
being suitably widened While the street
extension plan, he says, eontemplates mi.
step ultimately, il is not necessary now ts
speak OF the impracticability of undertak-
ing this work at the present time In fact
the extension of Bell Street beyond. The
Columbia Railway is not in conformity witt
the street extension plans.
The petitioners have been informed II
accordance with the report Of the Comprt.
ing Engineer.
The Commiss oners also had before
them TODAY complaint from Anna l.
Dean of 1106 Vale Street in which tbafy