The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-07

Henry B. LOCKER the surveyor of tn
District, Yesterday forwarded his annua
report to the Commissioners, covering tn
operations OF his office for the fiscal yea
ended June so, 1900.
| The Surveyor says that sol lots wer
| surveyed, in the city and county, involv
| ing the making of 474 certificate plats c
| survey. in duplicate, total Of 975 plats. in
| Guiding a small number of extra dupii
Gates. To prepare for these surveys h
| informs the Commissioners that 200 plat
| of entire squares were made and altera
tions made on existing plats, the tota
number under this head being 1,449.
Mr.. LOCKER adds that 2S6 subdivision
were recorded, involving Az separate sob
F., division certificates and 236 plats as page
of record books, the entire number OF plat
under this head, including about 40 no
adopted, was 74s.
After listing the surveys made for pri
vate parties, siXty-nine in number anC
those for the District, the report con-
tinues:
THE total of plats made upon the order
of the District in the above cases woult
average three in each. or 252 in all. Al
exact copy is kept of each map that leaves
the Office and generally one, sometimes
two or moro working maps are necessitated
In all about seventyfye orders were filled
for the District, many of them involving
several days in their execution. About BOG
sketch plats were made for use of owners
and builders in obtaining building permits.
Probably 2o0 other sketch plats were made,
of which no exact account was kept, to as
sst private parties in determining their
plans of subdivision. The total of plats
turned out by the office for all purposes,
public and private. is about 5000, or an
increase Of 800 over last year, or 10 per
cent
Survey reference points have been Sc
cured. before removal of sidewalks, on
streets and alleys; ninety nine
reports have been made to the Engineer
Commissioner. as to conditions found on
survey, in addition to 341 letters written to
private parties; 423 endorsements have
been made on Engineer Department CON-
referred for survey or report
About 1000 telephone calls were made OF
answered.
THE sooner the question: of the exact
status of the southeastern water front of
the city is taken up. the better it will be
for all departments of the District govern
that the main questions
of law and fact have been determined by
the court of last resort, in the Potomac
fats case At present 1t is entirely i'm
practicable for definite reports to be made
as to the status of certain lands in that
section which have come into existence
by accretion, changing the original water
line.
Early in the fiscal year, the fre-proof
vault and metallic furniture for the hand
ling of the records were completed, and
are found to be OF inestimable advantage
to the office and the public, and l am
satisfied that all the records will be per-
fectly secure against fire, water, and felon-
ious interference. until proper municipal
building is provided.
Real Estate and Easements.
"a definite policy has been maintained,
to concentrate in this office, SO far as pas
ticable, all papers relating to the owner
ship by the District of real estate and
easements therein. l have obtained from
the Commissioners orders to record all
piats of land condemned for public use,
and land condemned for corporation Jses
under the charter.
In the absence Of increase of draft
ing force, all except the current york of
this character will have TO await oppor-
tunity to reach it for recording. The sub
divisions of lots in Georgetown are row
recorded with subdivisions in the city
proper, thus eliminating since January /,
1900, the use of a special Georgetown book
and simplifying search of records.
by an arrangement with the Collector
of Taxes, those ordering surveys or sub
divisions at this office may leave df they
so prefer with the Collector the receipts
ne gives for fees paid, thus obviating a
return 10 the Surveyors office. In view of
the number of street cars now passing the
City Hall, and the distance between this
office and that OF the Commissioners, this
is some relief to ladies and infrm people.
ION the close of the fiscal year practi-
cally all current work was up TO date, but
this was possible only by the unremitting
work of every man in the office, and by
the services of a second field party.
THE Library Bureau Card Index system
Is being pushed as rapidly as current work
allows, an immense number Of neatly type
written cards now being In constant use.
The public prefers the use of cards far
the county records and the book index has
been altogether retired. This system ena-
bles one at a glance, by turning over
few cards to run down 10 the latest sub
division all the qualifications of any lot OF
touching the record books except TO look
at the one page desired. This is going TO
save the books very largely.
Verifying the older Records.
mo progress whatever has been made
during the year on the most important
work of verifying the already existing
copies of the older record books Of the Of
ice. Current work has kept me incessant-
" employed preventing that personal
work on these vitality important copies
which is essential. / can only hope Tor
some time in the future when a slackness
Of work Will allow their completion. Com
Dlete copies have been made of all the old
alley plats,' which are in
condition of dilapidation from long Use,
and placed in book form. The veriication
even of this volume, for official certifi-
cation, has not been possible from lack
Of time. Excellent copies have been made
Of the most dilapidated pages of 'Coyles
Grades
Il would again invite your attention to
the urgent need OF providing photo litho-
graphic or tracing copies OF many Of the
valuable maps relating to the
early planning OF the city, now stored in
this office. Though guarded with extreme
care, they are falling to pieces from age.
It would seem TO me that the Library OF
Congress would be the most proper place
of custody for the originals Of such maps
now in this Office. copies being retained
here Of those liable TO be needed in cur
rent work.
The Commissioners having, at my re-
quest issued an order directing the sur
vcyor TO make complete copies, including
signatures, on the records, in the case of
all documents OF dedication and sub-di
vision, the results OF its execution are