The Washington times., 1901-11-05
A Contractor Asks n Special Privi-
1ege of the Commi In
spector of Flour wantcd-FIush-
ing the streets Hinders Traffic.

Tors, buI Tor tha Government inspector as
we'll Upon application to the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company for ser
vices under this requirement, We are re-
fused on the ground of inadequate wire
facilities on the Washington side OF Ana
costa bridge and the prohibition, enacted
by law, against the further stretching of
overhead or even underground wires.
As the nature of our work necessitates
the almost constant use of a telephone
service, caused by the enormous quanti-
ties of material to be purchased, moved.
etc, it will become apparent to your Hon
orable Board the great inconvenience we
will be subjected to if we are denied the
use of so important an adjunct.
In view, therefore, of the stress in
which we personally are placed, as also
the imperative need of the Instruments
under our contract with the Government,
wewould respectfully petition your Board
to allow the ned ssary wires, two in me
tallic circuit, to be furnished us by the
telephone company. In order that all
might he clear to the Commissioners, We
asked the telephone company TO map the
route OF proposed extension; and here
with take pleasure in submitting it for
your examination. 1t is our belief there
are now two wires laid as far as the navy
yard, in present use for the so-called
Schley Court of Enquiry which could
be turned to our benefit upon final ad
journment of said Court in our own
case, we consider the use Of the wires
as only temporary. or until our work is
finished, which. under the terms of the
contract, is limited to $50 working days
duration, from October I. 1901. 1t is our
sincere wish and hope that favorable
action may be accorded to this request"
The matter was referred to the Elec-
tric Department and elected the follow
ing report from Walter C. Allen, the
Electrical Engineer, advising that the re-
quest be not granted
"On September II the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company was granted
permission to string two wires to the
navy yard for temporary Use in con-
nectiun with the Schley Court of Enquiry
on condition that all wires be removed
within ten days after final adjournment
of said Court of Enquiry. The permit
further states that these wires are erected
al the urgent request of the officials OF
the navy yard and for the exclusive use
of the Court of Enquiry, as it seemed to
De u public emergency. i would not rec
mTnond that these wires be allowed to
remain any longer than is absolutely nee
essary for the purpose for which they
were erected, nor that they be used for
any other purpose
There are now two wires connecting
the Governement Insane Asylum with the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany exchange. The asylum further has
a small branch exchange switchboard in
their buildings, to which connection could
readily be made for whatever telephone
service is necessary in the office of the
contractor for the new buildings.
The Attorney for the District has ad-
vised the Commissioners that there is no
If To- fnr II GlOnR
the streets and avenues within the city
limits for telephone purposes.
The Commissioners have approved the
foregoing report, and the contractors VIII
be informed in accordance Herewith
The Flour Commission of the District,
consisting of Theodore ]. Mayer b. b.
Earnshaw, and G. w. Cissel, have sent
to the Commissioners letter, in which
they invite the attention of the Board to
the existing law relative to flour inspec-
ton. They also ask that IT be amended
the better to suit the conditions of the
-four trade. and they request the Com
missiouers to include in their estimate for
the next fiscal year Of 81, 300 for the salary
to a flour inspector 70 be appointed by
the Commissioners. The letter says:
I'VE wish 10 call your attention to the
matter OF -four inspection for the District
of Columbia. The law concerning the in
meet the requirements of such measure
Al the moment il is possible for any dis
honest miller to ship unsound and musty
-four TO this CITY, or to ship short weight
packages. the latter feature having been
detected several times recently by the
Flour Inspector. The law provides Tor
the inspection of all flour received in the
District of Columbia, whether in wood,
iute. cotton or paper packages. but ii is
rot far-reaching enough, in that IL pro-
vides a penalty for the merchant for non
inspection, and does not provide penalty
for the same offence on the part OF the
bakers. a fact which was forcibly brought
to light by a recent decision by Judge
KimbaI, Of our local court.
The baker, in many instances, should
be regarded as q receiver Of flour mas
much as there are many such who receive
their -four (which is made into bread
stuffs) ty the carload direct from the
mills. The shippers do not pay, nor are
they required to pay. inspection charges;
IL is the receiver who is required to pay.
When the bakers are exempted from fines
on account Of nOn-inspectiOn II then be-
comes optional with them 20 have their
-four inspected. This Is one weak feature
Of the law, and it should be amended so
as to provide a penalty for all classes.
As the law Is interpreted now the dealer
has to have all of his flour inspected,
which costs him one cent per barrel. or
81. 80 per carload of l50 barrels. The baker
can buy his flour direct and need not have
it inspected at all. thereby really buying
his -four Sl.50 per car less than the whole
sale -four merchant.
ITO obviate this injustice and to pre-
vent millers from sending unsound flour
or shortveight packages to this city, We
suggest that your honorable body appoint
"A cOmpetent -four inspector AT salary OF
not less than $1,000 per year, whose duty
it shall be TO examine, free of charge to
the receiver the various packages of -four
whether in wood, jute or paper that
may be received into the District Of Col
umbia, regarding the proper weights. 1t
shall also be the duty Of the flour inspec-
tor whenever he IS called upon to exam
Inc -four regarding the soundness thercof,
to do SO at his earliest opportunity and
charge the receiver Zee at the rate of
one cent per barrel for such examination,
whether the -four is packed in wood, jute
or paper The money thus received to go
into the District treasury at such times
as you may designate.
Permit us TO present the name OF Mr..
James H. Welch in this connection. We
believe that the gentleman named would
make n desirable official in such posi-
iion. II there be no appropriation avail
able from which such a salary could be
paid. we respectfully recommend that
your honora bic body make q special re-
quest Of Congress at It's coming session
for a special appropriation for this i'm
portant work
The flushing Of Pennsylvania Avenue
last Saturday night by the Street Clean
ing Department. with hose furnished by
the Fire Department, was cons ,dered
quite a success from the standpoint Of
the District Government. That is to say.
il served to dissolve the oily covering
which forms over the asphalt pavement
in dry weather, and the Avenue on Sun
day morning was as clean as It usually
appears after heavy rain The expert
ment, indeed. was so successful that the
Commissioners yesterday authorized the
street Cleaning Department to repeat the
operation on f Street last night. Accord
lngly, White Wings" took out the hose