The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-26

William Duncan recently wrote to the
Commissioners complaining of the condi-
ton of the sidewalk OIL Central Avenue in
Ivy City. The matter was referred to the
Engineer Department, and c. b. Hunt,
the Computing Engineer, has made a re-
port upon the mode of procedure in such
cases in the future He calls the atten-
ton of the Commissioners to several other
complaints of a similar character. He
then informs the Commissioners that
these papers are the first received in his
office under the operations OF a
recent order of the board for
the removal of the dirt and other
debris falling on paved sidewalks or into
alleys, at the cost of the abutting prop.
erty. in streets IN the county beyond the
limit of the operations of the street clean
ing depar ment.
Such cases, he says, are now referred
to his office for execution at the cost of
the appropriation for the repairs of county
roads, in the event of the failure of the
property owner to comply with the notice
served by the Special Assessment Division.
these papers, says Mr.. Hunt, Ito submit
for consideration an am, ndment to the
current procedure in the service of these
notices and inspection before and after
service. The procedure at present is. that
on receipt of complaint that dirt has
fallen on paved sidewalk or alley. and
reference of the same to the Special As
sessment Division an inspector from that
a &c ion &C.
ness OF the complaint, and a notice is
then served by that division on the prop
erty owner TO clean the sidewalk or al
ley. The paper is then referred to the
superintendent Of Street and Alley Clean
ing, or TO this division, according to
whether the locality is within or without
certain limits fixed by the Commissioners.
At the expiration of FIVE days an IN
spection is made by an inspector from The
Office OF the Street Cleaning Department.
or from this office, to ascertain whether
the notice previously served has been
complied with. In the event of the fai!-
ure TO comply with the notice. the mate
rial on the walk or alley is removed and
the cost, together with the lots involved.
is certified to the Special Assessment
Division, which then prepares an assess
ment according to law.
1T is submitted that this procedure is
defective in that the inspections before
and after the service OF notice are made
by different men from different Offices
II is easily possible that conditions found
by second inspector might 10 him ap-
pear as those causing the original COM
plant, when, in fact, they might indi-
cate partial compliance with the Lotice
on the part of the property owner, or
second fall of dirt might occur after the
removal OF the one originally complained
Of In other words, the first inspector
would appear to be the only proper ger
son TO make the second inspection. and it
seems rational view of the case to con-
slider that the relation of this Office and
of that of the Street Cleaning Department
10 these cases begins at the point where
notice from the Special Assessment Dr.
vision has failed. according to their own
statement, to secure the removal of the
complaint"
The Engineer Commissioner, in for
warding the above statement to his col
leagues, stated that the suggestion Of the
Computing Engineer that the same in
spector view the premises to determine
whether notice has been complied with
is worthy of consideration.
Charles A. Stevens and others. residents
and property owners OF Anacostfa. have
united in sending a petition to the Com
cost Of the District. of Avalon Street and
an alley running parallel thereto
Morris Hacker Assistant Engineer of
The Engineer Department, has made a re
port upon the application. stating that he
made a personal examination OF the local
ity. He says he found three houses front
ing on Avalon Street and running back to
an alley in the rear, and one house in
Harrison Street having access 10 the al
1RLgo
neither street nor alley presented an ap-
pearanee of ever having beer improved,
though there was some evidence that
grading had been done. He informs the
Commissioners that the section is very
billy one and the grade now found on the
thoroughfare in question is II per cent.
Continuing his report Mr.. Hacker said.
The surface is rough but not danger
Gus. and it is believed that the impossible
condition complained of is more on ac-
count OF the steep grade than the want OF
surface improvement. II is not believed
that funds can be spared from the avail
able appropriation for repairs OF county
roads for the improvement of this street,
and / recommend that the petitioners be
informed that special appropriation by
Congress would be necessary for the pur-
pose.
LAS TO the alley, | recommend that the
petitioners be informed that upon petition
from abutting property owners it can be
paved under the assessment system. This
office would not recommend its improve
ment by grayeling though permit for
doing such work by private parties would
be given
The recommendations of Mr.. Hacker
were yesterday approved by the Commits
soners.
The Commissioners had under consid-
Grafton yesterday the question of Sunday
night shows in the theatres as advertised
for the evening before Inauguration. 1t
is well known by the authorities. as Y ell
as the managers of the theatres. that
there is at present no law which would
prevent opening every theatre in town on
Sunday evening. But the Commissioners
take the ground that public sentiment is
opposed to the Sunday shows. They hold
that the people of Washington. as whole.
do not want the theatres open on that
night. They are also Informed that the
managers of theatres do not want to have
their houses open on that night. provided
all the theatres are closed. II is thought
that the present state of things. with
reference to the shows on the night before
Inauguration, was brought about by a
rumor getting into circulation that a GER
tain theatre would show on that night.
and the other managers hearing of it
made preparations to have their houses
open also.
Yesterday Joseph Luckett. manager Of
the Columbia Theatre, was in conference
with Major Sylvester and Commissioner
Macfarland with reference to the per
Torrance advertised for next Sunday
night In that theatre. 1t is understood
that Manager Luckett was told that IL
was the desire of the Commissioners that
the proposed show be not held A long
conference was held relative to the mat
Ter nd Il was finally dacided that thc....