The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-01

city lying near IT. 1t is a veritable death
trap Its banks being unprotected in any
manner, there are numerous deaths by
drowning OF people who have fallen into
its waters, and, as the bottom Of the ca
nal Is q deep layer Of soft filth and sew
age. body reaching the bottom rarely,
II ever, comes to the surface, as il sinks
and disappears in this reektng mass The
recovery Of the bodies of persons drowned
IN this practically uncovered sewer Is the
most difficult and disag cable duty which
falls to the lot Of my force and is in it
self a menace to the health Of the mem
beTs of the crew II Is urgently necessary
that steps be taken t. remedy this condi-
ton OF aIalrS, ana earnestly recommend
that provision De made to arch over the
canal, thus preventing number Of fatal
accidents and blottinE out an eyGsore the
Columbia
Owing 70 the fact that the past winter
was an unusually mild one, this depart
ment was not called upon L, break tIyg ice
is recommended, however, that for this
pGTpos@ an appropriation of 800 be asked
Tor, with the view Of having an eEner-
gency fund Immediately available should
II become necessary during the coming
winter to perform this duty. Prompt ac-
ton on such occasions viii tend to pre-
vent the southern portion Of the city from
being flooded. and by having such an an
preparation available the necessity of ap-
Pealing to Congress for funds would be
avoided and much valuable time saved
During the year just ended / have or
deTed 26I vessels to move from the
whaTves and to proper anchorage grounds
8 marked by the buOys. The masters
OF these vessels in every instance com
piled cheerfully with these instructions.
For detailed report of the work of
this department during the last fiscal
year attention is invited to my report to
the Major and Superintendent of Police
printed in his report to you for that year.
'On many occasions during the year
have been indebted to Major Sylvester
for valuable aid and cooperation in the
performance of the various duties con
neCted with the work Of the harbor
Your attention is respectfully invited
to that portion of my report of last year
in which reference is made to the fact
that while the duties and responsibilities
Of the Harbormaster have, since my as
signment to that Office in 1883, increased
more than five-fold. the salary still re
mains as il was then, namely, 200 per
annum The increased duties arise from
the assignment to my charge in 1883 Of
the police harbOr boat. the enactment by
Congress IN recent years Of many laws
esta bIi shing various regulations for the
government OF the l1arbOr and of vessels
arriving therein, and of the new fish and
game laws. the enforcement Of which has
devOlyed almost exclusively upon the
force under my charge. and involves
much labor more especially in recent
years owing to the Increased activity of
the fish and game associations
In my last report an increase In salary
Of $500 per amman was requested, and this
request net @itE your approval and was
submitted bv YOU IN the estimates for the
ensuing fiscal yeaF. The proposed in
crease was rot granted, however in the
appropriation BIN as finally enacted, and
the matter is, therefore. again brought to
YOUR attention in the hope that the in
crease aforementioned may be obtained
for the coming nScai wear
With his report MIR. Sutton submits the
following statement Of the financial ope-
ratiOns of his office:
Appropriations for the fiscal year ended
limo T445- Engineer a per mont
$3.50: Waterman. at $50 per month. $3.50;
dcckhand. at IS per month, $40 insur-
ance on and repairs TO office wharf, and
boat fuel, oils paints brushes waste,
and other miscellaneous expenses, Sl,440.
Total. 81 go.
Estimates for fiscal year ending June
30 I9G2-FOr day crew. Engineer, d S65
rer month $50; Waterman, at SO per
month $40, deckhand, at So per month,
S42A; fireman. at SO per month. SiZ0; in
SUrauce on and repairs to office, wharf and
boat fuel oils, paints, brushes. waste
and other miscellaneous expenses 81. $3.50;
total $4,000. For night crew engineer, at
SEA per month $3.50; pilot, at SO per month.
S7Sa- four deckhanGS, at SO per month
each 81 $50: fireman, at so per month.
1926; extra coal oils, repairs to boat, and
other miscellaneous expenses, $780, total.
81 800
In closing his report Mr.. Sutton says
that he wishes on behalf of himself and
the members of his department to ac-
knowledge the receipt of many RindIesSes
and courtesies at the hands Of the Com
rnisSi5uers and to express the hope that
IT, future conduct OF the affairs of the
= sTtment may be such as to merit their
continuance