The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Privilege of the Fish Wharf
Sold TO W. w. Riley.
How n Time-HonOrcd Custom Is OBJ
served Mt Centre Narket-Summer
Goats for Firemen-Requcsts for
Relief From Heavy Assessments.

Relief From Heavy Assessments.
The privilege to receive and land fish in
the District of Columbia was sold yester-
day to W. w. Riley, who for some time
has operated the fish wharf" at the
foot of Eleventh Street southwest. 1t is
the custom to sell this privilege annually
by auction and the law provides that
the sale shall take place at the Fish Mar
ket. between Seventh and Ninth Streets
northwest
Yesterday at , p. m, pursuant to public
notice given by the District authorities,
there appeared at the south entrance of
Centre Market the persons interested.
Daniel Curry was there representing the
District; the auctioneer, Frank bowling,
was on hand, as was Commodore" John
r Sutton, the genial commander of the
harbor boat.
After waiting a few minutes w. w
Riley drove up leisurey and the sale
was duly announced. The auctioneer
stated that he had received an offer OF
5000 for the privilege. Riley raised it so
and received the plum. Contrary 10 his
usual custom, Mr.. Riley did not pay the
first installment by check, but handed TO
the auctioneer five crisp gold certificates
of the $50 denomination.
II had been rumored that there would
be a competitor to Mr.. Riley in bidding
for the privilege, but no such person ap-
peared The sale was tame, as usual,
and lasted exactly three minutes.
Charles A. Corant. Washington cor
respondent of the New York Journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin has
written Commissioner mcfarland with
reference to a reform in the summer
clothing worn by the members of the Fire
Department. Mr.. COnant says that at
present the freITen are required to wear
heavy wooden coats with Innings and
pockets on the inside This, Mr. Conant
thinks is not only uncomfortable and in
convenient, but it compels the men to sit |
much of the time in public view in shirt !
sleeves where the more faStidlous would I
wear a proper summer coat, which W@S I
not unbeara bly, hot. Mr.. Conant IS OF /
the opinion that such a coat would De 1
appreciated by most of the men, and that 1
it would make them more presentable-
Mr. Macfarland. in speaking of the mat !
ter yesterday, said that the views of MT
Conant met with ready response IN MS 1
own mind, but he thought the practical |
difficulty in the way Of its realization
would be the fact that the firemen would
be compelled to provide themselves with
an extra or fatigue coat to be worn
around quarters. Mir. mcfarland thought
the fremen, some of them, might think
rightly that their salaries would not per- /
nit OF having the regulation coat and a
fatigue coat in addition. Mr.. Macfarland /
stated that he was ready to do anything |
for the comfort or good appearance OF
the men, but he thought the question
raised was one that should be settled by
the men without official recommendation
John r. Shields. of $50 Fourth Street
northwest, has asked the Commissioners
that bills be rendered on lots 2il and 245,
square 675, in accordance with the new
assessment of said lots, and requests
that interest be added from date of said
new assessment.
e W. w. Griffin, the Assistant Asses
sor, in reporting upon the application,
advised the Commissioners as follows:
Mr.. Shields under date of December
IS, 1sgo, called for the bills on this prop
erty for the years 1880 to 1909, inclusive, |
accompanying his request with the state /
Tncnt that a good title had passed to him,
and alleged as this property had been
wrongly assessed the District had no
lien on the lots in question as to any ad-
ditional interest. penalty, or costs.
"A report was submitted from this Of
flee and referred by the Commissioners to
the Attorney for the District of Column
bla, for his opinion, and under date of
February -, 1901, he gave an adverse re-
port, quoting an opinion Of the court lin
Burgdorf vs.. District of Columbia, etc)
that the penalties and costs are part
Of the delinquent tax regardless Of the
form OF assessment
on February 26 Mr.. Shields furnished !
this Office with a certificate Of title upon
these lots. and under order of the |
Commissioners dated March IL 1891 (see !
y. o., lH5D the east sixteen feet of lot
al and the west eight feet four inches of |
lot 2i2 is now assessed in the name of !
George +. Appleby, trustee, and Benja-
min o. West, and the east nine feet eight
inches of lot 2i2, all Of lots 2i3. pa. the
west five feet eight inches of 245, I'm the
name OF George Il. Appleby, trustee, and
the respective years
Under the date of March 20. 1901. Mr..
Shields states that the property now hay
ing been placed on our records in the
name of the rightful owners. requests
that the bills for the years 1880 TO 1850 |
inclusive, be rendered him with the in
terest added only from the date Of the
new assessment.
In the correction OF our records the
"Iilce assumes that this property was ,
wrongly assessed to Alexander r. Shep-
herd during those years, and until said |
property was placed in the proper names, |
under the order Of March 10, 1901, it would |
seem the District had no status as to the |
collection OF Interest, penalty, and costs /
but as this Is question involving the /
real owners liability as to Interest |
charges on this propery, it is deemed /
proper to submit the matter with the |
suggestion that the opinion Of the At |
tcrney for the District Of Columbia should |
De SUN 1urther requested.
Proposals were received by the Com |
missioners yesterday for the erection of |
an eight-room school building I'm Half |
Street northwest. The bidders were. John |
NJ. Dunn. $4,000 with 1920 deducted IL |
the plumbing be omitted D. +. Mocabee, |
sSs.Is5. or if the plumbing be omitted 49,
s92; Gieeson & HUMPHREYS. So, 500 or |
without the plumbing, $4,000. Gieeson & |
Iumphres also submitted supplemental |
bid on specified conditions for s37 900, or |
s@i.3oo without the plumbing They also |
submitted bid for the plumbing for |
5000. The bid Of George w Corbet was /
si3,37s. or $39.37S without the plumbing: |
supplemental bid. so, 100. or 81. 100 without |
the plumbing. The bid Of Pavarini &. |
Greer was 1890 with 1920 deducted for |
the plumbing. supplemental bid 81 900 |
with &.2yO deducted for the plumbing /
Noble II. Thomas bid siG,3I6. with s3Ot3 |
deducted for the plumbing w T. Spier's |
bid was $1,000, with $3.50 deducted for
the plumbing; supplemental bid 81. 900.
and plumbing $3.50. Separate bids were
received for the plumbing as follows: NJ |
b Casey, $3.50. John Nolan q Son e. 2a4
and I'd J. Harmon, s. $50
Proposals were also received for grad- |
ing Connecticut Avenue west OF Rock
Creek as follows: John Jacoby. 50 cents y
cubic yard; John c. Regain & Co a. cents
a cubic yard. J.. II. Hawkins 81 cents a
cubic yard. and Carmody & IIough. a |
cents a cubic yard.
}. 7. Legge. terminal agent Of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad, has requested
permission Of the Commissioners to run
siding 10 the platform proposed to be
erected on the ground Of the railroad
con .aF- Ta.I...