The Washington times., 1902-07-08
District Work Progress
ing at Satisfactory
Rate.
PREPARING ANNUAL REPORTS
Routine Work on the Jump-various
Departments Have Accomplished a
Great Deal = Large Appropriation
Available This Year.

According TO the expectations OF the
District Commissioners the annual re-
PORTS of the District departments, which
nave been directed to be submitted on
or before September 80 next, will show
that considerable progress has been
made along the lines of public improve
ments. The fiscal year Of the District
ended June 80 and the reports of the
various branches Of the District gov
ernment when submitted and compiled
constitute the annual report OF the Com
missioners. This latter report Is pub
lished In four volumes later in the year.
The last fiscal year was. all thipgs
considered. the most satisfactory In the
history of the municipality. The open
ing OF streets and the Improvement Of
those already opened, the laying Of side
walks, the planting OF trees, the ex-
tension OF sewers, work on bridges. the
erection OF school buildings and other
public structures. the cleaning of streets
and the general sanitation of the Dis
trict have progressed more rapidly FER
haps than in any like period of the his
tory OF the city.
Largest Appropriation for Years.
The work of the Commissioners has
proceeded in entire harmony, and the op-
erations OF the several departments over
which they have supervision have been
carried forward according to the policies
In vogue for several years. The appro-
Il fpr n IL fta 10
est In the history of the District. and
to that fact is due to large extent the
pushing forward of public work along
several lines.
1t may be said that the routine work
Of the District Building Is increasing
addition of new clerks from year to year
to handle the volume OF correspond
ence. accounts, and files. Thousands of
letters have to be answered every
month, and the records OF the corre-
spondence alone are voluminous
In addition letters which bring sub
iects of special consideration before the
Commissioners require several indorse-
nents, and an equal number OF entries
upon the records. The number of com
plants, application for one thing and
another, not to mention the letters ask
ing for appointments. is estimated In
the office of Secretary Tindall to be 10,-
900 year.
The Health Department.
In the Health Department time and
attention has been devoted almost ex-
to routine matters in the sew
eral bureaus. The service was enlarged
somewhat at the beginning OF last year
SO that greater attention was given to
the milk supply and the sale OF adul-
terated foods than formerly. The work
In the bureau OF contagious diseases
was also pressed vigorously. 1t having
been necessary to deal with long run
Of smallpox, and to watch during the
entire year the progress of the diseases
Of scarlet fever. diphtheria. measles.
etc. which are now epidemic in the
city.
III the Electrical Department the ap-
for new lights and extern
sions Of the fire alarm and police signal
service were spent to the best advan-
tage, and in each direction there was
progress. Much attention
was also given during the year to mat
ters pertaining to the enlargement of
the telephone service, and during that
time the plans for the building OF the |
new condutE in the northwestern Sec
ton of the city were worked out. They |
are the Joint result of the ideas of the |
operating company and OF the District |
Electrical Engineer.
The Engineer Department.
The Engineer Department as a whole |
has been extremely busy for the past |
year. The surface work, which comes
directly under the supervision OF Cap
tain Newcomer, has been pushed for
ward with energy in all parts of the