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

in the Various Departments.
According TO the expectations Of the
District Commissioners the annual re
ports of the District departments, which
have been directed TO be submitted on
OF before September 60, next, will show
that considerable progress has bccE
made along the lines of public improve
ments. The fiscal year of the District
ended June 30 and the reports Of the
various branches Of the District gov
ernment when submitted aud compiled
constitute the annual report OF the Com
missioners- This latter report Is pub
Eshed IN four volumes later in the year
The last fiscal year was, all thirEs
considered. the mos satisfactory in the
history OF tho 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 ard 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, ana 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-
priatious for the last year were the lerg-
est in the history OF the District. and
TO that fact is due 10 a large extent TIE
pushing forward OF public work along
several lines
Il nay be said that the routine work
of the District Building Is increasing
at q rapid rate. making necessary The
addition OF new clerks from year 10 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 CORE
spondence alone are voluminous.
In addition letters which bring sub
ieets OF special consideration before the
Commissioners require several indorse-
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 Tindan 10 be 1o,
GEO year.
The Health Department.
IN the Health Department time and
attention has beer devoted almost ex-
cl4siveIy TO routine matters in the seq
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
vas also pressed vigorously, It having
been necessary 10 deal with a long run
OF smallpox, and u watch during the
entire year the progress Of the diseases /
of scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles. !
etc, which are now epidemic in the
city.
IN the Electrical Department the ap-
preparations for new lights and exten-
sioDs Of the fire alarm and police signal I
service were spent TO the best advan-
tage. and in each direction there was
considerable progress Much attention /
vas also given during the year to mat +
ters pertaining TO the enlargement Of
the telephone service, and during that 4
time the plans for the building Of the
new conduits IN the northwestern ses- /
tion 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 q whole :
has been extremely busy for tho past (
year The surface work. which comes
directly under the supervision Of Cap /
tain Newcomer, has been pushed for +
ward with energy IN al parts OF the (
city where appropriations were ayaiIa-
bic and where repairs OF new construc-
tfou was needed. As a result. the as (
phaIt pavements have been considerably
extended. new sidewalks and curbs have
been laid down. and several hundreds
Of trees we're planted These improve
ments are most visible in the northeast
and the northwest sections. where the
greater portion. Of the money was spent.
Sewer work has gone on as rapidly as
the appropriations would allow. ami
good progress vas made New water
mains were laid where sewers svere
available. Bridge building On the Con
necttcut Avenue structure and on Mas
sachusetts Avenue, across Rock Greek.
has been going on through the year.
and several small bridges-notabIy. one
across the stream in the Zoo Park
have been completed during the year.
The extension Of Sixteenth Street also
belongs 70 the period under considera-
ton
In the Assessors Office.
IN the Assessors Office the operation
OF the new system Of keeping accounts
went into operation last year. resulting
in q material saving Of time. and in the
collection Of q larger part Of the taxes.
There has been less duplication Of pay
ments. and the ease with which the ma
chinery now runs Is proof Of the wis
dom Of the change
Tho rrFaurE1T raearervo~,4 ~ !