The Washington times., 1902-12-03
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

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The net expenditures on account Of
the District Of Columbia for the fiscal
year 1902 were s. .g62 ZAP. The net reve-
nues deposited in the Treasury on this
account for the same period were S4,217,-
S4L43.
Under the operations OF the sinking
funds. the net reduction OF the bonded
debt during the year was SS71. 500, and
Of the annual interest charge s43. $3.50
Since the close Of the fiscal year the
debt has been reduced by the purchase Of
3.65 per cent bonds for 1902. 500 and per
cent thirty-year funding bonds for 81. JOG
and will be further reduced by the re-
demptiOn OF thirty-year funding bonds
for S4g4 500 maturing November 1. 1902
The Treasurer estimates that the sum
OF $S75. f0S will be sufficient for interest
and sinking fund on the funded debt for
the fiscal year 1904. and recommends that
this sum be made a permanent annual
appropriation until the debt Of the Dis
triCt Of Columbia shall be eZtinguished.
and also that he be authorized TO pur-
chase United States bonds with the funds
provided for the sinking fund when he
is unable 10 purchase bonds Of the Dis
trict advantaEeously- The estimate for
interest and sinking fund for 1904 is
SZ3S. 55g-g7 less than the appropriation
for this purpose for 1903. The Treasurer
states that this reduction is made possi-
Bile by the recent reruRding OF The 8 and
: per cent bonds Of the District into
bonds bearing a lower rate or Interest,
and their final redemption.
The total amount Of the bonded debt
at the close OF the fiscal year was Sli.-
1g6. $50. OF this sum. SIS, 6S3. $50 consists
/ OF 3.65 per cent bonds
Pneumatic Dispatch Service.
The attention Of Congress is invited
/ to the necessity for modern means OF
communication between the Treasury
| Department. and its various permanent
branches as now established in the city
OF Washington.
The department recommends that the
system which is now. and has been fo-
some time. in satisfactory operation IN
/ the public stores In New York city be
| introduced throughout the Treasury De-
partment proper. connecting II with the
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing. the
/ Coast and GeOdetic Survey. the Public
! Health and Marine Hospital Service. Of
/ fees Of the auditors of the Treasury De
partment located outside the Treasury
| Building and the Government Printing
/ Office. The Department expresses con
[ fdence that this service once installed
Will prove efficient. economical. and
expeditions
"The attention Of the Congress is
called 10 the necessity for a complete
ventTating plant for the Treasury
Building. A detailed report, together
with estimates for the cost Of installa-
tion. will be presented by the depart
ment-
Hall of Records.
1T is regretted that provision has no
been made for a Hall OF Records. the ne
cessity for which has been called Q,
the attention Of Congress for the pas
twenty-five years. With the increasing
volume OF business Of the different de
partments of the Government, the de
mand for suitable quarters for the stor
age of records has become more impera
tive. until now the conditions are sue
as to interfere materially with thD
proper transaction of the public bust
ness and render valuable archives liabl
TO destruction by fire.
National Bureau of Standards.
The National Bureau Of Standard
was established July /. 1901. by the &C
Of March 3, 1901. The work of the frs
fiscal year included the preparation o
plans for the new buildings Of the bu
lroau. the development Of some Of III
new work of the bureau. and the curren
testing. including chiefly the testing o
lengths, masses, thermometers, electri
cal resistances, and optical instruments
LAS stated In the last report, Their