The Washington times., 1902-08-04
Dog Days Busiest Time
of Year in Official
Circles.
CLERKS AWAY ON LEAVE
Stay-at- Homes Have More Labcr to
Perform - Commissioner Macfarland
Hard Pushed on Account of Mr.. Ross
Death and Major Biddle's Absence.


Dog days are, in many respects, the
busiest part of the year at the District
Building. Though several heads of de-
partments and many OF the clerks are
on annual leave, the work goes on. and
the increase of public business incident
to the beginning of the new fiscal year
proceeds without interruption. Some
thing is done by means of electric fans
and an ample supply of ice water to
lessen the effects OF summer heat, and
those on duty clad il the thinnest fab
RIGS of the wardrobe carry on the tasks
in the several departments with IN
abated vigor
1t is true that letters and postal cards
from absentees, telling OF the GOODNESS
On the mountain slopes and the in
vigcrating Ereezes by the sea, produce
Giscontent and longing for the coming
vacation, out the municipal emplove
must take his turn with the rest and
work all the harder for the depleted Of
fee force. The music of the typewrit-
ers never ceases, and pens and pencils
in niinble fingers record long columns
of figures and draw plans OF municipal
Improvement the same during midsum-
rer as during ether parts of the year.
Mr.. Macfarland's Work.
The absence of Colonel Biddle during
the month of June and the illness and
death OF Commissioner Ross have
thrown additional work this year upon
the working members of the Board of
Commissioners. Commissioner Macfar-
land has borne the brunt of the heavy
task, though he was ably assisted by
Commissioner Ross until he was forced
to give up, and by Colonel Biddle since
his return to the city. The appointment
of the assistant assessors and the other
changes in the personnel Of the munich
pal offices demanded a good deal of time
and Commissioner MacfarlaDd has given
much time to the carrying out of the
law regarding the new municipal build
ing. In fact, the hours of the Commits
sioners have been crowded with labor.
and will be SO crowded during several
months TO come.
End of Fiscal Year.
There are several reasons why the
months of July and August are the
busiest portions of the year in the Dis
trict building, while dullness reigns IN
business and the streets look deserted
on account of the annual hegira from
the city. The fiscal year ends with the
last day of June and the new appropria-
tions become available on July l. New
purchase of the years supplies and de-
tails Innumerable begin and are work
ed out through the first two months of
the fiscal year. 1t is the time for maxi
ing several hundred contracts and for
pushing along improvements that have
been delayed by exhausted appropria-
tions. The duties of the building de-
partment multiply, and the inspectors
fly hither and thither on bicycles look
ing after the operations in the field.
The sewer contractors are looked after
sharply, street work including laying
curbing and sidewalks, progresses rapid
ly and the plans for the extensions Of
electric wires and lighting the city are
urged forward, In fact, the summer
months are the busiest for the entire
Engineer Department.
Work of Health Department.
The work of the Health Department
IS also vastly increased in summer. At
this time of the year the houses are
open and noXious smells are waited by
every breeze. smoking ash dumps, refuse
piles, vacant lots covered with weeds,
filthy alleys. and defective drainage in
spire complaint, and give the health
officials no rest. The contagious dis
cases continue their inroads upon the
population, the roaming OF stray dogs
end the ever-present necessity for
watching the milk can and the vending
oi adulterated foods give the forces OF
the Health Department no end OF trou-
bic.
As the public is educated to the need
OF better sanitation, the more frequent
lccome the requests for the removal OF
filth and the betterment OF the sur
roundings o. the people. IN practice the
Health Officer is notified in every morn
ing's mail of every offensive smell in
the District of Columbia. and each com
plant requires visit from an in
lpector. Sometimes there is complaint
o. the energy OF the health inspectors
themselves, especially when their visits
ontai. the repair of defective drains or
the removal Of some cause Of ofense,
which requires the expenditure Of
money, but on the whole the work OF
enforcing better sanitation is aDpre-
ciatcd by the people OF the District.
Activity CT Police.
There has been considerable activity in
the Police Department during the month
of July in preparations fer moving into
new quarters. and the actual removal
will take place within short time. The
usual changes incident TO the beginning
OF the new fiscal year are now out OF
the way, but much attention was given
10 the matter for several weeks ny the
heads OF the department.
Chief Dutton, OF the Fire Department,
has recently moved into new quarters.
and Is rapidly getting settled. Affairs in
the department are running smoothly. |
but there is much additional work re-
quired in the way OF providing for the
future as well as doing that in hand.
Tax Department overrun.
The Tax Department is always overrun |
in summer. This year the additional |
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