Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05


ously included In the list of checks appro-
priated by Watson to his own use, but
now ascertained to have been properly de-
posted. The shortage in the appropriation
for Assessment and permit work. re-
mains the same as formerly reported.
namely, $23,OO7. 49, of which a deficiency
appropriation for $11 ,503.74 is necessary to
reimburse the United States for the one
half OF said sum on account of the appro-
priaton specified.
The total appropriation required, payable
wholly from the revenues of the District
of Columbia, to make good the Watson de-
falcation. Is, therefore, as follows:
On account of the net sscertained short
age in the whole-eost deposit fund.
known as miscellaneous trust fund de-
posits, District of Columbia. $50, 052 81
Of 23,0O7.49 in the appropriation for
assessment and permit work. to
reimburse the United States for one
haii thereoi '...'......--..... 11,503 "a
Total deficiency appropriation required s64 500 85
Disbursements.
The growth Of the District Is well Illus
trated in the increasing labor performed
by the office of the disbursing officer The
sum total placed to the official credit of
that officer during the year. subject to ex-
penditure by his check, was Ss,714915.s2
The total number of checks issued during
the year was 1856 exclusive OF those
drawn on account Of the municipal build
ing commission and the board of control of
Rock Creek Park. The excellent admin
istratlon of the office was demonstrated by
the fact that not one of these checks mis-
carried throughout the year. The total
actual cash handled by the disbursing Of
fee and paid out to the officers and en-
ployes of the District, to the laborers and
mechanics employed on the public works,
and to the witnesses and jurors in the Po-
lice Court, coroners' jurors and witnesses
physicians and witnesses in lunacy inouisi-
lions and other payments of a miscellaneous
character amounted to $1,3SS .6S. The
disbursement of this sum involved the prep
aration and payment Of cash in envelopes
to over 5000 persons twice q month, which,
with miscellaneous payments made over the
counter, aggregated about 100000 separate
payments for the year.
The volume Of work dispatched by the
Office during the past fiscal year showed
marked increase over that of the preceding
fiscal year. The disbursements made by
the d1sbursing officer during the fiscal year
1900 exceeded those made in the fiscal year
1904 by $701 ,223. 1S. This increase was due
In large part to the fact that certain ap-
preparations made for a number of char
been expended by the fiscal officers of such
institutions were, during 1905, expended by
check Of the disbursing officer. A further
cause was by reason of the many large
payments made in connection with projects
Of public Improvement nearing completion
Under the law the duty of stating and
rendering monthly to the accounting off,
GERS of the Treasury Department the ac-
counts relating to expenditures by the dis
bursting officer devolves upon the auditor of
the District of Columbia. l. is gratifying
to report that in the final review and ex-
animal ton by the Treasury officials the said
accounts. covering over Sc, 1000 900 in ex-
penditures. and representing about 10000
individual items of payment, We're settled
without any material differences.
Anacostia River Improvement.
The Commissioners hope that Congress
will provide at the coming session for the
general improvement Of Anacostia River
so as to do away with the insanitary and
ugly flats in the interest of the health and
beauty Of the national capital, and provide
additional public wharves and commercial
facilities. The project for the Improvement
of the Anacostia River below the Navy
Yard bridge, the estimated cost of which
was S1,21S,525, has been carried on by the
Wsr Department under the appropriation
of COO made in the river and harbor act
approved June Is, 1902.
The Chief of Engineers of the United
States Army in his annual report for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1905. states that
S149 300 80 has been expended, but as a re-
suit
"a channel 20 feet deep at mean low tide,
and at least 300 feet wide Except at Buzz
zard Point. where the width Is about 240
feet, has been secured for distance of
9,130 feet upstream from the mouth Of the
Anacostia up to the lower limits of the
navy-yard. Incidental to the Improvement
of the channel about ITO acres Of flats have
been filed by the deposit of excavated ma
terial to an average height of feet above
low tide. Harbor lines have been establish
ed up to the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge"
The Commissioners are informed that at
the coming session of Congress the Attor-
~ We vii nf
the lands embraced in the flats OF the Ana
costa River from its mouth to the boundary
line Of the District of Columbia, and tho
Secretary OF War will submit a survey and
outline map Of land owned by the United
States within that territory, under the direc-
ton for that purpose given them by Con-
gress in the act approved July /. 1902.
Thereupon 1t Is hoped that Congress may
take steps to remedy the conditions which
are so dangerous to health and SO detrt-
mental to the interests OF the national cap
ital.
Veterinary Work.
The veterinarian reports that he has made
1904 professional visits to all departments
In the District; 10 visits outside Of the Dis
trict for the purpose of examining horses
offered for sale for use in the several de-
partments of the District government
Sixtynine horses We're certified for pur-
chase and 8S condemned as .ntit for the
were destroyed and died. The District
owns 42S horses. of which SO were In the
hospital during the year for total num-
Der of five hundred and ninety-three days.
One of the 80 cows owned by the District
died. The District owns 124 hogs and pigs.
The Street Cleaning Department.
Warner Stutler, superintendent of the
| STRENGTHENING department since 1897, re-
signed on December 20. 1904, after pro-
| tracted trial. He was succeeded on January
| 10. 1905, by Harrison Stidham, an asso-
ciate member of the American Society OF
| Civil Engineers and q former assistant OF
Colonel Waring IN the New York depart
| ment of street cleaning. Business methods,
| higher standards, and stricter discipline
have been instituted by Mr.. Stidham, and
| appreciable Improvement Is noted In many
branches OF this important work. Five In
spectors resisned-one under computation
and one was dismissed. The appointees &c
| the vacancies thus created have measur-
| ably bettered the morale
Much Of the desired improvement in the
work OF the department. must wait upoS