The Washington times., 1905-12-31
Many Public improvements
of Lasting Character.
NO SERIOUS EPlDEMICS
Great Progress Has Marked the Work
on the New Union
blE Station.

this twelve-m month period many import
ant municipal improvements have been
projected and completed. and that many
notable changes have been recorded.
OF the public improvements OF last
ing good to the District. perhaps the
most important event was the compile
tion of the new filtration plant. giving
the people of the city what is perhaps
one of the best water supplies in the
country, the completion of the final
arch of the new Connecticut avenue
bridge over Rock Creek. the new high
way bridge across the Potomac river to
replace the old Long bridge. now al
most completed. and the new Police
Court building. which. when completed
will supply long felt need.
Work on the new municipal building
was commenced on June IL. 1904. ano
has progressed satisfactorily, and much
of the atone and structural work up to
the second floor level has been finished.
The new sewage pumping station has
been pressed with vigor. and work has
already been started to complete the big
conduits, which have their outlet al
Shepherds Point, on the Potomac
Work on New Station.
Great progress has marked the work
on the new Union Station. Already the
steel framework and some Of the stone
work has been erected, and the grading
of the streets to provide for the ap-
proach and the plaza is nearing COM
pletion- The boring OF the tunnels un-
der Virginia avenue has been finished,
and that under Capitol Hill along the
line OF First street win soon be through
Z Among the notable e-e:its of the year
were the reappointment Of Commissioners
Henry L. West TO serve q second term
and the retention of Commissioner John
Biddle as Engineer Commissioner be-
cause of the many important municipal
improvements now under way.
The most important change in the per-
sonnel of the District service was the
appointment of Harrison Stidham as
Superintendent of Street Cleaning. who,
after exactly one year in ctfice, viii re-
tire on January 15, 1906.
Another appointment was that of NJ. C.
Hargrove to succeed Maj. r. D. Simms
as District property clerk. This appoint
ment was made on September a, when
Major Simms resigned to become treas
urer of the Capital Traction Company.
The death of Andrew b. DuvaIl, which
occurred while he was returning to this
country from Europe, where he had gone
to renew his health. advanced Assistant
Corporation Counsel z. H. Thomas to
that important office. Henry p. Blair
succeeded Mr.. Thomas as assistant cor
poration counsel
After the death of Major Henry b.
LOCKER. William r. Richards, assistant
engineer in charge OF street extensions.
was appointed TO the Office of District
Surveyor.
Taking the census by the Police Dc
partment was one of the interesting ac-
eomplishments of the year. Up to
April l, the count showed the District s
population to be 322,445, with prospects
for big increase.
Liquor Question.
Several phases of the liquor question
were settled during the year. the most
important of which, the "growler,' the
Excise Board decided 10 put up TO the
people themselves. in deciding that the
license of any barroom Objectionable to
neighborhood would be denied.
The question of wasting the city's
water supply, with the possible result
of causing a water famine, was given
wide discussion. Under the present con-
diIions. Superintendent w. A. Macfar'
land OF the Water Department. recent
1y maintained. a serious water famine
was not improbable because of the ex-
t-avagant waste during the cold months
An earnest protest against the pollutio-
OF the upper waters of the Potomac
river was made during the year, and q
plan 10 secure favorable action by Con
gress looking to cure these evils by CO.
operation with the authorities of Mary
land and Virginia is now under way
st Of no
law and tsse snow law were gi@5n EUR
ing the twelve months Spirited con-
troversy arose over the prosecution Of
the snow law. and it was finally de-
clared unconstitutional by the Distric
Court of Appeals. Although the neces.
sity of law for the removal of snow
and ice has been urged by the Commits.
sioners. the District is at present with.
out the means of making such prosecu
tions legal.
No Serious Epidemic.
No serious epidemic Of sickness ap
peared during the year. Except for Z
number OF scattering cases of small
pox. typhoid fever. diphtheria. and scar
let fever. the District bill of health Il
comparatively free from contagious dis
cases
Additional interest and impetus ha:
been given the proposition to construct
an auditorium building in this city Tn,
movement took concrete shape on De
cember %. when at a largely ATTENDED
and enthusiastic mass meeting at the Co
Iumbia Theater 1t was decided TO asl
Congress to incorporate the Washington
Auditorium Association.
BY unanimous action OF the Commits
sioners radical changes were made II
the building regulations, which. unde
the present rule. forbid the erection 0
any building not providing for walls a
least thirteen inches in thickness.
The closing Of the year marked
number OF destructive fires. but tn,
prompt service Of the fire depa -tmen
made II evident that the city was wei
protected in this respect
OUCH!
Her brilliancy is contagious."