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

eAnounteo $SsA2t SAYss1ss $500
for his services. s2.6o0sB. Il was rscom-
mended by the ssaler that the immediate
supervision OF this Official be tfans1efreo 20
the inspector Of buildings, AZ his duties
are connected with those Of that once. The
transfer has been made. :,
The sealer invites attention to the small
amount Of revenue received for the exciu-
District for sale and shipment on the wharf
at Eleventh street, part OF which oniy Is
used for this purpose The law specincaaIy
points out the dock which shall be used los
this purpose and as that dock Is leased by
the District for other purposes also there Is
no chance for competition, and the lessee
of the dock can secure the privileges OF lhe
fish wharf at his own price. 1t ID recon-
mended that the additional privileges car
ried with the Eleventh street wharf be con-
sidered and a larger rental for the same be
required. This will be done.
There were S1,24Oh cords OF wood IN
spected; fees amounted to $2,81163; ex-
penses. 1886. IS: net fees retained by the In
spectors and measures Of wood for their
services, 81, 426.0S. A wharf for the storage
Of wood was recently established at the 1901
q great convenience to the dealers In that
section. 1t Is estimated that the revenue
from this source will amount to $1,0oO 10
s.. 200 per annum.
Der inspected and passed as merchantabie
and 1888 square feet condemned: 1ees
collected. s4.551: expenses. 81 7S2; net
fees retained for services. $3.O13.oo.
Receipts of the offices under the super
vision of the sealer amounted to $2O, 3!3 !;
expenses S13 1924 net revenue, $I,2o 40;
fees collected by inspectors and retained as
their compensation. 5000. 81: total colec-
lions from all sources, $3oolSot.
The Bathing Beach.
The conditions at the bathing beach de-
mand Immediate improvement. Although
more than 40. 600 persons availed themselves
during the past year of the privileges af-
forded at the beach, the fact remains that
the accommodations are not only totally In
adequate. but Of the most primitive chaI-
acter The buildings are old and dilapi-
dated and ought to be replaced by a new
structure, not only for the convenience ana
comfort of the patrons OF the beach, Out
also because the picture which they now
present when viewed from the speedway Is
discreditabte to the District government.
The Commissioners have, therefore, esti-
mated for an appropriation OF $loooo 70
provide an adequate structure equippeo
with 1000 lockers, plans for which have al
ready been prepared. and earnestly hope
that 1t may be allowed.
Elimination Of Grade Crossings and
Union Station.
Work on these projects. since the date OF
the last annual report, has progressed as
follows:
On the line of the Philadelphia. Baltimore
and Washington Railroad Company's north
ern passenger connection, between Montana
avenue and Magruder Station. in Maryland,
the grading of the roadbed Is nearly com,
pleted, and the greater part OF IL prepared
for the reception of tracks.
The bridge across the Anacosia River,
near the Reform School grounds, is en-
tirely completed and ready for the tracks.
The masonry work on the bridge over and
aross the Bladensburg road, at the Junction
with Queens Chapel road, Is completed ana
ready for the steel, which it Is expected Will
be delivered in the coming fall This part
of the work is so well along that Its entire
completion should be only matter or three
or four months.
Within the territory to be occupied by the
wards and shops between Montana avenue
and Florida avenue, about 10 per cent or
the grading is completed, but no work mas
been done on the construction or tracks OF
the several buildings intended in this 10
cality, This grading should be completed
by the spring OF 1906.
Work on the foundations of the New york
avenue highway bridge has been COM
menced, as has also the reconstruction VI
the Rhode Island avenue railroad bridge.
Within the city limits, between Florida
and Massachusetts avenues, the greater
norton of the masonry work on the vtaduct
is completed, and some steel on the bridges
over the depressed streets Is in place.
Work on the express building, at the
northwest corner of Second and H streets
NE, and on the power house at First and
/ streets has been commenced, although on
the latter building very little has been thus
far accomplished, owing to unexpected and
unsatisfactory developments in the sustain
ing power of the soil, requiring a radical
revisement of the foundation plans.
Work on the Union Station building has
progressed steadily; the foundauo are
nearly all completed; work on the super
structure has commenced; part of the steel
framing has been erected, and portion or
fine granite and brickwork Is In place.
II will be probably two years before the
building will be in condition for occupancy.
possibly two years and half. unless
pushed more than in the past.
On the First street tunnel work is being
done with good progress. but 1t will be from
twelve to eighteen months before the work
will be completed.
Considerable subsoil water has been en-
countered, but otherwise the conditions af-
fecting the progress or the work nave been
very favorable.
Some slight settlements In the surface
over the line of the tunnel are noticeable,
due Il is believed, more to the removal of
ground water and dependent causes than to
the settlements in the tunnel construction,
although there are some slight settlements
In the timbering of the tunnel work. This
work Is being done under careful inspection
and in a thorough manner.
The foundations and masonry work of the
Second street southwest, at the south ap-
proach to the tunnel are nearly completed,
and the steel work Is expected to be erect
ed this coming fall.
The Virginia avenue tunnel Is completed
and the connection with it and the old tun-
mel at Eighth street and Virginia avenue
Sc is expected to be accomplished before
the end Of the calendar year.
Masonry construction on the Virginia
avenue elevated work from South Capitol
to Four-and-a-half streets Is in progress
with fair prospects that the bridges over
South Capitol street, Delaware avenue
First. Second and Third streets will be
completed and in use for at least two
tracks before the beginning OF winter
A portion of the bridge over Water street
near Fourteenth street SW. is in use and
it is the intention to complete the entire
structure by December 1, 1908.
Progress on the work is generally good
on the basis of the five years allowed by
Congress.
The revisement of street grades and at
tendant work incidental to the terminal
construction is progressing steadily, and
the work of restoration of surface condI-
lions Is being undertaken as rapidly as
controlling conditions will permit 1t Is ex-
pected that by the beginning of winter III
K, L. and NJ streets and Florida avenue
passing beneath the viaduct, will have been
repaved to the new grades
~ On the streets changed in grade and
newly created under the Union Station act
in the vicinity of the plaza considerable
progress has been made on the filling work
and the first of the year should see the
greater portion of 1t completed.