The Washington herald., 1906-12-04

opment of that street as a great boulc-
ward; the establishment Of municipal as
phalt plant tor secure independence from
the asphalt monopoly; the child labor law.
the Fairgrounds project; the branch Ii
brary bill: the registration OF nurses bill;
the better registration Of births bill; the
regulation OF so-called assessment life in
surance. and several measures for better
dealing with contagious diseases, includ-
ing the registration Of tuberculosis cases;
also a better provision of inspectors to en-
force the health and sanitary laws.
Fairgrounds and Libraries.
The Commissioners ask for the acqui-
sition Of permanent playground sites.
During the past summer two Of the tem-
porary public Fairgrounds were taken by
the owners for other purposes, one Of
them after it had been fitted up for the
su1amer's work. The Commissioners rec
Ummend an appropriation Of $4,000 for
this purpose for the next fiscal year. to-
Sethar with $4,000 for the preparation Of
sites that may be acquired.
II regard 10 the public library. the
Commissioners say: The demands made
upon the settlement stations plainly show
che need for building the branch libra
ries offered by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie.
Favorable action by the House is recon-
mended on the House bill No. 20055 enact
ed by the Senate on June is, 1906. author
iziHg the erection OF branch library
building at Tacoma Park, with a part of
the money offered by Mr.. Carnegie"
Sidewalks and Sewers.
During the year $4,000 was spent in
laying sidewalks and paving alleys. The
cost of cement sidewalks has increased
from % cents per square yard to S11S.
owing to the enforcement of the eight
hour law and higher cost of cement. and
living expenses. There were set out in
the District last year 1922 shade trees,
making the whole number of street trees
in the city 91,2i3-
The total length OF main and pipe
sewers constructed during the year was
about I5 81 miles. The total length OF
sewers In the District June 90, 1906 was
1876 miles and the total cost of the
sewer system at the close OF the fiscal
| year was S1i.S27.24S
The sewage disposal project is nearing
completion. The substructure of the
sewage pumping station has been COM
/ pleted. and the sUperstructure has been
completed with the exception Of the coal
sewer, which VIII be constructed shortly.
/ 1t is probable that a portion Of the
machinery at this station will be IN oper-
alton by next spring. after which time
/ the work Of connecting the older sewers
with the trunk sewers Of the sewage-dls
I posal system viii be actively prosecuted
/ In order TO adequately provide sewage
! facilities for rapidy-growing suburbs, the
| construction OF several trunk sewers is
| necessary. Among these is a sewer in
1 the valley Of Broad Branch, estimated
/ cost, SIS 500; along the west side OF Rock
/ Creek. $29S. eco: an extension OF the east
/ side inteTsecting sewer to BrOOkland
which VIII serve the subdivisions Of
/ IangdOn, MontelIo. South Brookland, and
/ University Heights. estimated cost. S242.-
\ 600, and q sewer I'm the valley Of Stick
/ foot Branch between Nicholas avenue
and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Building improvements.
/ The value OF buildings constructed
/ during the year. not including buildings
/ Of the United States government and the
/ District Of Columbia, is S11. .7Ss, POI, a de-
/ crease from the value during 1896 OF
! s67o,6i9. The number Of new buildings
was 1.434, a decrease Of ia over the
/ previous year There were 50 new apart
ment houses. a decrease Of IS. Two hun
/ dred and eighty-seven business buildings
/ were erected during the year
Plumbing and Plumbing Inspection.
/ During the year. the plumbing office
made 3o,1S5 inspections. ar increase OF
1 2,S4S over the preceding year.
| The following streets were authorized
/ TO be extended during the fiscal year 1896:
/ NJ street. east Of Blandensburg road; T
4 street, Lincoln road TO Twenty-seconj
street east; Kal0rama road and Prescott
place, joining; Rittenhouse. west OF
4 Broad Branch road: Nineteenth, WoodIey
\ road TO BiItmore streets: and Kalorama
/ road through Little estate
! The appropriation OF $4,000 for the con
/ version Of various inhabited alley into
/ minor streets. is being expended under
1 the direction OF a committee composed OF
major and superintendent OF police, the
] secretary Of the Board OF Charities, ans
4 the surveyor OF the District of Columbia
to convert such alleys into minor streets
New Conduit Demanded.
/ About ia miles OF water mains were
added to the water distribution system
during the year. The total mileage OF
mains IS 4S6.
Thirty-eight new FIRE hydrants, public
/ hydrants, and horse fountains wer,
erected. There are 2.25S fire hydrants. -.
public hydrants, and lO6 horse fountains
now IN use
The Commissioners invite attention tc
the necessity of furnishing an additional
water supply by means Of another conduit
/ from Great Falls to the city. The pres
ent conduit. on account OF its age. is not in
good condition. II any accident should
happen to Il, the water supply OF the Dis
trict would be cut or until repairs could
be made
The ultimate capacity of the conduit /.
about 90O00,oO0 gallons per day, and the
average daily consumption more thar
6S, ,G00000 gallons. During the cold winter
season Of last year, the consumption
reached 106.t 600 gallons for "A few days
resulting in lowering the water level il
the reservoirs five feet.
The commissioners do not desire {,
create unnecessary alarm. but we think
/ new conduit should be built at once.
BUYS CHEVY CHASE TRACT.