Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03

| ceived at a much reduced figure than
those submitted under the analysis basis
and contracts were entered into under
1 this form.
Inquests and Autopsies. -
| The most important work Of the coroner
during the past year was the inquest held
over the victims of the wreck at Terra
Gotta, December 3d. 1906. on the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, which was con.
Quoted in an excellent manner. AS a re.
suit of that inquest prosecutions followed
| and measures were taken to prevent a
repetition of such an accident The Com
missioneEs earnestly hope that the legis-
| lation that is to be recommended by the
Interstate commerce commission to safe.
guard the lives Of persons carried by the
railroads. as result of this and other
similar accidents, may be adopted by Con-
gress.
The coroner reports that during the
year ending June 3d. 1907 the number of
natural deaths was 5lT: violent deaths
~; accidental poisoning cases. IL: sui
cides, a.; homicides committed in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, %; homicides where
the onense was not committed in the Dis
| trict OF Columbia but where the injur I'd
persons died here. 4: legal executions. .:
autopsies in United States cases. 2S; au-
topses in District cases, 45: inaussts 63;
pooies received at morgue, 526; still
| "
The Appearance of the Streets.
The Commissioners have incorporated in
their estimates an increase of $4,000 in
| order that the work of cleaning the
streets may be accomplished with more
thoroughness in the future than has been
| possible In the past. Under the present
system some streets are swept daily and
others three times week An estimate
| OF the amount necessary to put every
street upon the daily schedule shows that
| at least $4,000 additional would have to
| De provided. If one-half of this sum
which the Commissioners have asked for
be provided. it will enable them to add
very largely to the area which is swept
daily. and thus improve in marked de-
gree the appearance of the streets 1t Is
especially important that provision be
| made for daily sweeping in the fall of the
year. when the leaves from the thousands
OF trees litter the public highways and
create an impression Of uncleaniness.
The Commissioners have also requested
that the limit of cost for hand cleaning
be increased to 81 cents in order that the
average surface area allotted to each
cleaner may be reduced. and also to NEE t
the increased cost of disposing of the
sweepings. owing to the fact that the
dumps to which these sweepings are
hauled are becoming more and more dis
tant from the center OF the city. Not only
does the accumulation OF leaves render
the problem of cleaning the streets one
of some magnitude. but also considerable
expense Is incurred In keeping the streets
free from waste paper. During the 2S1
days upon which the Misunderstanding force
was employed during the last fiscal year.
total of IS. 292 large sacks OF paper was
gathered from the streets and sidewalks
within the Misunderstanding territory alone
an average OF over 30 sacks per working
day. An average of two hours per day is
occupied by each hand cleaner in keeping
his section free from waste paper and
other litter IN the streets.
Cleaning Public Alleys.
The Commissioners have asked Congress
for an additional appropriation to provide
for the cleaning of all public alleys at
least twice week. Public alleys in the
central section of the city. bounded by
Florida avenue. the Mall and LIST street
east and 18th street west, are now SUBJ
ject to this twfce-a-week cleaning process,
system which was inaugurated in No
yember, 1906, and which has been attend
ed with gratifying results. There is no
phase of municipal cleanliness which is
SO important as keeping the alleys In a
sanitary and wholesome condition. and it
is sincerely to be hoped that Congress
will grant the additional amount, required,
especially as the work cannot be done
for less than $4,000. -
The general demand for sprinkled
streets leo to the employment of an unu-
sually large number Of sprinklers during
the year. Inasmuch as much of the dis
comfort due to the dust in the atmosphere
is occasioned by the rapid transit of
street cars, the Commissioners renew their
suggestion that the street railway COM
panies should, at their own expense,
sprinkle the area included within their
tracks.
Weights and Measures and Markets.
The office of sealer of weights ana
measures Is not only self-sustaining. but
source Of revenue to the District. In
addition to the inspection of all scales,
weights and measures In use in the Uis-
trict, the sealer has immediate supervis-
ion Of the District market houses (East-
ern, Western and Georgetown), and
wholesale producers and the inspection
OF lumber. wood and flour and tie public
hay scales.
The receipts from the inspection of
scales. weights and measures amounted
to 42.4O, an increase of $345.59 over
the receipts for 1905. The inspections
numbered q .261, an increase Of 1885.
There were condemned and destroyed
Ill spring balance scales, "a counter
scales, 136 weights, AZ liquid measures,
1876 dry measures and yard measures.
Scales condemned for repair numbered
207. One hundred and twenty-nine cases
were presented to the Police Court for
prosecution for violation Of the weights
and measures law. an increase of Is over
the preceding year, anu fines to the
amount of $1,O73 were imposed, an in
crease Of s344 over the fires for the year
before.
The Eastern and Western markets have
been occupied to their capacity and their
condition is very satisfactory. An ap-
preparation of 100000 for an addition to
the Eastern market became available
July ]. 1867 rh~ p'o'e for to Now -
IRE are nearing completion and the buildl
ing will be nIc.eln d.. ANITA. II. g.. y
respect. Certain improvements in the
other market buildings are in comtempla-
ton.
The receipts from the farmers street
markets amounted to S6.033.30, an in
crease of S1,316.s0 over last years re-
ceipts and S., 434 SO over the amount for
1905. and a greater increase for 1908 is
anticipated.
The number of square feet of lumber
inspected and passed as merchantabL
was 9,693 6S4,~and there were 7,521 feet
condemned. Fees collected amounted to
SOCIAL, expenses were $1.O15.25 and net
fees retained for services $l99S.S6. The
cords of wood inspected numbered DO
3281s: fees amounted to S1.S2953: ex
penses. $377.25. and net fees retained for
services. 81, 1925
The -four inspector inspected 90. 45S bar
rels of flour and fees received We're
$2026S. A bill amending the present law
relative to flour was present ID to Con
Irz