The Washington herald., 1907-09-26
DISTRICTNEEDS MANY
Commissioners Begin Pre-
pairing Budget Next Week.
WILL EXAMINE LAND TITLES
Big sum 10 BE asked as Preliminary
10 Improvement OF Anacostia.
More Parks to Be Provided For.
New ArmOry Necessity-WOuld
Eliminate Grade Crossings.

Owing to the fact that next week they
begin the preparations Of their annual
/ estimates. which. under the law, must oe
ready by October 15, the Commissioners
announced yesterday that they will make
no further public engagements until the
completion OF this work
Among the many important subjects to
De brought TO the attention OF Congress
at the coming session is the Improvement
OF the Anacosua basin, AS Congress will
make no appropriation for this improve
ment until the question OF land titles is
settled, the Commissioners will ask for
an appropriation Of $l0.000 for a thorough
examination OF all claims of private titles
by an expert.
what WIZ Be Asked.
The estimates viii include items for the
proposed survey Of an additional con
duit line from Great Fails; the extension
of suburban sewers; the construction of a
municipal hospital on Brlghtwood avenue;
separate high pressure fire protection
water mains; the preservation of Rock
Creek valley as a park. provisions for
additional parks and public Fairgrounds,
as well as additional school. fire, and po-
!'liee buildings; the improvement Of the
water front, a building for a juvenile
court, 20 serve also as a house Of deten-
ton; a home for the feeble minded. and
permanent provisions for the temporary
treatment OF inebriates and the insane.
1T is to be hoped" said Commissioner
Maciarlaud yesterday that Congress
will also provide an armory for our na-
tional guard. and that it will buy as
much as possible Of the land on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue ana
begin the erection Of buildings for the
departments OF State, Commerce and La
Dor. Justice, and other bureaus needing
additional accommodations.
These Needs Are Urgent,
The most urgent appropriations need
ed by the officials OF the Engineer De-
partment are for the elimination of grade
crossings and the laying Of sidewalks.
paving streets, paving and otherwise
improving county roads, and the con
structlon Of bridges. Appropriations will
also be asked for suburban sewers, for
the operation of the sewage pumping
station, for continuing work on outlying
suburban trunk sewers. and for the con
structon Of other trunk sewers neces-
sary TO provide for the suburban
service"
IN the departments under my immedi-
ate jurisdiction, said Commissioner West,
"one OF the most important estimates
viii be for an Increase from afty 10 sew
enty-hve men in the police department
It viii be remembered that Mr.. REYNOLDS.
in his report 90 the President on the con-
ditlons IN the District Of Columbia. sug-
gested that az ieast one hundred addi-
tional men We're needed in view OF the
large amount Of territory which has TO
be protected We hope Congress will
grant an increase of at least fifty men.
and, if this IS done the suburban dis
tricts viii be much more and thoroughly
patToIed and protected than at present.
It is also essential that the old cells in
the station houses should be replaced b.
modern steel cages; while the erection Of
new station house in the Anacostia dis
trict is also much needed
More Money for street Cleaning.
THE estimates for cleaning alleys will
also be increased. Within the past year
have instituted the work OF cleaning al
leys in the heart of the city twice a week.
Instead of once a week. as formerly. and
We hope that Congress viii provide SUM-
cient money to extend this service
throughout the city.
There are other minor practical mat
teIs which will be brought 10 the atten-
ton Of Congress. with the view Of i'm
proving conditions here The general
schedule as outlined by Commissioner
Macfarland presents many features
worthy OF consideration. but I am sure
IL Will be the policy Of the Commission
ers to scrutnize every item very careful
ly and restrict the estimates to those
matters Of absolute necessity. in order
that the expenditures may be kept with
in a reasonable limit, and the debt OF the
District, which has increased by several
millions during the last few years. shall
not be augmented -