Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-01

wilson was succeeded as secretary to
commissioner West by Ralph B. Pratt.
"A. "A. wilson. after long illness. died
Two months ago and was succeeded by
LOUIS Z. wilson. and the latter was sue
ceeoed by Benjamin F. Adams. John Gar
rison last summer resigned as auditor,
ana Aionzo Tweedale. deputy auditor. was
promoted to succeed him. and Daniel Dom
auditor: G. B. Coleman, superintendent
OF repairs. died during the year and Henry
storey succeeded him. A. Y -Lakenan,
LOT many years chief clerk Of the en-
s.neer department, died in August. and
Daniel +. Garges, secretary to the Engi-
neer Commissioner was promoted 10 s,,c
ceed him. Col. John Biddle. after six
years service as Engineer Commissioner.
vas relieved last May and Capt. Jay J.
.molro", assistant engineer commissioner,
capt; Edward Markham was assigned as
ASSISTANT engineer commissioner,
me year was busy one for the Com
sH,sslohers n the matter Of legislation
fecting the District. were either Forwarded
ox mem to Congress for action or else
reierred by Congress to them for their
opinions What is looked upon by them
as .he most important bills passed last
year provided for the widening Of Rla :
densburg road from +. street to tho his.
trict hne: an appropriation for drawing
plans and making survey for the pro-
posed Improvement of the Rock Creek
Sailey from Massa chusetts avenue to the
mouth or Rock creek; a 10000 addition
to the Eastern market: Compelling the To-
cal gas companies to make sworn annua,
reports 10 Congress; an appropriation for
.he conjunction Of a bridge on Monroe
slreet, Brookland. to eliminate the rail-
road grade crossing; an appropriation for
constructing a parkway entrance TO Rock
1reeK fark along the valley of Pinev
Branch from 10th street to the park: an
appropriation of $259,OOO for irnptov;nr
me me .ioai reservoir by dredging and bridg-
Nth street: for the. appointment Of
school commission with a view of treat
ing questions for the consolidation and
retirement Of the physical conditions OF
tin, local schoolhouses: for an appropria-
tlon for the creation Of three public niav.
grounds: for the installation Of water
meters IN all private residences. to be
paid FOR out Of the general funds of the
water department. and amending the Are
of 6ape h law; exempting so-called fireproof
ounce buildings from the provisions Of the
Jaw which was passed the preceding wear
considerable construction and engineer.
ing Work was carried on under the s,1ner
VISION or the Commissioners the most i'm
tso ,dnt, possibly, aside from the compile
tion OF the handsome new Connecticut
avenue bridge. being the work of resur-
facing and regarding Of Pennsylvania ave
uue. rms work cost the District $500 600.
the Capital Traction Company, S85 600.
ana me ne potomac Electric Power Com
The new District building is nearing
completion and the Commissioners expect
10 occupy the structure July l next.
special commission was appointed by the
n ;shin to estimate the cost Of fur
nlsnlng and equipping this building The
commission has reported that it wifi cost
approximately $4,000
ABOUT $39OOOO was spent during the year
Ior paving new streets and repairing and
repaving old ones and $50 OO, in renajr
ing and constructing county roads. The
new bridge over the Anacostia river is
progressing satisfactorily and plans have
Deen made for concrete steel bridge
over the Baltimore and Ohio tracks at
the south approach to the bridge The
cost OF the latter bridge will be borne by
the railroad company
The amount expended in laying side
Walks and in paving alleys was about
sI2V'ooo. The number Of trees set out dur
ing the year by the parking department
of the District was 2.574. and the number
or trees removed from the street ILL
leaving the total number Of trees now
planted on streets and avenues, o. 7O8
The total length Of main and pipe sewers
constructed during the year was about
III miles. The sewage disposal project
is practically completed. with the excep-
ton OF the dykes proposed along the low
portions Of the city to prevent flooding in
eAAhCo VI ii6u wafer. lie sum OF
appropriated for the extension OF the
suburban sewer service system has per-
mitted the construction Of a large num-
her of service sewers in the outlying parts
of the District.
The building department of the District
experienced busy year. The estimated
value of building work. not including
OF the United States government.
was 81 I14.472. which was an increase
over the preceding year OF $925,271. The
number of building permits issued was
9.662 There are estimated to be $1,000
brick dwellings and %, 200 frame buildings
in the District at the present time
The following municipal buildings were
constructed during the year: An
thony Hyde School. F. l.. Cardozo School,
Police Court. Home for the Aged and In
firm. Industrial Home School, and work
house at Washington Asylum Grounds,
the total cost Of which was 1851. 694.
During the year twenty-five street extern
and condemnation proceedings have been
started in all OF them. No new street
railway measures were enacted last year.
The Commissioners considered the I'M
provement of the river front. the plans
for which have been prepared by a special
committee. of which Daniel E. 0arges.
chief clerk of the engineer department, is
chairman. The Commissioners announced
several weeks ago that they will submit
to the present Congress a special report
About seventeen miles of water mains were
added to the water distribution system
during the year.
The Commissioners were unsuccessful in
their efforts to bring about the transfer Of
the Washington aqueduct and filtration
plant from the War Department to the
Commissioners. which transfer they have
been aiming at for several years. They
announced they will repeat the effort.
The sum Of $4,000 was expended in
improving the condition Of Rock Creek
Park and keeping it in good order. The
Rock Creek Park commission published
few weeks ago the first detailed report
since it's creation, and many important
recommendations concerning the future
treatment of the park were made. Early
last spring the Commissioners discussed
the probability Of establishing public
golf course and a big public clubhouse or
have thus far only completed the golf
course. 1t will be opened to the public
in the spring.
A number OF important and largely-at-
tended public hearings were held by the
Commissioners at the District building
during the year. Possibly the most I'M
portant were: These on the "broad-tire
BILL" requiring all wagons carrying loads
Of more than four tons to have tires four
and the Madden gas BILL which provided
cheaper gas. All failed Of enactment.
The bill providing universal or reciprocal
transfers by the local street railway COM
panies was also the subject OF hearings.
Upon complaints furnished them that
the tenants OF buildings on Louisiana ave-
nue. between 9th and 10th streets north
west were subletting the pavements In
front of their respective places for mer-
h,,as k,4 N<swrrV iH ma ra