Evening star., 1924-12-01
Continued from First Page.)

these old tractor engines to l2 miles
an hour, which renders them useless
in the early stages Of a big fire
The outstanding recommendation
included by the Health Department is
for the erection OF municipal hos
pital building for contagious diseases
Only two of the private hospitals in
the District are equipped 10 take
minor contagious disease cases under
contract with the Health Department.
The Board OF Charities takes oppor-
tunity In the COMMISSIONER rerort
to renew its Endorsement of the
pending bill to create a department
of public welfare in the District Gov
ernment. The board also recon-
mends sale Of the existing Industrial
Home School. the equipping Of
and the erection Of a small modern
institution for the care of white de-
linquent children.
Street Lighting Scored.
The existing system of street lights
is characterized by the commission
ers as being distinctly inadequate"
A comprehensive plan has been map
ped out for the city-wide improve
ment OF street illumination, which
will be applied as rapidly as funds
are appropriated by Congress.
The permanent development and
Improvement of the waterfront along
Washington Channel between l4th
street southwest and the Washing
ton Barricks is project which
should be given very serious consid-
Grafton, the Commissioners tell Con-
gresS.
In srImnarizine the condition op
the sewage disposal system, the Com
missioners report that the sanitary
engineer has worked out a five-year
construction program designed to
bring the sewer system OF the city
up to date by 1929. The execution of
this plan would require an annual
appropriation of s1,S00,00o. In this
connection 1t is pointed out that the
construction appropriations for the
fiscal year 1925 are but sS05,00O.
The report goes further and states
that the time cannot be far distant
when some preliminary treatment
must be given the sewage of Wash
ington. rather than discharge it, as
at present. in its raw state into the
Potomac River"
Report of Auditor.
The report includes a summary of
receipts and expenditures of the city
for the last fiscal year as compiled
by Auditor Daniel ]. Donovan, as
follows:
THE cash receipts of the District of
Columbia for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1924, amounted to 4.46S, l5S.24,
made up as follows: Revenue of the
District Of Columbia from taxes and
miscellaneous sources, sl5.337. 700.61;
amount paid by the United States on
account of Its proportion Of appropria-
tions. s9.130,457.S3.
THE collections from taxes on real
estate for the fiscal year 1924 amounted
to s9.12s, 765; collections from taxes on
personal property. including taxes on
gross earnings and receipts OF public
utilities, banks and building assocla-
tions, and on gross receipts OF street
railway companies. s2,oso'ols..9' ana
collections from taxes on Intangible
property, s1.S0S,1 ,174.43. Collections from
miscellaneous sources, amounting TO
s1.710,14239. made up the balance OF the
Districts revenue.
..The sum Of s345, 900 was transferred
from the revenues of the District OF
Columbia to meet the payment OF police
mems and firemep's pensions during the
fiscal year 1924.
1.-The gross revenue collections OF the
District for 1924, therefore, amounted
to s15,6s2. .700.6l.
."The cash expenditures for the fiscal
wear 1924 from appropriations amounted
TO s23, ,ee0. .4ss.1S, classified as follows:
GENERAL government, 1927 ,6oS.89;
nrotection of life and property, s4.oZo,-
56e.1; health and sanitation, s1'ooi'-
403.53: highways, S2,442, ,o53.s4; charities
and corrections, $2,s27, 1888 education'
s.. .es2. 1925; recreation, sZ,44z,ooo.st'
s272,S1s.lI; pupllc-SerFiee
sl.2s1, ,327.72.
District's Debt Free.
The auditors statement shows the
district of Columbia is now free OF
dsht the 5O-year life of the bona
is.ue having expired August l. 1874.
While some of the bonds may be
s,ill outstanding, the sinking fund
assets are available in the treasury
to retire them.
The steady growth being enjoyed
BY Washington Is refected IN .he
report of Assessor Richards, whlcn
shows that approximately s4O,0O0,o0O
~ new nroperty was added to the
assessment books during the last MS
"a, wear The summary of real estate
assessments follows:
assessed value of land. s354,21l,-
GA; assessed value of improvements,
or a total assessment VI
real estate in the District OF Colum-
hia for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1924. of s767,056,555. Against this
assessment a rate of s1.20 per hum
dred dollars was levied, making
tax of $9.204,67S.6e.
For the previous year the assess
ment amounted to s723,1s9,26S. which,
at q rate of $3.50 per hundred dollars,
yielded a tax of s9,401 ,590.48.
Yearly Additions Required.
''The assessment Of new buildings |
amounted to about s40,218,lO0 and
additions to s2,51o.soo. and gas mains. |
conduits, etc, to $661,S00, making a
total of $43,3S0.s0o. from which Is to
be taken property removed or de-
s1.15s,s00, and exempt property
amounting to s2,475.400, leaving a
net amount of s3s,74S,6Oo.
THE law requires that there shall
be added to the assessment list each
year certain amounts representing
the value Of structures or additions
that have been erected or that are
under roof by July 1 of each year.
The past year is the most strenuous
one in the history of District of Co
lumbia assessments, inasmuch as ap-
$4o,0Oo,00o have been
added to the assessment roll
~The work has necessitated the in
spection OF about 10000 places or
pieces of property, and notices have ,
been sent out to each owner regard
ing the new assessment amounts.
the assessment totals over
s43 100. 900, but out of this is to be
taken certain amounts for destroyed
b,,ildyp0S apd for exemptions.