Year: 1861

visited by the friends Of the patients, but by
numbers Of the citizens of the District and sur
rounding country, and strangers from dis.
tance. Either Government ought to repair
these roads, or they ought to be placed under
the jurisdiction of the Levy Court of the couh-
ty Of Washington. To accomplish the latter,
an act of Congress is deemed necessary, as it
is thought there is no other authority compe
tent to make the transfer. The Anacostia
bridge is in very good order.


Pennsylvania avenue has been extensively
repaired during the past season. The amount
Of heavy travel over it is so great, that it is al
most impossible to keep it in good condition
and it is recommended that more durable
pavement be substituted, citizen iron or " Bel
giun," the preference being given to the latter.


A recommendation is made for an appropri.
pration to complete the north front of the Pat
ent Office building with portico. An appro.
priation is needed for the grounds south of the
Presidents House also.


Recommendations are renewed for the erec-
ton OF q new jail and extension of the court
house, the enclosure and improvement of Frank
lin square, Judiciary square, the triangular
spaces on Pennsylvania avenue between Eigh-
teenth and Nineteenth streets west, and the
one on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
between Twentieth and Twenty.frst streets
west, the space formed by the intersection of
| New York and Massachusetts avenues and
| Tenth and Twelfth streets west, aud the one on
the south side of Massachusetts avenue, between
Fifth and Sixth streets west the grading and
gravelling of North Capitol street, Sixteenth
street west Immediately in front of the Pres.
dents House, East Capitol street, Boundary
street, and Delaware avenue, and the east por-
ton Of Pennsylvania avenue q general system
Of sewerage for the promotion of the health
and comfort of the city, the Government to pay
a just proportion Of the same, according to the
value Of its property the purchase of a lot, and
the erection of a house Tor the keeper of Ana.
costa bridge the extension of Sixth street west
through the Mall, and building bridge over
the canal the canal to be cleaned out yearly
from its bottom, and the Government to pay a
fair proportion of the expense, as the sewers
front the Presidents House, Capitol, and all
the other public buildings, empty into it.


The necessity for such improvements is
stated with much force by Commissioner
Blake. In relation to the City Hall, be points
out fact not generally known, that the hal
of the building occupied by the court belongs
to the Government; hence the propriety that
Government should aid in the extension of the
building according to its original plan.


The good service done by the Washington
Iniirmary is acknowledged. OF 1872 Govern
ment patients that were under medical treat
ment during the year, l4O were discharged a
cured or improved, II died, and the remain
ing 35 continued in the lnfrmary under treat
ment.


Eight hundred and two Government pa
tients have been admitted into the Infrmar
during the last four years, and out Of that mum
Der 60 have died, which is fraction owe
seven per cent.


The defects Of the contract system upon Gov
ernment work are pointed out, and the Com
missioner is clearly of opinion that the bes
e course for the Government to adopt is to hav
its work done by its own agents.


Attention is called to the fact that the sec
tons of the city charter requiring certain in
provements to be made on streets and avenues
fronting, or adjoining, or running through tn
public reservations, aud to be paid for out G
the proceeds of the sales of city lots, are il
operative, from the fact that all the Governmer
lots that could be sold have been disposed Q
some time since-Hdr.