Year: 1874




nections with my house-sewer, which had been
connected with the one which had already been
paid for by the lot, and which entered into the
price of my land, and the gas and water con-
nections, were made by the Board of Public
Works. I did not hear anything more about
that. But was left the whole winter long, as
were oil the people on that road, with the side
walks which we had paid for ourselves, all
torn up sud carried OFF, and this vast gulf OF
earth sliding down there all the.while. There
were no steps 20 get up and down, until either
got somebody to go and put up some wooden
steps or the board did. Between Fourteenth
street and the pavement that had already been
put down In Massachusetts, avenue of the road
way of asphalt, there was LEFT space unpayed
Of about 80 feet, should think, that had been
dug out and already for the pavement, there
being the wood that was around the circle and
the asphalt, which went west In Massachu-
setts arenue, with this impossible hole of 80
feet between.


demonstrated and demonstrated, and begged
and begged, until at last, toward the emo Of the
winter, somebody came and built Q plank
bridge-that Is what it was exactly-a plank
bridge across that gulf so that people who
lived in that row, which was composed of
seven brick houses and q number of wooden
ones, were unable to get across from Four
teenth street to the carriages into Massachu-





spring of 1873, and then I was told by some
body-I did not know it before-that the peo-
pie who were damaged by these so-called i'm
provements could have redress by petitioning
the Board of Public Works that the Legisla-
tive Assembly Of this District had In some way
the power todo justice to people who were
injured. had, in the meantime, as you may
naturally suppose, examined the act of Con-
gress which created this institute-Board of
Public Works-and had looked into their pow
ers in respect to improvements of the streets,
and had fonnd that the thirty-seventh section
of the act, i think It Is, provided that they
might assess the adjoining properties specially
benefited by these Improvements, to an extent
not exceeding one sixth of each side Of the
street. L.-z j.


Mr.. Stewart One third of the wholei


The Witness. Yes. Toward the improve
ment, and collect the assessments as all other
taxes were collected In such manner. They
might assess In such manner as should be pre-
seribed by law; think that was It. Having
examined that subject, I became thoroughly
satisfied that the whole performance Was lille
gal, and that might resist 1t with success.


. But did not see bow could have the street
restored 10 what it had been, beautiful and
convenient for the whole block aud for every
body. I did not see how could have ID I'm
ished unless did It myself, which would cost
more than was able to expend for that pur-
pose. Therefore my only course seemed to be
to get such damages as could, and to resist
any invasion Of my property by undertaking to
put assessments upon It, which was satisfied
would be Illegal In themselves, and which, II
legal In point Of form, would have no founds-
tion In merit TO stand upon, because :he dam
aye would be more than ffty times what any
Just assessment for the real amount Of labor
oOne in putting the sjFse! in QEasr on tes new