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 Copy 1 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 THE MA YOK 
 
 CITY OF WASHINGTON, 
 
 TllAKSMlTTED TO THE TwO BoiKDS OF THE CiTY COXTNCIh, 
 
 July 19, 18G1), and the 
 
 Reports of the Water Registrar, Board of 
 Fire Commissioners, Superintendent 
 OF the Fire x\larm Telegraph, 
 and Intendant OF Wash- 
 ington Asylum. 
 
 kt^ 
 
 chronicle; print 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
MESSAGE ■ 
 
 THE MATOE 
 
 CITY OF WASHINGTON, 
 
 Tkansmitted to the Two Boards op the City Cottncil, 
 July 19, 18GS), and the 
 
 Reports of the Water Registrar, Board of 
 
 Fire Com:viissioners, Superintendent 
 
 OF the Fire Alarm Telegraph, 
 
 AND InTENDANT OF WASH- 
 INGTON Asylum. 
 
 CHRONICLE PRINT, 
 
 WASHINGTON, V. C. 
 

 
MESSAGE OE THE MAYOR. 
 
 Mayor's Office, City Hall, 
 
 Washington, D C, Jaly 19, lb69. 
 To the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Council : 
 
 Gentlemen: — In accordance with custom, and with the re- 
 quirements of the charter of the city, I have the honor of trans- 
 mitting for your consideration, the following communication 
 relative to the condition of the city and its affairs during the 
 fiscal year just closed, and of calling jour attention to such 
 measures as, in my opinion, requires the action of the Councils 
 recently installed into office. 
 
 We have enjoyed a season of uninterrupted and unexampled 
 prosperity, which has had the natural effect to increase our 
 wealth and population, and give an impetus to improvements 
 and business that cannot fail to be gratifying to every citizen, 
 as well as every well-wisher of the nation's capital. In no one 
 year have so many first-class buildings been erected, nor so 
 many public improvements been made within the city limits as 
 in the fiscal year just closed. This has silenced the declarations 
 of many, that in consequence of our proximity to the great 
 battle ground of the rebellion, and the sympathy of some of . our 
 people with the South, a clamor would be raised against retain- 
 ing this as the seat of the General Government, which would 
 result in its removal to one of the great cities of the West. 
 Now that its permanency as the capital of the nation appears 
 assured, it behooves us to make the most of the advantages we 
 possess over other cities, from this as well as other causes, and 
 to strive to keep pace with the progress and spirit of this en- 
 lightened age. To do this, much will be required of the 
 Councils, but the results will amply repay for every dacriflce 
 that any or all of us are called upon to make. 
 
4 
 
 STREET IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 There have been graded and graveled during the 3'ear, of the 
 streets — 
 
 Graded and Graveled. Graded Onlj. 
 
 In the First Ward, - - - - 30 squares. 60 squares. 
 
 In the Second Ward, - - - - 33 " 23 
 
 In the Third Ward, - - - - 6 " " 
 
 In the Fourth Ward, - - - - 10 " " 
 
 In the Fifth Ward, - ... 8 " 
 
 In the Sixth Ward, ----- 9 " " 
 
 In the Seventh Ward, . - - 8 " 46 
 
 Total, ------ 104 " 129 '•' 
 
 Of sidewalks and gutters, there have been curbed, graded, 
 and paved — 
 
 In the First Ward, 51 squares. 
 
 In the Second Ward, - - - - IV 
 
 In the Third Ward, 10 
 
 In the Fourth Ward, H 
 
 In the Fifth Ward, ---.-.-..- 26 
 
 In the Sixth Ward, - - ... 32 
 
 In the Seventh Ward, 24 
 
 Total, - - m 
 
 Number of squares of streets paved in the city, 10; number 
 of intersections paved in the city, 6. 
 
 Number of bridges erected and repaired, 13; number of alleys 
 graded and paved, 6. 
 
 The filthy condition of the streets, gutters, and alleys at the 
 time of the appointment of the i)resent ward commissioners, 
 rendered it necessary to employ a large force to cleanse and 
 purify them, in order to prevent disease and pestilence. I doubt 
 if ever before a city was left by an administration as a legacy 
 to its successor in such a state as was this in the month of June, 
 1868, when I was inaugurated. To clean and put in respectable 
 order was the first duty devolving on the new administration 
 Of course, a heavy expense was necessary, but it was accom- 
 
o 
 
 plished ; and it is a fact admitted by all, that the city, durinsr 
 the past year, has been kept cleaner and in a better sanitary 
 condition than ever before. It is hoped and ))elieved that the 
 expense on this account, now that the old filth has been re- 
 moved, will be comparatively, this year, much lessened. 
 
 FINANCIAL STATISTICS. 
 
 The revenues of the cit}^ for the fiscal year have been — 
 
 From ten-year bonds issued, - - - - . - - $38t,000 00 
 From taxes on real and personal property to May 
 
 31, ----- 570,570 64 
 
 From taxes for month of June, not reported by 
 
 collector, estimated, - - - . - . . 50,000 00 
 
 From markets and licenses, 162,129 03 
 
 From water taxes, - - - - 49,369 67 
 
 From special taxes, redemption and surplus funds, 241,394,6^ 
 
 From all other sources, . - 29,138 25 
 
 Total, §1,489,602,28 
 
 The expenditures have been — 
 
 For salaries of officers, $34,119 40 
 
 For expenses of Councils, ------- 30,081 53 
 
 For Police Department, 68,354 94 
 
 For station-houses, including fuel, ----- 3,582 89 
 For schools and school-houses, including loan of 
 previous year, with interest on the same, 
 
 ($62,469,43.; 241,376 72 
 
 For Fire Department, - - - 26,263 23 
 
 For Water Department, 33,908 14 
 
 For Asylum, -------.---- 18,961 15 
 
 For gas-lamps, repairs, and lamp-lighters, - - 22,055 53 
 
 For markets, including improvements, - - - - 10,801 91 
 
 For grading and graveling streets, - - - - 64,715 80 
 
 For flag footways, ----- 37,446 17 
 
 For bridges, erection and repairs of - - - - 11,118 94 
 
 For repairs of streets, - - 31,87172 
 
 For sewers, - - - - 3,971 91 
 
 For cleaning streets, alleys, and gutters, - - - 60,324 89 
 
For improvement of City Hall, ----- 2,620 15 
 
 For interest on funded debt, 59,026 92 
 
 For payment of floating debt, in bonds, - - - 387,000 00 
 For payment, in cash, small fractional balances 
 
 not included above, - - 6,951 69 
 
 For sinking fund, ten-year bonds, 10,565 32 
 
 For special tax, redemption and surplus funds, 234,912 00 
 
 For all other purposes, including Board of Health, 30,614 27 
 
 Total, ------ $1,490,645 82 
 
 Excess of expenditures over receipts, - - - 1,043 54 
 
 The above includes payments in cash on indebtedness incur- 
 red by former administrations, as follows : 
 
 Indebtedness matured previous to July 1, 1868, 
 
 $161,287 05 
 Indebtedness matured since July 1, 1868, incur- 
 red by previous legislation, principally con- 
 tracted for, but not matured, - - . _ . 95 030 84 
 
 Total cash payments on old liabilities, 256,317 89 
 The estimated receipts for the current year, exclusive of water 
 and special taxes and trust funds, will be — 
 From taxes, at ($1 40 on $100), ------ $1,000 000 
 
 From markets, licenses, and all other sources, - 290,000 
 
 Total, ------ 1,290,000 
 
 The estimated expenditures necessary to meet current expen- 
 ses, and complete such improvements as are demanded by the 
 people, are — 
 
 For salaries of officers, - - $36,000 
 
 For expenses of Councils, -------- 32,000 
 
 For Police Department, including new station- 
 houses, - - - . - - 75,000 
 
 For schools and school-houses, including new 
 
 site,' and buildings, 250,000 
 
 For Fire Department, including the purchase of 
 two new steam fire engines, erection of 
 houses, &c., - - - 50,000 
 
i 
 
 For Asylum. --...-..-■■ 20,000 
 
 For gas-lamps, repairs, &c., -■.--- 15,000 
 
 For markets, --.--.-----.. 10,000 
 
 For grading and graveling streets, 80,000 
 
 For flag footways, . . - . - 40,000 
 
 For bridges, including three over Tiber creek, - 40,000 
 
 For repairs of streets, - . . . - 30,000 
 
 For sewers, including cost of reconstructing that 
 
 on Fourteenth street, 2?, 000 
 
 For cleaning streets, alleys, and gutters, - - 60,000 
 
 For interest on funded debt, - - 89,000 
 
 For sinking fund, - - - - 50,000 
 
 For all other expenses, --------- 60,000 
 
 Total - 1,022,000 
 
 Leaving a balance of $268,000, which will be amply sufficient 
 to pay all existing liabilities, and leave to the credit of the 
 Corporation on the 30th of June, 18t0, the sum of $100,000. 
 
 The rate of taxation above indicated ($1 40 on the $100) 
 may appear somewhat high, and the sum to be raised by it 
 more than is actually necessary. But it is less, much less, than 
 that paid by other cities more favorably circumstanced than 
 we now are. We need more improvements in our streets, more 
 of which should be opened; more bridges and flag footways are 
 imperatively demanded; more roadways must be paved, the 
 intersections of which cost large sums of money; more sewers 
 should and must be constructed immediately, the laterals of 
 which, with the drops, man-holes, and traps, are a heavy tax on 
 the ward funds. The Fourteenth street sewer requires to be 
 relaid from end to end ; wells and pumps are clamored for all 
 over the city; a station-house should be erected iu every ward, 
 and comfortably furnished for our policemen ; school houses 
 Iniilt where necessary, in order to save the thousands paid for 
 rent of inconvenient and poorly adapted school-rooms. The 
 sea-wall on the west side of South Washington should be re- 
 moved outward to the river channel, and the space filled in, so 
 as to give place to wharves on the river front ; gas must be ex- 
 
8 
 
 tended on most of the streets ; the people who are without 
 light and who pay as much for lighting other streets as they 
 who derive the benefit of such light, clamoring and constantly 
 complaining about it, and other extraordinary expenditures, 
 which none but those who are recpiired to audit and pay the 
 bills would ever think of, arc requisite, which amount to a very 
 large sum during the year. 
 
 But these improvements more than pay the cost of construction 
 in the enhancement of the value of real estate in the city, which 
 comes back to the tax-payers in this way four-fold, to say noth- 
 ing of the additional comfort, convenience and satisfaction thej 
 afford. Who does not know that this city (whether justly or 
 unjustly does not change the fact) has the reputation of being 
 a century behind others of a like population in all that relates 
 to public improvements and progress, when, as the capital of the 
 Republic, the resort of people of all nations, we should be fore- 
 most in these things ? To effect this object, money is required, 
 and the only way to obtain it is through taxation Besides all 
 this, we have thousands of mechanics and laborers unemployed, 
 many of whose families are suffering for bread. We should 
 strive to give these employment as far as possible to make 
 them and their families comfortable and contented, by doing 
 which much that tends to vice and crime will be destroyed, and 
 the morals of the people improved. And how can this be so 
 profitably done as by putting the idle poor, who are willing and 
 anxious to work, but are totally unable to get it, to performing 
 labor on the streets ? The result will prove the wisdom of such 
 a course, not only by what is above stated, but by the reduction 
 of the number in our jail and almhouse, and a comparative re- 
 duction in the cost of maintaining those institutions, for noth- 
 ing so much as idleness begets ioimorality and crime. 
 
 The funded debt of the city is as follows : 
 Certificates of 5 per cent, stock issued under act 
 
 of August 19, 1828, $54,807 00 
 
 Certificates of 6 per cent, stock issued under act 
 
 of October 25, 1843, ------ - 085,517 38 
 
 Chesapeake and Ohio canal bonds, - - . - 48,800 00 
 
9 
 
 Washington and Alexandria railroad bonds, 
 
 guaranteed by the city, - ----- 18,500 00 
 
 Water stock, - - - - 155,000 00 
 
 Ten-year bonds issued under act of October 17, 
 
 1868, ------------ 387,000 00 
 
 Total funded debt, - - $1,349,624 38 
 Of the floating debt existing *on the 30th of 
 
 June, 1868, authorized to be paid by the 
 
 ten-year bonds, a large proportion of which 
 
 is in suit, the holders refusing to accept 
 
 bonds, there is estimated to remain out- 
 standing the sum of - - $100,000 00 
 
 And there has been paid out of the revenue of 
 
 the fiscal year just closed, of the same debt, 
 
 in cash, the sum of 161,287 05 
 
 Amount chiefly contracted for but not matured, 
 
 July 1, 1868, paid also in cash, - - - - 95,030 84 
 
 Which, added to the amount of bonds issued, - 387,000 00 
 
 And bonds not delivered June 30, - - - - 18,650 00 
 
 With fractional balances still due, - - . . 3,418 49 
 
 Makes the total floating indebtedness existing 
 
 on the 30th June, 1868, ------ $765,386 38 
 
 The amount in bank to the credit of the interest and sinking 
 fund for the redemption of the ten-year bonds was, on tbe 30th 
 of last month, $70,565 32, which is a larger sum than is neces- 
 sary to be raised, the law requiring only one-tenth of the amount 
 of the bonds issued, and the interest on the whole, to be col- 
 lected in each year. The rate of taxation on this account can 
 therefore be materially reduced the present year. 
 
 A large portion of the water stock falls due the present year, 
 and the entire amount will soon be payable. No provision has 
 been made by our predecessors in office for the payment of any 
 portion of this debt, and the whole burden of it falls uujustly 
 on us. There is now statiding to the credit of the water fund 
 the sum of $19,530 39, which is more than sufiicient to pay the 
 
10 
 
 year's portion of the debt. The remainder will have to be pro- 
 vided for without delay, and I recommend that authority be 
 given me to anticipate the revenues from the water fund to 
 enable me to redeem the stock as it is presented. 
 
 By the report of the water registrar, transmitted herewith, it 
 will be seen that the amount of water taxes outstanding are : 
 
 Due and payable, $25,221 11 
 
 Yet to fall due, ----- 58,01838 
 
 Total, $83,240 09 
 
 The entire receipts of the water fund since the 
 introduction of Potomac water, exclusive 
 of loans, have been, as nearly as can be as- 
 certained, $286,823 56 
 
 The loans have been, - - - 1*73,500 00 
 
 Total, 460,323 5G 
 
 The entire expense of the distribution of water 
 
 since its introduction has been, - - - - 438,583 18 
 
 Balance of receipts, including loans, over ex- 
 penditures, -------.-- $21,740 38 
 
 Actual expenses over actual receipts, $151, "ISO 62; de- 
 ficit, if all outstanding water taxes were paid, $67,519 53. 
 
 POTOMAC WATER. 
 
 Much complaint has been made during the past few years of 
 a deficiency in the supply of water, especially in the more ele- 
 vated portions of the city. This defect arises from the fact 
 that the water-mains leading from the reservoir to the city are 
 not of sufficient size to allow of the flow of the necessary quan. 
 tity through them. There are now two mains, and the only 
 permanent remedy is to provide another, or more than one, as 
 the case may require, which will involve a large expenditure of 
 money. I recommend that some action be taken in regard to 
 this matter, in order that a full and ample supply of water, so 
 necessary to the health, comfort, and convenience of our people, 
 may be obtained. The increasing demand for the Potomac 
 
11 
 
 water, and the extension of water-mains to all parts of the city, 
 thns increasing its consumption and the dependence upon it, 
 render this a subject of vital importance. 
 
 It is with much regret that I am called, by my sense of duty 
 to the corporation, to state to you that the late Water Regis- 
 trar, although called upon on several occasions to render a 
 statement of his account with the water fund during the last 
 several years of his administration, has still failed to do so. And 
 the present incumbent of the office has found it impossible to 
 ascertain the true condition of such accounts when he entered 
 on his duties, there being in the office no books or papers from 
 which that information could be obtained. 
 
 In order that it may be shown to the satisfaction of the peo- 
 ple, as well as of Congress, the exact amount that has been col- 
 lected and disbursed on account of the water fund since the in. 
 troduction of the Potomac water into the city, I suggest that 
 measures be taken at once to obtain from the late Registrar a 
 true statement of his accounts during his official term ; and in 
 this connection I may, with propriety, refer to section 5 of the 
 act of the Corporation of June 2, 1859, and call the attention of 
 the Councils to the duties required of them by that act. 
 
 OFFICERS OF TdE CORPORATION. 
 
 As a general rule, the officers of the Corporation have per- 
 formed their duties faithfully, and with satisfaction to the 
 people. That, with rare exceptions, all have done the best they 
 could for the interest of the city I am fully convinced. AVhere 
 such has been the case it would appear invidious to discriminate; 
 but, as the bookkeeper and clerk to the Mayor have been under 
 ray own eye, and I have been personally cognizant of their 
 fidelity, ability, and the very heavy labors required of them, I 
 take the liberty to state that, in my opinion, they are inade- 
 quately paid for their services, and I therefore recommend that 
 their salaries be increased — that of the bookkeeper to $2,000, 
 and that of the clerk to $1,500 per annum. I very much doubt 
 whether any other clerks in this city perform as arduous and 
 responsible duties as they for anything like the compensation 
 thev receive 
 
12 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 The success of onr public schools and the improvements of 
 the system of teaching and discipline are causes of congvatula" 
 tion. With a little more experience on the part of some of our 
 teachers, with more of an interest in the education of their 
 children evinced by the parents of such as attend the schools, 
 and with the guidance of an experienced general superinten- 
 dent, such as we now have, it is to be hoped that our public 
 schools will in a very short time equal, if not excel, as they 
 should, those of any other city in the Union. In any measure 
 calculated to promote the efficiency of these schools, and to ex- 
 tend the system so that every child, white and colored, rich and 
 poor, vi^ithin our limits, shall have the benefit of a good educa- 
 tion, you will find me ready and anxious to co-operate with you. 
 
 More school-houses are required in different sections of the 
 city. The exorbitant rents paid for poor and ill-adapted 
 school-rooms would soon cover the expense of erecting good, 
 plain, substantial buildings where they are needed. I cannot 
 too strongly commend the sulyect to your favorable considera- 
 tion. 
 
 The total receipts on account of the school and school-house 
 funds for the fiscal year were— 
 
 From taxes, ....--- $156,722 16 
 Prom general fund (deficit ofl8G(5-7) ■ - - 10,907 36 
 
 Total, - - - - $167,629 52 
 Expended during the same period, through I'rea- 
 
 surer of the public schools — 
 
 For teachers' salaries, ----- $59,898 41 
 
 Music teachers, ... - - 1,575 00 
 
 Care of school-rooms, - - - - 3,907 36 
 
 Rent of school-rooms, - - - - 16,774 76 
 
 Fuel and stove fixtures, - - - - 6,153 64 
 
 Contingent expenses, - - - - 29,225 45 
 
 Salaries of Secretary and Treasurer, - - 500 00 
 
 Contingent expenses of the Board, - - 2,279 57 
 
 Total, - - - . $120,314 19 
 
13 
 
 Through Mayor's office — 
 
 For Franklin school-house. ... - $35,585 82 
 
 School-house in 4th district, . - . 6,6t1 00 
 
 Incidentals, ...... 512 81 
 
 Colored schools, ..... 38,683 84 
 
 Loan of June 8, 1868, with interest, charged up 
 
 at bank, • - - - - - - 62,469 43 
 
 Total, .... $264,243 Oi) 
 Of this amount was paid on previous indebtedness, in cash, 
 $101,814 78; in bonds, $22,868 75; total, $130,683 53. 
 
 HIGH AND NORMAL SCHOOL. 
 
 The early establishment of a scientific high and normal school 
 has become a necessity. Upon the completion of the Franklin 
 school building, rooms for such a school could be set apart 
 therein, to be used until the finances of the city Avill justify the 
 erection of a building exclusively for the purpose. The mani- 
 fest advantages resulting from such an institution lead me to 
 hope that by the time of the opening of the public schools for 
 the next scholastic year authority will be given to establish one 
 on such a basis as will give to it the utmost efficiency and use- 
 fulness. 
 
 THE COLORED SCHOOLS. 
 
 The schools for colored children in this city, with some ex- 
 ceptions, have been maintained during the past year with a 
 considerable degree of efficiency ; but they might have attained 
 much higher excellence and success had they been under the 
 management of experienced and well-qualified directors. In my 
 judgment, the time has arrived when these schools should be 
 incorporated with our other public schools, placed under the 
 same management, be conducted on the same system, and share 
 impartially in all respects the same advantages. The Board of 
 Trustees of Public Schools should consist of both white and 
 colored members, in due proportions, and no difference should 
 be allowed in the qualifications of teachers on acoount of the 
 color of the pupils. The exigency which required the temporary 
 creation of a separate board of trustees for colored schools has 
 
14 
 
 now happily passed away. It is much to be regretted that the 
 action of Congress at its last session, providing for the termina- 
 tion of this separate system, should have been defeated by the 
 veto of Andrew Johnson, tlirough the influence and misguided 
 efforts of a few of the very class for whose benefit it was in- 
 tended. 
 
 The distinction of color is no longer recognized in our charter 
 nor at the ballot-l)ox, in the courts of jusdce, the lecture-room, 
 ihe hall of public amusement, the public conveyance, nor in 
 the City Councils. It should be eliminated as speedily as pos- 
 sible from our school system. Tlie breaking down of all caste dis- 
 tinctions is one of the great missions of the American people, and 
 the sooner ail classes "conquer their prejudices" and accept the 
 situation, the better for all concerned. All children should be 
 educated as the children of American citizens, the future sover- 
 eigns of the Republic, and should be taught to ignore all class 
 distinctions. Nov^'^here can this be done so effectually as in the 
 common school, by the daily exercises of the school room, 
 where merit and achievement only give precedence. And, on 
 the other hand, by no method will the animosities and pecu- 
 liarities of race and caste be so surely perpetuated and intensi- 
 fied as by the keeping up of separate systems of education in 
 our schools. 
 
 That all right minded citizens should agree and co-operatein 
 this important matter is eminently desirable. The character of 
 all our schools should be, and by proper efforts might be, 
 so elevated that no "contamination," but only the improvement 
 of all classes would result from such association. But in view 
 of the differences of opinion and the bitter, foolish prejudices 
 which have existed, and to some extent still exist, it is a ques- 
 tion how soon and how far the mingling of races in the same 
 school can be effected without causing the withdrawal of some 
 of those who most need education. In my judgment, this may 
 eb safeh'left to the wise discretion of a board of trustees con- 
 stituted as I have already suggested, and having at heart the 
 best interests of all classes. 
 
 Experience has already shown that the difificullies in the v/ay 
 
15 
 
 are not so great as many imagine. White parents of respecta- 
 bility and culture have urged the admission of their children 
 into colored schools where superior teachers have been em- 
 ployed, for the sake of the higher advantages there afforded. 
 It is believed that were all the schools placed under one board 
 properly constituted, and were a part of the schools designated 
 as open to both classes, care being taken to provide teachers of 
 the highest qualifications, numbers of white as well as colored 
 citizens would, voluntarily and as a matter of principle, place 
 their children in such schools, at least until the experiment 
 should be fairly tested. And it is further believed that the re- 
 sults would be such that, without violence, popular excitement 
 or the withdrawal of any considerable number of children from 
 school, the barrier of caste would quietly melt away; and all 
 the schools be speedily thrown open to all who need them 
 Then would our school system be established on the basis of a 
 broad and impartial nationality, which knows not race nor 
 color, but only Americans and children of a common Parent. 
 
 I therefore recommend that rneasures be taken to represent 
 this matter before Congress at its next session, with a view to 
 obtaining such action as shall place all our schools under one 
 management, with discretionary power as to the mingling of 
 the classes heretofore separated. This subject cannot longer 
 be evaded, as a bill is pending in Congress, with every proba- 
 bility of its becoming a law, which contemplates and requires 
 that all tbe schools of this District shall be open for the recep. 
 tion and instruction of pupils without distinction of class. 
 
 These colored schools, and the expense attending their support, 
 have grown to a magnitude not anticipated at their beginnin,'"'. 
 The revenue at first amounted to a little over $300 per annum 
 Their board of trustees have been paid out of the city treasury 
 about $40,000 the past year, and the amount will be largely in 
 creased the comiug year. This is the only revenue for the sup- 
 port of these schools, and the corporation has no voice in their 
 government, is not consulted in regard to the appointment of 
 trustees or teachers, nor are the trustees accountable for their 
 action or for the disbursement of this large sum to the Govern- 
 
16 
 
 ment or the Corporation. Indeed, as the case now stands, they 
 might appropriate the money to any other use, and there is no 
 law authorizing the city or any other power to compel them to 
 account for it. If this separate system is to be continued, I 
 recommend that Congress be applied to for the passage of an 
 act requiring the trustees to enter into bond in a sufficient sum, 
 with security satisfactory to the Mayor, for the proper applica- 
 tion of the funds, and also requiring them to make an annual 
 report to the city authorities, giving a detailed statement of 
 their operations. 
 
 ASYLUM* AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Fur a detailed statement of the expenses of the Asylum, 
 and of the Fire Department, I beg leave to refer to the reports 
 of the commissioners thereof, which are herewith transmitted. 
 
 The United States Government having withdrawn the three 
 steam fire-engines in use here since the war, a necessity exists 
 for supplying their places by the Corporation. Arrangements 
 have already been made for the purchase of two engines, and I 
 recommend that authority be given for purchasing another 
 without delay. Proper protection to property renders this ab- 
 solutely necessary. The Government having a very large 
 amount of property here requiring protection from fire should, 
 in common justice, pay its portion of the expense of procuring 
 the proper engines, and maintaining a Fire Department in the 
 city. 
 
 HOUSE OP INDUSTRY, ETC. 
 
 I ask the attention of the Councils to the necessity of estab- 
 lishing a house of correction and industry for juvenile offenders, 
 and a home for the aged and friendless in our midst. Is^o other 
 city in the United States, so far as I know and believe, having 
 a population so large as this, has so little accommodation for 
 the poor and unfortunate. A school-ship moored in our river 
 might, like those in Boston, serve to reclaim vicious and unruly 
 boys, who, by a proper course of training and study, would be 
 come qualified for seamen on Government vessels or merchant 
 ships, or for any other respectable occupation. It is a disgrace 
 to our city that we have no refuge for these classes except our 
 
17 
 
 poor-house and jail, where they are brought in contact with 
 hardened villains, and become as wicked as they. If the city 
 would take the lead in this matter, and commence the erection 
 of proper buildings, I have no doubt that Congress would, as 
 it justly should, lend a helping hand and appropriate its share* 
 toward completing the work. Let the Councils make the ex 
 periment ; Congress will do its share if we show a determina 
 tion to do what we ought for ourselves 
 
 A NEW .TAIL AND A POLICE COURT. 
 
 I beg leave again to call the atcention of the Councils to the 
 absolute necessity of erecting anew jail in this District, such as 
 is provided for in the bill now pending in Congress. Although, 
 under the wise management of the able and efficient officer now 
 in charge of that institution it has been brought to as high 
 a state of perfection as can possibly be reached in such a build- 
 ing, still, the reasons existing at the time of my last message, 
 one year ago, for a new structure are now in force, and I cannot 
 foo urgently recommend that the attention of Congress be early 
 called to this subject It is a discredit to the District that we 
 have no better place for confining persons charged with offenses, 
 all classes of whom, without regard to age, sex, or condition, 
 are necessarily thrown together in this worse than pest-house, 
 there to concoct and indulge in schemes of vice and villainy, till 
 relieved by the slow and uncertain process of our crude and 
 unwholesome code of criminal law, most of which was enacted 
 more than a century ago. 
 
 We also need a police court for the speedy trial oi oifend- 
 ers- A bil' is now pcndiug in Congress establishing such a 
 court, which would, if passed into a law, afford relief, and be 
 productive of the happiest results. rhe Councils should press 
 the importance of these matters on our national legislature, 
 and, if possible, procure the passage of the bills referred to at 
 the next session. 
 
 RAISING THE GRADK OP PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. 
 
 The great difficulty of properly draining and seweiing prop- 
 erty on Pennsylvania avenue, between Ninth street west and 
 the Capitol gate, suggests the propriety of raising the grade of 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 that avenue sufficiently above tide water in time of floods 
 to prevent its overflow and the filling of basements and cellars 
 with water. This would involve the holders of property and 
 the city in a large expense; but it must be done sooner or later, 
 and it can be accomplished now at a less cost than at any future 
 time after the buildings and improvements to be aftected by the 
 change shall have become more valuable. And it is believed 
 that the increased value of the property will moie than cover 
 the cost; besides, it will render the drainage and sewerage 
 perfect by making the descent from the high ground north of the 
 avenue to the canal regular, and prevent the bursting of sewers 
 by reason of pressure of water through the almost level ground 
 south of the avenue, and the "backing up" of the water from 
 the canal into the sewers. 
 
 Of course, the authority of Congress will be required to do 
 this work, and the Government will pay its share of the cost. 
 
 This may be regarded by some as visionary, but a full inves- 
 tigation of the subject will satisfy any practical person of its 
 utility and necessity. Although the proposed change will in- 
 volve a heavy expenditure of money, the advantages to be de- 
 rived from it will amply compensate the property -holders and 
 the city for the outlay. Other cities have expended millions 
 for raising the grades of and widening streets, where the neces- 
 sity was nothing compared with this ; and the experiment in 
 every case, so far as is known, has not only proved a public 
 benefit, but has resulted in an enhancement of the value of the 
 property affected by it more than doubly sufficient to cover the 
 cost. 
 
 This matter is submitted for your consideration If you ap- 
 prove the suggestion, I recommend that application be made to 
 Congress at the next session for authority and aid to effect the 
 desired object. 
 
 WASHINGTON CANAL. 
 
 T have again to call the attention of the Councils to the con- 
 dition of the Washington canal. The opinion I have heretofore 
 expressed on that subject remains unchanged ; but if anything 
 better can be suggested, I am ready to assent to and approve it. 
 
19 
 
 And if it be the desire of the people of the city that it shall be 
 cleaned out and rendered navigable, and their representatives 
 so decide, it will be necessary for them to impose a special tax 
 of at least $300,000 on the assessable property of the city to 
 cover the expense, the same to be provided for this year ; or 
 that sum w^ill have to be diverted from the proposed, and, as I 
 think, more necessary, legitimate and profitable work of opening 
 and repairing streets. We can employ just so many laborers 
 with the money we raise, and if they work on the canal others 
 cannot be employed on the streets. So far, then, as the laborer 
 is concerned, it certainly makes no difference with him whethei- 
 the canal is ever cleaned or not, unless the people are willing 
 to pay enough extra tax to foot the bills. Will the tax-payers 
 assent to this ? It is for the Councils to determine, but I opine 
 they will look well to their pockets before making an investment 
 on which they can never hope to realize a dividend or the least 
 profit. I can never consent that this property be alienated by 
 the Oorporation and placed at the tender mercy of a private 
 company. 
 
 The plan proposed in my last message, and more recently in 
 effect by the late Superintendent of Sewers, &c., to arch the 
 canal and convert it into a main sewer across the city, is doubtless 
 the most feasible plan of disposing of this troublesome and vex- 
 atious subject ; and, as the reclaimed land will more than cover 
 the cost, I confess that I am unable to see tlie force of the objec- 
 tions urged against it. In its present condition the canal is un- 
 questionably a festering nuisance, and I trust ti:at some action 
 may betaken without delay looking to an abatement of the evil. 
 The office of Commissioner of the canal I deem unnecessary. 
 The duties of such an officer can be performed by the Superin- 
 tendent of Sewers, &c., and I recommend that authority be 
 given him for that purpose. 
 
 RIVEE AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 Our river channels and harbor should at once be improved. 
 We have on both sides of the city a sufficient depth of water to 
 float almost any vessel. Miles of water front, which in any 
 other city would be converted into a mine of wealth, are en- 
 
20 
 
 tirely neglected, and there is not a wharf worthy the name at 
 which a vessel can receive or discharge a cargo. This can only 
 be accounted for by the fact that our city, until a recent date, 
 was cursed with an institution that >. lighted everything it 
 touched as by fire. But that time has passed ; anew era has 
 dawned upon us, and progress, enterprise, energy and activity 
 should prevail in lieu of the dead past. We must keep pace 
 with the ;:rogressive spirit of the age, or go into bankruptcy 
 and wind up. 
 
 REMOVAL OF SEA WALL. 
 
 I recommend that measures be immediately taken to remove 
 the sea wall on the west side of the Island to the channel, and 
 that the space be filled in, thus reclaiming a large area of 
 valuable ground which can be used, rented, or sold for wharf 
 sites, and made to yield a large i-evenue to the city, as well as 
 to add materially to its commerce and other business Congress 
 will undoubtedly aid in the improvement of our river and harbor, 
 when we show a disposition to do what we can to effect that 
 necessary object. This aid has been given in the States. Is it 
 not unjust to withhold it here where Congress has exclusive 
 jurisdiction? 
 
 ADVERTISING THE TAX LIST. 
 
 A great cause of complaint with our tax payers who are not 
 fortunate enough to have the means of paying their taxes when 
 due, is the heavy cost of advertising and sale. As this profits 
 neither the lot-holder nor the Corporation, but goes to enrich 
 others having no claim on either, I suggest that the law be so 
 changed as to avuid it as far as possible. The wisdom of the 
 (^^ouncils will enable them to devise some method to abate this 
 great evil, and save our property holders from such an im- 
 position. 
 
 In the meantime, the very large amount of taxes uncollected 
 calls for some action that will compel such as are able to pay 
 and will not, to discharge their liabilities on this account 
 promptly. 
 
 There are on the books of the Collector's office general taxes 
 uncollected, as follows : 
 
21 
 
 Pi-ior to 1866, running back to 1843, - - - - -$25,167 90 
 
 For the year 1866, ----------- 6,186 36 
 
 For the year 1867, ------------ 15,658 70 
 
 For the year 1868, -.-.---.... 60,695 22 
 
 Total uncollected, - - - $107,708 18 
 
 The impossibility of cullecting these taxes, owing to the re- 
 luctance of persons to purchase property at tax sales, suggests 
 the necessity of providing for the enforcement of tax collections 
 as far as possible, promptly each year. This great and growing 
 evil calls' loudly for legislative action by Congress. But, as a 
 means of present relief existing within the powers of the Corpora- 
 tion, and as an inducement to property holders to pay their taxes 
 without delay, I recommend that in the tax bill for the present 
 year there be inserted a clause authorizing and requiring the 
 Collector to add to each bill a certain rate per cent, a month on 
 all sums remaining unpaid after the first day of September or 
 October next. Such a measure has proved salutary where it 
 has been tried, and it is believed will induce tax payers here to 
 settle up as soon as possible 
 
 MARKET HOUSE. 
 
 Your attention is called to the necessity of erecting another 
 market house in lieu of the present Centre Market. The plan 
 proposed in the bill introduced by Senator Harlan, at the last 
 session of Congress, appears to give very general satisfaction, 
 and is undoubtedly the most feasible of any yet suggested. I 
 recommend, therefore, that efforts be made to induce Congress 
 to pass said bill, which will give the necessary authority for 
 erecting a building on the site named, and another on the reser- 
 vation between Tenth and Twelfth streets, near the canal, for 
 the sale of coarse articles and live stock, that will be a credit to 
 the city and a source of very large revenue. Indeed, it is 
 believed that the rents alone would be sufficient to pay the 
 expense of the building in five years, including the expenses of 
 attendance and repairs. 
 
22 
 
 PARKING THE AYKNUES AND STREETS. 
 
 The great width of our streets and avenues renders it proper, 
 in order to save the useless expense of keeping them clean and 
 in proper traveling condition, that a portion of them be parked. 
 Various plans have been suggested but it appears to me that ij 
 would be the wisest and cheapest method to remove the curb- 
 stone on each side, say from ten to twenty feet, according to the 
 width of the street, into the carriageway, and make a grass-plat 
 with a row of trees in the centre of the space, between the foot 
 pavement and the curb. This will not only save the expense of 
 paving, cleaning, and repairing so much of the street, but will 
 add greatly to the health, beauty, and comfort of the city. The 
 experiment once tried, on a single street or square, I am certain 
 it would be universally adopted. Before making this alteration^ 
 however, and especially before paving any roadway, I would 
 advise that a sewer, with water and gas-mains, be laid on each 
 side of the street near the outer line of the footwalk, in order to 
 save the necessity of opening the street into the centre at any 
 time when the sewer or water or gas-mains require to be tapped; 
 or the pipes leading therefrom to be repaired. This laying two 
 sewers and mains might cost a trifle more at first than one twice 
 as large in the middle of the street, but it would be more eco- 
 nomical in the end, as much less service-pipe would be required, 
 and not half the amount of excavation. Besides, the annoy- 
 ance of cutting through the roadway and ruining streets and 
 pavements would be entirely avoided. 
 
 PAVIiNG LOUISIANA AND INDIANA AVENUES, ETC. 
 
 The avenues leading to the City Hall (I refer to Louisiana and 
 Indiana avenues) should be paved at once. Their condition in 
 the winter renders them dangerous for travel, and it is a source 
 of great annoyance to our people, as \vell as a discredit to the 
 city, that these great thoroughfares should remain longer unim- 
 proved. 
 
 North Capitol street should also be opened from the Capitol 
 grounds to G street, from which it has been well graded and 
 graveled, to the northern boundary of the city. This is the 
 
23 
 
 street leading directly from the Capitol to the Governmeni 
 Priutiog Office, and, if opened and put in good traveling 
 condition, will be used by the teams almost constantly running 
 between those points, instead of their going around by New- 
 Jersey avenue, as is now done. It being a great convenience 
 and a saving of expense, therefore, to the Government, Con- 
 gress, I am satisfied, will willingly reimburse the Corporation, 
 a portion if not all of the cost of opening this street. 
 
 BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD. 
 
 The only difficulty in the way of making North Capitol street 
 one of the handsomest leading from the Capitol is its constant 
 obstruction by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, 
 which uses that street as a convenient depot for unemployed 
 freight and passenger cars, makes up trains and keeps them 
 standing on ihe street for an}' length of time, and thus prevents 
 its use, as well as the use of the streets crossing it, by teams or 
 otherwise. This is all in clear violation of the charter of the 
 company, which forbids that it shall interfere with the free use 
 of the streets on which the road runs or over which it crosses ; 
 but it entirely disregards the law, and treats the Corporation 
 and the interests of private individuals with contempt. It as- 
 sumes to control the grades of our streets ; and when the Cor- 
 poration proceeds to execute its laws and ordinances for grading 
 such streets and laying the footwalk theieon, it is met with 
 resistance and a spirit of defiance that might lead to the suppo- 
 sition that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and not 
 Congress and the Corporation, is sovereign over Washington. 
 If the position taken by that company, that the present bed of 
 their road is to govern the grades of the streets, is to be acceded 
 to, the Corporation had better abandon the idea of ever im- 
 proving that portion of the city which the road traverses, and 
 hand over to the company absolute and final jurisdiction, if not 
 the fee simple in the land, for every one knows that the streets 
 cannot be opened on that grade, nor can the streets or side- 
 walks crossing the road ever be used or drained. But I have 
 no idea that Congress or the Corporation will yie'd to its inso- 
 
24 
 
 lent demands, nor that our courts will sustain it in its absolute 
 pretensions. I am well aware that it has become purse-proud 
 and overbearing, that it boasts its power to bring the Corpora 
 tion to the foot of the throne of its haughty president, that it 
 refuses to pay its quota of taxes for the support of the city 
 government; but we shall see whether right or might will tri- 
 umph in the capital of the nation — whether the monopol}^ that 
 undertook to break up the Government at the opening of the 
 rebellion, and afterwards grew fat and pompous on its extor- 
 tions from the Government when it had failed in its purpose, 
 shall remain sovereign here, or yield a little to some other 
 power. 
 
 The following bill shows the amount of taxes unpaid by the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, as reported by the 
 Collector : 
 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Jompuny to Washington Cor- 
 poration, Dr. 
 
 Tax on property for 1855, .... - $29(5 32 
 
 Tax for 1856, ...... . 320 40 
 
 Tax for 1857, - - - - - 370 37 
 
 Tax for 1858, ...... - 370 37 
 
 Tax for 1859, - - - - - - 156 26 
 
 Tax for 1860, - - - - - - - 711 38 
 
 Tax for 1861, ...... . 555 56 
 
 Tax for 1862, ------ - 2,133 22 
 
 Tax for 1863, ... ... 2,127 86 
 
 Tax for 1864, -.---- - 3,071 39 
 
 Tax for 1865, - - - - - 3,337 67 
 
 Tax for 1866, ...... - 3,671 42 
 
 Tax for 1867, - - 4,172 09 
 
 Tax for 1868, --.-.- . 5,006 50 
 
 Erecting pump in square 888, - . - . 12 06 
 
 $26,312 87 
 
25 
 
 These taxes were levied on the following described property 
 
 Square. 
 
 Lot. 
 
 i 
 
 Value of Lot. 
 
 Improvements. 
 
 118 
 
 all. 
 
 $11,995 
 
 $1,600 
 
 831 
 
 of 1 
 
 198 
 
 
 
 " 2 
 
 103 
 
 1 
 
 857 
 
 " 2 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 
 " 3 
 
 49 
 
 
 
 " 4 
 
 99 
 
 
 
 " 5 
 
 153 
 
 
 
 " 6 
 
 175 
 
 
 
 " 7 
 
 170 
 
 
 
 " 8 
 
 306 
 
 
 
 " 9 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 " 15 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 " 16 
 
 56 
 
 
 • 
 
 " 17 
 
 85 
 
 
 
 " 18 
 
 156 
 
 
 
 " 19 
 
 192 
 
 
 887 
 
 ". 1 
 
 36 
 
 
 888 
 
 " 6 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 " 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 ('32 
 
 all. 
 
 78,183 
 
 60,000 
 
 
 lots, 
 
 $92,167 
 
 $61,600 
 
 
 
 Total value of 
 
 $92,167 00 
 
 Improvements 
 
 - 
 
 
 61,600 00 
 
 Rolling stock, 
 
 - 
 
 . 
 
 80,000 00 
 
 Railroad stock 
 
 
 - 
 
 100,000 00 
 
 Grand total, - . - - $333,767 00 
 
 For this sum of $26,312 87, which has been accruing for fif- 
 teen years, and which the Corporation has been totally unable 
 to collect from the company, I have instructed the Corporation 
 Attorney to bring suit in our courts. 
 
26 
 
 REGULATIONS NECKSSARY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. 
 
 I cannot too strongly recommend the Councils to invoke au- 
 thority from Congress giving the Corporation full power to 
 compel all railroads running into the city to conform the same 
 to the legal grade of the streets, and, in order to avoid accidents, 
 I also reccommend that the railroad companies be required to 
 restrict the speed of trains within the city limits to four miles 
 an hour, and to station a flagman or signal officer at the inter- 
 section of their road with each graded street of the city, to give 
 notice of the approach of trains. Also, that an ordinance be- 
 passed imposing heavy penalties on any company for obstruct- 
 ing any street, by suffering trains or cars to remain on it when 
 not in motion. 
 
 IMPROVEMENT OF THE AVENUES BY THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Pennsylvania avenue, the great thoroughfare of the city, is in 
 a wretched condition, and requires to be newly paved with 
 Avood or some other approved material. The other avenues 
 (all of which are under the jurisdiction of Congress) should, 
 to keep pace with the opening of the streets by the Corporation, 
 be graded and graveled, or paved and placed in good traveling 
 condition. This is but an act of justice to the city, as the fail- 
 ure to grade these avenues, in many cases, renders it impossible 
 for the city to open and grade the streets required for travel. 
 It is believed, now that the executive and legislative departments 
 of the Government are in accord with the authorities of the city, 
 that an application to Congress by the Councils to have this 
 work accomplished will be successful, and that Congress, if 
 properly applied to, and the facts are fully laid before it, will 
 deal liberally with the city in regard to public school.-^, the 
 improvement of certain streets in the vicinity of public property, 
 the construction of sewers, &c. For these things we have a 
 right to expect appropriations, as it is the duty of the Grovern. 
 ment to pay the expense. In asking it, therefore, we ai-e but 
 applying for our rights, and snould not be regarded as heggurt^. 
 
 LIGHTING CERTAIN STREETS AND AVENUES. 
 
 The recent act of Congress requiring the city to light Penn- 
 sylvania avenue, as well as othes avenues and streets hertofore 
 
27 
 
 lighted at the expense of the United States, with gas, is viewed 
 by all our citizens as unjust and oppressive. So long as Con- 
 gress asserts jurisdiction and control over these avenues and 
 streets, and the Government uses them as much as or more 
 than our own people, it ought to have them lighted at its own 
 expense, or at least to share with the city the cost of lighting 
 This is but an act of simple justice, and will not be denied if 
 properly and fairly represented. 
 
 GOVERNMENT AID FOR SCHOOLS. 
 
 Nor will it be denied that a handsome donation is due from 
 Congress to aid in sustaining our public schools. Here Congress 
 has exclusive jurisdiction, and although there are thousands of 
 children to be educated in this city whose parents have been 
 brought here by the Government and the exigencies of the re- 
 bellion, who are not in reality citizens here, owning nopropert}^, 
 and paying no taxes into the city treasury, still not a dollar has 
 ever been given by Congress for schools, while land and money 
 have been lavished on the States and Territories for educational 
 purposes, to aid them in educating their children. This is all 
 wrong, and with proper efforts on the part of the Councils, I 
 hazard nothing in stating that Congress will "make haste" to 
 correct the injustice complained of 
 
 DISBURSING OFFICER. 
 
 I recommend that a disbursing officer be designated to pay the 
 laborers on the streets, in the markets, &c. The impropriety 
 of paying these persons through the hands of those by whom 
 they are employed is too nmnifest to require an explanation. 
 The ward commissioners, clerks of markets, and others employ- 
 ing men, should be required to furnish to such disbursing officer 
 monthly rolls of their employees, verified by oath as to their 
 correctness, and payments should be made in accordance there- 
 with. Such a course will secure to each laborer his proper 
 wages, and take from the persons who employ men on Corpo- 
 ration work every inducement to make improper returns, and 
 will save the Corporation, in my opinion, a large sum of money. 
 Besides, it will prove more satisfactory to our citizens. 
 
28 
 
 PAY FOR LABOR AND iMATERlALS FURNISHED CONTRACTORS 
 
 If the contract system is to continue, duty to the laboring 
 men of the city, as well as to those who furnish materials, re- 
 quires that I should call your attention to the fact that some of 
 the contractors have, within the past year, after drawing the 
 amounts due them from the Corporation, failed to pay ihe men 
 who did their work, and those who supplied them with materials. 
 This should be guarded against as much as possible, and I 
 recommend the passage of a law authorizing the Register to re- 
 tain from the assessments in each case a sum sufficient to satisfy 
 all claims of the character mentioned, that shall be furnished 
 him with satisfactory evidence of their correctness, until such 
 claims are satisfied, or to pay the same to the claimants them- 
 selves after a specified period of time has elapsed, and the con- 
 tractor still refuses or fails to satisfy them. This would save 
 the officers of the Corporation much annoyance and trouble 
 from this class of men, who entertain the idea, to some extent, 
 that the city is bound to see them paid, and clamor month after 
 month for their money, when in reality the contractor is the 
 only party to whom they can legally look for their dues. But 
 should not the Corporation, so far as it is in its power, protect 
 these people from loss through designing contractors? 
 
 SCAVENGERS AND NIGHT SOIL. 
 
 I have on several occasions called the attention of tlie Coun- 
 cils to the great difficulties under which the scavengers of the 
 city perform their labor. The point has been reached at last 
 when their operations must cease o» legislation must afford them 
 relief The plan of deodorizing the night soil, which can be 
 done at a trifling expense, appears the most feasible ; but the 
 whole subject requires investigation and intelligent action, and 
 I trust it will not be overlooked or postponed. 
 
 STREET RAILROADS. 
 
 Your attention is called to the condition of the street rail- 
 roads, neither of which complies with the requirements of its 
 charter in relation to keeping the spaces between the rails and 
 tracks, and for two feet outside the rails, paved and in proper 
 
29 
 condition. This is an evil requiring speedy and prompt action 
 Incorporated companies having valuable franchises within the 
 limits of the city should he made to comply with the laws giv- 
 ing them a corporate existence, or to surrender the privileges 
 granted them that they may revert to the Corporation 
 
 RAILROAD Communications with Washington. 
 The want of railroads communicating with the city, north, 
 south, east and west, has long been felt, and the subject has been 
 so thoroughly discussed and is so well understood by all that 
 it would be superfluous in me to attempt to add anything to 
 awaken an interest in its importance. 1 will therefore content 
 myself with the statement that, in my opinion, it will be neces- 
 sary for this Corporation, unless it is wiihng that all the chan- 
 nels of trade, commerce, manufactures and material wealth shall 
 be forever closed against it and diverted to rival cities ; unless 
 we are satisfied to lie idle and suffer the tide of progress and 
 prosperity, ready to flow in upon us, to recede; unless we wish 
 to have renewed the agitation of the subject of the removal of 
 the capital of the nation to some more enterprising city of the 
 far West ; we must be up and doing, and provide for more cheap 
 and more accommodating means of travel and freight to and 
 from this city. We cannot, therefore, do better than to turn 
 our attention to this subject, and endeavor to obtain from Con- 
 gress authority to subscribe to the capital stock of such rail- 
 roads as are in contemplation or cource of construction communi- 
 cating with this city, or to issue bonds to a proper amount to aid 
 in their completion. Xo other investment could be made that 
 would yield such profitable returns. 
 
 MANUFACTUttING CAPITAL NEEDED. 
 
 With additional railroads freights will be cheapened, the 
 cost of provisions and raw materials lessened, and manufactures 
 such as our almost unequaled water-power invites would soon 
 follow, and with them an era of improvement and progress 
 hitherto unknown. We should not be satisfied to let the future 
 growth of our city depend merely on the fact that it is the 
 nation's capital, and that the GovernmenJ; supports a large pop- 
 
80 
 
 Illation by the payment of large salaries to its officials located 
 here. We have other and niore important resources, and it is 
 our plain duty to cause them to be developed. This done, the 
 threat too often made of a removal of the seat of the govern- 
 ment of the United States need have no terrors for any of us. 
 
 CAKE xMiCESSARY IN LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING IMPAOVEMENTS, 
 
 1 cannot too strongly urge upon the Councils the necessity of 
 great care in passing bills calling for appropriations of monev 
 from the city treasury. Bills of this character authorizing im- 
 provements to be made often embarrass the Executive of the 
 city, who is compelled by the importunities of parties interested 
 to order the work to be done, and thus to involve an expendi- 
 ture not perhaps absolutely necessary. Nor should any work 
 be authorized involving an expense beyond the original appro- 
 pruition, to fix the amount of which a careful estimate should 
 be required of the city official under whose supervision the 
 work is to be done. The practice of requiring the Mayor to 
 contract for grading and graveling streets at a price per yard, 
 and appropriating a few hundred dollars therefor, when it will 
 require more than as many thousands to pay for it, cannot be 
 too strongl}^ condemned. It is impossible for any one to esti- 
 mate the expense of the Corporation from year to year so long 
 as it continues. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 During the past year our city has been wonderfully favored, 
 for which we have abundant cause to render thanks to that 
 Divine Power that watches over and controls all things for the 
 benefit of His creatures. We have been blessed with health. 
 Peace and prosperity have abounded. No calamities by fire or 
 flood have overtaken us. Crimes of great aud less magnitude have 
 been few compared with other cities similarly circumstanced, 
 and law, order, and propriety have generally been observed by 
 all classes of our people. Intemperance, that bane of many 
 who would otherwise be ornaments to society and useful to the 
 world, is largely on the decrease, and it is now a rare circum- 
 stance that an intoxicated person is seen in the street. Reforms 
 
31 
 
 are general, and, unless something intervenes to stop their 
 progress, we will soon be more free from vices incident to 
 large cities than any other city in the IJnion. The many 
 calamities that were to befal us in case of emancipation and 
 universal suffrage have proved mere phantoms of the brains of 
 disordered and improfitahle prophets, whose wish was undoubt- 
 edly "father to the thought." 
 
 The comparatively insignificant though unfortunate disturb- 
 ance which took place in the Second Ward in this city on the 
 occasion of the recent municipal election, would be deemed 
 unworthy of mention' as an exception to these remarks, were 
 it not, for the extravagant exaggerations in relation thereto 
 which have been circulated throughout the country for political 
 effect, and to the detriment of the fair fame of this capital. It 
 is well known in the community where this disorder occurred 
 that it was provoked by acts of the most offensive and exaspe- 
 rating character on the part of a single individual who had 
 before rendered himself personally obnoxious to numbers of his 
 fellow-citizens by dishonest practices. The violence, therefore, 
 while it was without justification and is deeply to be regre'ted, 
 had far more of personal than of political significance, and it 
 was happily suppressed without loas of life or of property. 
 
 The masses of our people are becoming more and more 
 enlightened and moral. Old prejudices and animosities, engen- 
 dered by the slave system, are disappearing. Free schools will 
 soon be open to all, and every child in our midst, who will, may 
 have the benefits of a good education. 
 
 Within the past year the people have placed in the executive 
 chair of the nation the great soldier who conquered a peace and 
 brought traitors to a realizing sense of what it is to make war on 
 the Government; an! only one month ago the people of this eit}'" 
 again proved their capacity for self government, their ability to 
 vote and act intelligently, by electing the friends of freedom, 
 the friends of equal rights in all that pertains to manhood and 
 the elevation and pr()gi-ess of the human race, to legislate for 
 and rule over them an 1 the city, by majorities as unexpected as 
 they were decide:! and significant. What may we not reasonably 
 
32 
 
 expect lo result from u coiiibiuatiou of favors and circumstances 
 such as are here related ? 
 
 For blessings such as these should we not be thankful ? And 
 while we render thanks for the past, let us prove ourselves 
 worthy of future blessings by making use of those faculties with 
 which Providence has endowed us to improve our own and the 
 condition of our fcilow man ; to develop the resources placed 
 within our reach ; to keep pace with the onward and upward 
 march of the age, and to render our beautiful city what it was 
 designed by its exalted and beloved founder to be, worthy the 
 American people, and worthy of being knowip and honored as 
 the capital of the greatest, tne freest, and the most enlightened 
 nation on the face of the earth. 
 
 The foregi'ing are my individual opinions and views on the 
 various matters to which they relate. I'hey are communicated 
 to you for your consideration and action. If they meet with 
 your favor and regard 1 shall be gratified ; if not, and the 
 Councils agree ^^o reject them and substitute those of their own, 
 it will be my aim aud purpose to co-operate with them and carry 
 out the will of the majority. I am ready to submit to any 
 sacrifice of opinion in order to secure harmony between the 
 dift'erent departments, and to maintain the best interests of the 
 city. 
 
 Invoking the aid of Almighty God in your deliberations and 
 action, and His continued blessing on our beloved city, I trust 
 that our counsels may be so guided as to effect the greatest good 
 to the o-rcatest number, both to ourselves and our posterity. 
 Very respectful!}-, your obedient servant, 
 
 S. J. Bo WEN, Mayor. 
 
REPORT OF THE WATER REGISTRAR. 
 
 Office of Water Registrar, City Hall, 
 
 Washington, D. C, July 2, 1869. 
 /fon. Saxles y. Bowcn^ Mayor: 
 
 Sir : — I have the honor to submit the following report 
 for transmission to the Boards of the City Council : 
 
 The last annual report made by m}^ predecessor in 
 office, so far as I have been able to ascertain, was dated 
 March i, 1864, and hence I am not afforded such data, 
 and such a continuous exhibition of the condition of our 
 water distribution and of the transactions of this office 
 up to the date of my accession thereto, as would render 
 an annual report at this time a simple statement of the 
 business of the office for the past fiscal year. Without, 
 therefore, any report of last year as a basis, I shall aim 
 to make a general statement of the transactions of the 
 office for the year ending on the 30th ultimo, together 
 with such facts and suggestions as may possibly be of 
 interest to yourself, the Councils, and the public, and 
 afford some information which may be useful in framing- 
 future legislation for the government and improvement 
 of the Water Department. An ordinance of the Corpo- 
 ration contemplates an annual report from the Water 
 Registrar in January ; but to accord with our general 
 system, and in consideration of the fact that I had then 
 been in office but a fraction of a year, I have deemed it 
 more essential that it should embrace the fiscal year, and 
 have acted accordingly. 
 
 I entered upon my duties as Water Registrar on the 
 nth of July last, without the privilege of such introduc- 
 tion to its varied duties as is customarv from an outcjoina' 
 to an incoming public officer — but soon familiarized my- 
 self with the work to be done. There were no books in 
 the office showing the condition of the Water Fund or 
 of the accounts of the retiring officer, and none have 
 since been received. This is a matter, however, which 
 belongs to the Councils rather than myself; but if records 
 
34 
 
 had been kept as a part of the system of the office show- 
 ing the amount of receipts from each source of its reve- 
 nue, they would be very valuable for preservation and 
 reference, and would have rendered unnecessary much 
 of the labor which I have had in preparing some of the 
 statistics of this report. 
 
 When I entered upon the duties of this office it was 
 an active part of the year in respect of making new water 
 connections, making up the assessment of water tax 
 for a portion of the mains laid in 1867, collecting the 
 water tax, of which one instalment falls due annually 
 in July, and preparing to lay new mains, while a large 
 number of water rents for 1868 remained to be collected, 
 repairs to be made, &c. 
 
 WATER RENTS. 
 
 The whole number of water rents at the present date, 
 with a general classification, and the annual value of the 
 rents of each class, is shown by the following table, as 
 made up from the books of the office ; but this is not a 
 correct criterion of the actual receipts from this source, 
 lor the reason that in some cases the water has been 
 taken for only a part of the 3'ear ; in others it has been, 
 for various reasons, temporarily discontinued, while in a 
 few instances it is still due and unpaid. 
 
 Classilication of Rents. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Private Dwellings, 
 
 4,053 
 
 119,676 70 
 
 Hotels, Restaurauts, and Bars, 
 
 174 
 
 3,628 00 
 
 Stores, Banks, &c.. 
 
 122 
 
 039 00 
 
 Gas Holders, 
 
 3 
 
 200 00 
 
 Engines (Locomotive,) 
 
 9 
 
 800 00 
 
 Engines (Stationary,) 
 
 22 
 
 411 00 
 
 Stables, 
 
 72 
 
 665 75 
 
 Breweries'^ 
 
 12 
 
 333 15 
 
 Barber Shops and Public Baths, 
 
 16 
 
 183 00 
 
 Bakeries and Conl'ectionaries, 
 
 16 
 
 57 00 
 
 Miscellaneous, 
 
 17 
 
 198 50 
 
 Churches, Public Schools, and Chari- 
 
 
 
 table Institutions, tor which there is 
 
 
 
 no charge. 
 
 92 
 
 
 Total, 
 
 4,607 
 
 135,787 10 
 
'6n 
 
 On :i:he 31st of December, 1863, the last date to which 
 I find any similar report, the whole number of water- 
 takers was 2,098, and the value of the water rents $14,- 
 -822 75, showing an increase in the past five and a half 
 years of 2,509 in the number of places supplied wdth Po- 
 tomac water, and of $10,964 35 in the annual value of 
 the rents. In this statement the public buildings and 
 other establishments belonging to, or occupied by, the 
 General Government are not taken into the account. 
 
 The number of places supplied with Potomac water for 
 die first time during the year ending on the 30th ult., is 
 809, and that number of taps has consequently been made 
 by the Inspector and Tapper of Water Mains. 
 
 The amount actually collected for water rents during 
 the past fiscal year is $25,110 51. Of this sum $2,442 66 
 is for rents of 1868, and of which $2,277 4^ was collec- 
 ted by me ; $22,667 §5 is for rents of 1869, making the 
 total amount of water rents collected by me during the 
 fiscal year $24,945 26. 
 
 In this connection I would say that, by the munificent 
 provision made by the General Government for supplying 
 this city with-water, our citizens are aflforded one great 
 convenience and necessity at a much lower rate than is 
 paid therefor in other places ; and by a comparison of 
 our water rates with those of the other principal cities of 
 the country I find that they are, on an average, not more 
 than one-fifth as high. In no city have the officers of the 
 water department been less inquisitorial in examining as 
 lo the use of water or allowed a more liberal consumption 
 Avithout extra charge. This leniency is often abused by 
 -an extravagant use and waste of water, which the grow- 
 ing shortness of our suppl}^ requires should be remedied. 
 Our basis of assessing water rents is, for domestic use, 
 the number of stories and front width of the house sup- 
 plied, which, after a careful examination of the systems 
 adopted in other cities, I am satisfied is best adapted to 
 our circumstances. Were our rates higher, it would be 
 well to take into account the number of rooms in each 
 iiouse, and also to make a separate charge for street 
 washer, water closet, bath tub, &c : but without increas- 
 
36 
 
 ing our general rates these items are too small to com- 
 pensate for the extra labor and expense of their assess- 
 ment and collection. For hotels and other establish- 
 ments requiring a large supply of water, the use of water 
 meters would, in my opinion, be a very great improve- 
 ment, and probably save a very large quantity of water 
 which is so much needed for ordinar}^ domestic purposes 
 in the more elevated parts of the city. The use of meters 
 is increasing in other cities, and I would recommend their 
 adoption for hotels, breweries, steam engines, gas works^ 
 stables, and similar establishments, which now pa}- a 
 fixed water rent, generally inadequate and often but 
 loosely proportioned to the amount of water used. Both 
 by preventing waste and by an increase of revenue would 
 the city be repaid for the cost of the meters, var3dngfrom 
 $20 to $40 each, should authority be given for their pur- 
 chase and adoption. The imperfection of such meters 
 has retarded their coming into general use, but late im- 
 provements have been achieved which render them both 
 accurate and practicable. 
 
 WATER TAXES. 
 
 A tax of seven-eighths of one cent per square foot is 
 assessed upon all property binding upon a street where a 
 water main is laid, to reimburse the expense of laying 
 the same, which is pa3^able in five annual instalments, or 
 in one payment, with a discount of six -per cent., at the 
 option of the owner of the property. The amount of this 
 tax collected during the past fiscal year is $28,361 10. 
 The whole amount collected since the same was first as- 
 sessed in 1865, as I have made the compilation from the 
 thousands of margins of receipts given therefor, is $143,- 
 624 78. The amount of such tax assessed and remaining 
 unpaid, as obtained by a somewhat laborious process ^ 
 with the proportion which was over-due prior to the ist 
 instant, and that which falls due the present month, and 
 on the ist of July in the subsequent years, is shown by 
 the following table, as also the different years in which 
 the same was assessed. The taxes of 1865 and 1866 are 
 included under one head, as they both draw interest from 
 the same date. 
 
37 
 
 Table showing amount of outstanding Water Tax^ ifc. 
 
 Date of Assessment. 
 
 Over- due June Not due June 
 30, 1869. 30, 1869. 
 
 Taxes of 1865 aud 1866, 
 Accrued Interest, 
 Tax of 1867, 
 Accrued Interest, 
 Tax of 1868, 
 Accrued Interest, 
 Tax of 1869. 
 
 119,204 72 $27,578 82 
 
 3,456 84 4,964 18 
 
 761 28 3,763 81 
 
 91 34 331 53 
 
 1,610 88 8,835 91 
 
 96 05 570 15 
 
 12,974 98 
 
 Total, 
 
 f 25, 221 71 
 
 $58,018 38 
 
 The taxes for 1865-6 were assessed, under an act of 
 Congress, upon all mains laid prior to that date, while 
 :subsequently the tax has been assessed only upon the 
 mains laid each year ; hence the large amount for those 
 years compared with the others. It is part of my experi- 
 ence to be frequently asked by persons coming to pay 
 this water tax, why, since the General Government built 
 the Aqueduct, and the owners of property pay this tax 
 for laying the mains, any rent for the use of the water 
 should be necessary. 
 
 These inquiries are answered by considering, 
 
 First. That this tax is payable in five annual instal- 
 ments, so that unless it is voluntarily paid sooner, but 
 one-fftJi of the cost of the mains is available to the water 
 fund to offset the disbursements of each year, even sup- 
 posing the above-named rate of assessment to cover the 
 expense, which is frequently not the case, owing to the 
 great width of our streets and the large amount of proper- 
 ty belonging to the General Government and not liable to 
 the tax. 
 
 Second. That almost constant, and sometimes heav}^ 
 expenditures are necessary to repair leakages in the 
 mains and prevent the damage to streets, sewers, and 
 'Other public and private property, which would be a dis- 
 astrous consequence of neglect in this particular. 
 
Third. That soon after the organization ot tlie Water 
 Department, ten years ago, a laan of $155,000 \va& 
 deemed necessary in order to extend the circulation of 
 water from the few main arteries provided by the General 
 Government, bv la3-ing new water mains, prior to the 
 authorization of this tax, and water stock was issued for 
 that amount, upon which the interest has been regularly 
 paid, but to meet the principal of wdiich, to fall due as 
 hereinafter stated, no surplus or sinking fund, has ac- 
 cumulated from the revenues of this office ; and 
 
 Fourth. That the fire hydrants, of the most approved 
 and efficient pattern novv' in use, have been erected along 
 the lines of the water mains to the number of about five 
 hundred, which, as safeguards against the destruction of 
 property, certainly enhance its value in a ratio far ex- 
 ceeding their cost. 
 
 Thus it becomes necssary to supply this defficiency, 
 for the time being, in the tax intended to cover the ex- 
 pense of laying the mains, (four-ritths of it being in de- 
 terred payments), as well as to defray tlie expense of re- 
 pairs and tire hydrants, above-named, and what source 
 at once so appropriate, just and equitable as a moder- 
 ate charge for the use of water? 
 
 REPAIRS. 
 
 During the year repairs of some eighty leakages in 
 mains, stops and fire hydrants have been made, new 
 stop-boxes have been put in at the street crossings where- 
 ever rendered necessary by tlie decay of the old ones, 
 some thirty stops have been paved around, to the great 
 improvement of the streets and increased safety of travel. 
 At the Centre market, on my accession to office, the fire 
 hydrants, being of the old pattern, were in a leaky con- 
 dition, and while they were of little or no service in the 
 important respect of cleansing the market and protecting 
 it from fire, the}^ were very active agents in the wa.ste of 
 water. 
 
 These hydrants were replaced by others ^ and those in. 
 the Northern Liberty market have been repaired, and 
 one in the Western market. All this work under the 
 head of "Repairs" has been done by tlie Lispector and, 
 
39 
 
 Tapper of Water Mains, under my direction, who has 
 employed men for that purpose, from time to time, in- 
 stead of ordering it done by plumbers or contractors, as 
 has heretofore generally been the case. 
 
 I am satisfied that the result has been, owing in no 
 small degree to the thorough competency of the Inspector 
 and Tapjier of Mains and his devotion to his duties, a 
 great saving of expense, as well as the giving work to 
 poor men who greatly need it. As an example, the price 
 paid heretofore tor paving around stops, by contract, has 
 been $io each, while the paving of the thirty above- 
 named cost but $3 each, the necessary stones being pro- 
 cured from the Ward Commissioners without expense to 
 the city. All the stops at the intersection of streets 
 should be paved, as otherwise the tops or plates are 
 knocked off by vehicles and openings left which are 
 dangerous and might involve the Corporation in suits for 
 damages. The expense is properly chargeable to the 
 appropriation for " Incidental Expenses of La^nng Water 
 Mains," which should be made large enough for the 
 purpose, or a special appropriation made theretbr. 
 
 By the grading of K street, some 150 feet of water 
 pipe laid by the War Department to the Deaf and Dumb 
 Asylum was left above ground. This was relaid and 
 the expense charged to the appropriation for " Repairs," 
 as was that of resetting stop-boxes and fire-plugs, which 
 was rendered necessary by grading or the change of 
 grades. 
 
 LAYING OF WATER MAINS. 
 
 During the past season, after my accession to office, 
 some 15,000 feet of 6-inch water mains were procured 
 and laid in such localities as seemed, after a careful ex- 
 amination of the whole ground and a collation of thenu- 
 merous acts authorizing the laying of water mains, most 
 urgently to need them, regard being had to a fair dis- 
 tribution of the same to the different parts of the city, the 
 tinmber of houses that would be thereby accommodated 
 and protection which would be afforded against fire in 
 localities otherwise very much exposed. This was all 
 the pipe which the limited resources of the water fund 
 
40 
 
 and the appropriation therefor would allow, although if 
 was very tar from meeting the demand. It is proposed 
 to lay about 20,000 feet of 6-inch mains during the pres- 
 ent season, and the work is now in progress. 
 
 Fire-plugs were erected along all the lines of the new 
 mains, so that protection to property is made to keep 
 pace with the convenience of a supply of water. During 
 last fall twenty-three fire-plugs were erected, in addition 
 to those placed in the Centre market, the expense of 
 which was paid out of the water fund, though charge- 
 able, under an act of the Corporation, to the several 
 Ward funds. 
 
 A water main was laid last fall by the Freedmen's 
 Bureau from the intersection of East Capitol and east 
 Third streets to its tenement houses, seventy-six in num- 
 ber, erected in square number 1,054, extending from 
 east Third street along East Capitol street to east 
 Eleventh street, thence along east Eleventh to north B 
 street, along north B to Tennessee avenue, thence along 
 Tennessee avenue to north C street, thence along north 
 C to east Fifteenth street, with branches along east and 
 west sides of the square. This is a 6-inch main as far 
 as east Fourteenth street, and the balance is 4-inch, 
 making 6,793 feet of the former, and 1,275 of the latter 
 size. It was laid in anticipation of its future purchase 
 by the Corporation, and was therefore done under the 
 general supervision of this office, and in accordance with 
 its regulations for laying- mains. 
 
 The subject was presented to the late Councils in a 
 communication of his honor, the Mayor, and the proper 
 Committee has been furnished w^ith the necessary data 
 for its adjustment.. 
 
 There is a larg-e number of 4-inch water mains in 
 different parts of the citv, which were laid during the war 
 by the Qiiartermaster's Department, but which are no- 
 longer required for its use. Brevet Brigadier General J. 
 C. McFerran. Deputy Quartermaster General, has trans- 
 mitted me a list of these mains and proposed their purchase 
 by the city at an appraised valuation to be made by a 
 person acting on behalf of his Department and one acting- 
 on behalf of the citv. Some of these niains would be of 
 
41 
 
 good service, and as they can doubtless be purchased for 
 a small sum compared with their cost, and most of them be 
 put to some use, the proposition is worthy of consideration 
 by the appropriate committees of the Councils. The main 
 on Eighth street west, extending from N street to Boun- 
 dary, is one of those included in the list above-named, 
 and his honor, the Mayor, united with me in recommend- 
 ing to the late Councils its purchase at the appraised 
 value of twenty-five cents per foot, but an act which 
 passed one of the Boards for that purpose failed to pass 
 the other, which I much regret, especially as, b^^the per- 
 mission of the Qiiartermaster General, we had tapped 
 the main in several instances, and our citizens are enjoy- 
 ing thebenefits of it. Its purchase w^ould be a greatsaving 
 of expense and afford an adequate supply of water to res- 
 idents along its line for man}^ years to come, if not ahvays. 
 The reason why the act for its purchase did not pass would 
 seem to be the hope that Congress would donate it to 
 the city, but there are other and greater matters in which 
 we may ask Congressional aid, and if we expect help in 
 those we should show a willingness to help ourselves, at 
 least in smaller ones. 
 
 RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES. 
 
 The receipts of this office for the year ending June 30, 
 1869, which have been deposited in the designated bank, 
 were as follows : 
 
 Receipts from water taxes, ----- ^28,361 02 
 " " " rents, - - - . - 24,945 26 
 
 " " taps and permits, - - - - 2,395 00 
 
 $55,701 28 
 Water taxes collected by A. G. Hall, Col- 
 lector, and deposited to credit of 
 water fund, ---- - -- - 290 23 
 
 Total receipts of water fund, - - $55^991 Si 
 
 The expenses have been, including every debt con- 
 tracted, as follows : 
 
 For Water Mains and Fire Plugs, - - - $17,47866 
 Laying Mains, -------- 2,468 24 
 
42 
 
 Interest on Water Stock, (one year's in- 
 terest on $155,000.) - _ - - 9,300 00 
 Salaries, - --------- 5,821 66 
 
 Repair of Water Mains, ----- i'.427 00 
 
 Incidental expenses of laying Water 
 
 Mains, --------.- 1706 90 
 
 Contingent expenses, including station- 
 ery, printing, keeping horse, repair 
 of office, &c., ------- 868 53 
 
 Water Wagon, (special appropriation) - 247 00 
 
 Total, - - - $38,317 99 
 Balance, receipts over expenses, - - 17,673 52 
 
 n99i 51 
 If to the above balance be added the balance to the 
 
 credit of the Water Fund June 30, 1868, namely, 
 $4,066 86, it will increase the balance to the credit of this 
 fund on June 30, 1869, to $21,740 38. Any variance 
 between this and the exhibit of the City Register will be 
 owing to the fact that his statement and that of the bank 
 are necessarily made up at an earlier date, while this 
 statement purports to give an exhibit of the condition of 
 the Water Fund without reference to the balancing of 
 books, and contains some items still outstanding. The 
 appropriations made by the late Councils, which were 
 of specific sums, out of the Water Fund, were as fol- 
 lows : 
 For Salaries, ---------- $6,255 0° 
 
 Repair of Water Mains. &c., - - - 2,000 00 
 Incidental expenses of laving Water 
 
 Mains, --------- 2,000 00 
 
 Contingent expenses, - - - - - 2,000 00 
 
 Purchaseof Water Wagon, - - - - 250 00 
 
 I therefore have the satisfaction of stating that the 
 several items of expense, as shown above, fall far below 
 the amounts appropriated. For the year ending June 
 30, 1868, with the same amounts appropriated, the ex- 
 penses were as follows : 
 For Salaries, ---------- $6,508 00 
 
 Repair of Water Mains, - - - - 2,719 20 
 
43 
 
 Incidental expenvses of laying Water 
 
 Mains, -----"'---- 4,675 13 
 
 Contingent expenses, ----- 311 96 
 
 The total expenditureg of the Water Fund for that 
 year having been $56,905 62, against $38,317 99, for 
 the year just closed. To the above balance of receipts 
 over expenses for the past year may properly be added 
 the amount chargeable to the Ward Funds, for the erec- 
 tion of Fire Plugs, and which is really due from them 
 to the Water Funds, namely, $1,870. This would in- 
 crease the balance of the past year to $19,543 52, and 
 the present balance to $23,610 38. 
 
 This statement w^ould present the Water Fund in a 
 false light, were it not borne in mind that loans have been 
 made, from time to time, tor the use of the Water Depart- 
 ment, first, by virtue of an act of Congress authorizing 
 the issue of 6 per cent. Water Stock to an amount not 
 exceeding $150,000, and, second, by virtue of an act of 
 the Councils approved September 7, 1865, authorizing the 
 Mayor " to anticipate the revenue of the Water Fund to 
 the amount of $30,000, for the purpose of purchasing- 
 pipe, to be laid during the ensuing year." 
 
 The amount of Water Stock issued and loans made 
 during the several 3^ears, as made up from the different 
 reports of the City Register, is as follows : 
 
 For the year ending June 30, i860, - - . $72,000 
 
 " " " " " " 1861, - - - - 32,000 
 
 " " " " " " 1863, - - - 15,000 
 
 " " " " " " 1864, - - - - 34,500 
 
 Loan for the year ending June 30, 1866, as 
 
 per act of Councils, ------- 20,000 
 
 Total, - - - - $173,500 
 
 There is a discrepancy between the City Register's re- 
 port for the year ending June 30, 1864, and the Water 
 Stock Books, the latter showing the issue of $36,000 of 
 stock during that year, instead of $34,500, as given 
 above, and the interest is paid each year out of the Water 
 Fund on $155,000 of Water Stock, viz. $9,300, proving 
 the error to have been in the Register's report, which has 
 
44 
 
 been continued through subsequent exhibits of the Water 
 Fund. There are no books in this oifice, showing the 
 receipts and disbursements of the Water Fund heretofore, 
 but as collated from tlie reports of the City Register lor 
 the several years, they have been as follows : 
 
 The actual receipts of the Water Fund to June 30, 
 1869, exclusive of loans, $286,823 5^ ; actual expendi- 
 tures to same date, $438,583 18. Balance of e?vpendi- 
 tures over actual receipts, $151,759 62. The loans 
 amount to $173,500, which makes the total receipts from 
 all sources $459,323 56, and giving the balance, as here- 
 inbefore stated, of $20,740 38. Were the outstanding 
 Wafer Taxes all paid there would remain a balance of 
 expenditures over receipts, exclusive of loans, of $67,- 
 519 53, and a balance of receipts, including loans, over 
 expenditures, of $103,980 09. The aWter Stock runs 
 ten years from date of issue, and falls due as follows : 
 During the year ending June 30, 1870, - $72, 000 00 
 " "• " " " " 1871, - 32,000 00 
 
 " 1873, - 15,000 00 
 " •' " " 1874, - 36,000 00 
 
 This debt cannot be regarded in the light of a blessing, 
 whatever may be the fact in regard to the national one, 
 and although, with proper authority, it can doubtless be 
 renewed, yet its payment at as early a day as practica- 
 ble should be aimed at, thus to relieve the at er Fund 
 of the annual interest, which is no small draught upon 
 its resources. 
 
 The ater Rents are constantl}^ and steadih^ increas- 
 ing, and with a careful husbanding of resources, an an- 
 nual balance can, in my opinion, be saved and appro- 
 priated to the extinguishment of this debt, on the basis 
 of no extraordinar}^ expenditures being called for within 
 the next few 3^ears. 
 
 SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION OF WATER. 
 
 The increasing consvimption, and inadequate supply 
 of water, however, present a serious subject for the 
 consideration of the Councils. The source of our sup- 
 ply at the Great Falls of the Potomac is equal to all 
 future possibilities, but the two mains from the reservoir 
 
45 
 
 to the citv are taxed to suppl}' the consumption, which 
 is enormous in proportion to our population ; and the 
 small size, and. in some instances, the almost isolation, 
 of the mains extending long distances from the larger 
 feeders, occasions great complaint from those residing in 
 the more elevated and more remote portions of the city, by 
 reason of the water being nearly exhausted before reach- 
 ing such localities. This is especially the case during the 
 principal part of the day in midsummer, when the drain 
 is at its maximum, it being only at night and early morn- 
 ing that these remoter and more elevated points are 
 afforded their necessary supply. The average daily 
 consumption of water in this city and Georgetown for 
 the past vear was over 12,000,000 gallons, a quantity 
 which would appear far in excess of the requirements of 
 our population, although the consumption at the Navy 
 Yard and for other purposes of the Government is very 
 great. Estimating the population of the two cities at 
 150,000, this gives So gallons as the average daily con- 
 sumption of every man, woman and child, while much 
 less than one-half of that quantity is the allowance usual- 
 ly made in calculations relating to aqueducts and water 
 distribution. 
 
 When it is further considered that wells are quite 
 extensively used, and that the whole number of places 
 using aqueduct water in this city, aside from Government 
 buildings, is but 4,607, the consumption, compared with 
 that ot other large cities, would seem incomprehensible, 
 except upon the theory that people waste without stint 
 that which is furnished so cheaply and without measure- 
 ment. 
 
 Take, for illustration, the following- named cities : 
 
 Cincinnati, population about 250,000 ; average daily 
 consumption of water for the past 3'ear, 7,623,325 gal- 
 lons ; Water Rents collected $334,804 82. 
 
 Chicago, population about 252,000; average dail}' 
 consumption of water for the year ending March 31, 
 1868, 11,560,730 gallons; Water Rents collected $337,- 
 
 371 77- , 
 
 Boston, population 230,000; average daily consump- 
 tion of water for the year ending April 30, 1868, was 
 
46 
 
 13,5655006 gallons, with 28,104 establishments supplied^ 
 Eind the Water Rents collected amounted to $550,000 
 
 Detroit, population 75,000 ; average daily comsump- 
 tion of water for last year, 4,565,877 gallons, with 11,544 
 families supplied and 155 stationary engines ; Water 
 Rents collected $106,399 14. 
 
 To remedy our defective supply several plansare 
 available, and 
 
 First. I wovikl mention the feasibility of so limiting 
 the waste and excessive use by the adoption of meters as 
 hereinbefore suggested, by placing the public hydrants, 
 which are so often out of order and the cause of immense 
 waste, under the charge of this office, and by a rigid 
 enforcement of the laws and regulations upon the subject 
 of the use and w^aste of water, that our present supply 
 shall be adequate to all present legitimate demands. 
 
 Second. Should an increased supply still be required, 
 a new main from the reservoir, extending through the 
 northern part of the city, would afford a supply limited 
 only b}^ the size of the main laid. The expense of such 
 a main would be large, but if the city should take deter- 
 mined action in the matter the co-operation of Congress 
 might reasonably be hoped for. . 
 
 Third. A less expensive remedy would be to build a 
 reservoir on Meridian Hill, or in that vicinity, and fill 
 the same during the night from a main connected with 
 the 30 inch main on K street by an engine and pump 
 located near the Boundary. This would give back a 
 supply through the day, and thus afford the needy relief; 
 and, possibly it might be desirable, hereafter, to supply 
 suburban residences in that region therefrom. 
 
 QUALITY OF THE AQUEDUCT WATER. 
 
 During portions of the year the water is not as clear 
 as is desirable. The chief cause of this is the incomplete 
 condition of the Washington Aqueduct. The distribu- 
 ting reservoir, covering an area of forty-tour acres, situa- 
 ted near "Drovers' Rest," became in such a damaged 
 condition in November last, by reason of the washing 
 away of its embankments, that the water was drawn off, 
 and it has not since been used, and probably will not be 
 
47 
 
 until an appropriation shall be made by Congress to line 
 its banks with masonr\'. This reservoir was intended to 
 afford an opportunity for the water to settle before enter- 
 ing the mains ; and the consequence of its disuse has 
 been that the water, coming more directly from the Poto- 
 mac, without filtration or the chance to settle, has been 
 muddy when the Potomac has been swollen by rains ; 
 and the receiving reservoir, being the natural receptacle 
 of a large amount of surface drainage, is not likely to be 
 clearer than the river itself, and at the present time, 
 while certain repairs are being made the water passes 
 through no reservoir, so that while this Aqueduct is a 
 blessing hardly to be over-estimated, yet its completion 
 is "a consummation devoutly to be wished." 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 S. R. BOND, 
 Water Registrar . 
 
 KEPOUT OF THE EIJIE COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 Office of Fire Commissioners of the City of 
 Washington. 
 
 Washington, Jul}- ist, 1869. 
 To the Honorable Board of Aldermen and Board 0/ 
 Common Council of Washington City : 
 
 Gentlemen : — It affords us much pleasure to submit 
 to your honorable bodies the Fifth Annual Report of 
 the Washington City Fire Department, containing a 
 carefully prepared statement of the financial operations 
 of this Board, together with the reports of the Chief En- 
 gineer, and Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Tele- 
 graph, inventory of property, list of fires and alarms, list 
 of members of the department, and a list of stations of 
 the fire alarm telegraph. 
 
 When we entered upon the discharge of our duties. 
 
48 
 
 we found three of the companies disorganized, the 
 houses in need of repairs, and refurnishing ; several 
 horses unserviceable, and the treasury empty, besides a 
 large floating debt, and a disposition on the part of many 
 of our citizens not to credit us. 
 
 This state of affairs necessitated a large expenditure, 
 more than will probably be required during the coming 
 year, as all of the engines are now in thorough repair, 
 and our stock in good condition ; and we believe the de- 
 partment to be more effective than at any previous stage 
 of its existence. 
 
 Our losses by tire have been very small, compared 
 with those of previous years. 
 
 Your honorable bodies, having authorized the purchase 
 and equipment of two new steam tire engines, we have 
 taken the preliminary steps towards securing them, and 
 trust that we shall soon be able to have them in opera- 
 tion. 
 
 We recommend the sale of the Franklin engine house, 
 No. 2, and the removal of the engine to some point north 
 of Pennsylvania avenue, as the house will soon require 
 extensive repairs, and its removal would, in our opinion, 
 add greatly to the effectiveness of the department. Ar- 
 ranp;ements should be made for the removal of the Co- 
 lumbia engine house, No. 3, as the Government will 
 soon require the ground on which it now stands. Also 
 that a sufficient amount be appropriated to build an en- 
 gine house in the southern section of the city. 
 
 The Board would ask that two hundred copies of their 
 report be printed for the use of the department. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 Geo. W. Goodall, 
 Wm. H. Gorbutt, 
 Jno. H. Johnson, 
 Charles King, 
 Board of -Fire Commissioners. 
 
 E. L. CORBIN, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
49 
 
 Expenses of the Washington City Fire Department for the year ending 
 June 30, 1869. 
 
 Repairs to engines, &c $3,885 19 
 
 Fuel ; 534 55 
 
 Feed 2,883 69 
 
 Gas 1,378 80 
 
 Horse Shoeing 183 35 
 
 Miscellaneous 6,830 78 
 
 Total expenses 14,684 36 
 
 Appropriations and Disbursements. 
 
 Nov. 9, 1868. Amount appropriated for 
 compensation to the Chief 
 Engineer and employees of 
 the Fire Department, for 
 the fiscal year ending June 
 
 80th, 1869 $16,700 00 
 
 Expended for that purpose.... 16,700 00 
 
 Nov. 9, 1868. Amount appropriated for 
 compensation of Superin- 
 tendent and employees of 
 
 Fire Alarm Telegraph 3,500 00 
 
 Amount expended for that 
 purpose 3,500 00 
 
 Nov. 9, 1868. Amount appropriated for con- 
 tingent expenses of Fire 
 
 Alarm Telegraph 1,400 00 
 
 Amount expended 1,397 37 
 
 Balance unexpended $3 73 
 
 Nov. 9, 1868. Amount appropriated for the 
 contingent expenses of Fire 
 Depar'.ment for the fiscal 
 year ending June 30, 1869... 7,000 00 
 
 Marcli 19, 1869. Additional amount appropri- 
 ated for the same purpose... 1,700 00 
 
 Total amount appropriated.... 8,700 00 
 
 Bills paid during the fiscal 
 
 year 6,391 53 
 
 Amount of defalcation of W. 
 H. Stewart, late secretary... 393 84 
 
 6,684 37 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 Balance now on hand 
 
 Bills remaining unpaid 
 
 Leaving a deficiency of 
 
 March 19, 1869. Amount appropriated for defi- 
 ciency in the appropriation 
 for contingent expenses of 
 the year ending June 30th, 
 1868 1,800 00 
 
 March 8, 1869. Amount appropriated for 
 entertainment of visiting 
 
 firemen 950 00 
 
 Expended for that purpose.... 950 00 
 
 Bills remaining unpaid 
 
 Leaving a deficiency of 
 
 June 1, 18G8. Amount appropriated to pur- 
 chase Columbia, No. 3, en- 
 gine house, unexpended.... 500 00 
 
 May 24, 1869. Amount appropriated for pur- 
 chase of new engine, &c., 
 not yet expended 5,000 00 
 
 June 10, 1869. Amount appropriated for pur- 
 chase of new engine, &c., 
 not yet expended 5,000 00 
 
 2,015 63 
 8,292 73 
 6,277 10 
 
 766 50 
 766 50 
 
 10,500 00 
 
 Indebtedness prior to June 30, 1868, paid this year. 
 
 Of indebtedness existing prior 
 to June 30, 1868, there has 
 been paid during the cur- 
 rent year in ionds $4,270 53 
 
 There has been paid during 
 the present year in cash 2,319 79 
 
 Total amount paid in cash 
 and bonds f6,590 32 
 
 General Summary, 
 Total amount expended for 
 salaries for the yearjending 
 June 30, 1869 $20,200 00 
 
51 
 
 Total amount of contingent 
 
 expenses for the year end- 
 ing June 30, 1869, including 
 
 defalcation of W. H. Stew- 
 art, late Secretary 14,977 10 
 
 Total amount of expenses of 
 
 the Fire Department for the 
 
 year ending June 30, 1869, 
 
 not including the bills, &c., 
 
 made piior to June 30, 
 
 1868, and settled during the 
 
 present year 35,177 10 
 
 Total amount of bills, salaries, 
 
 •fee, that accrued prior to 
 
 June 30, 1868, but were 
 
 paid during the year ending 
 
 June 30, 1869 6,590 33 
 
 Total expense of entertaining 
 
 the visiting firemen on the 
 
 4th of March, 1869 1,716 50 
 
 Total expenditure of the Fire 
 
 Department for the year 
 
 ending June 30, | 1869, in- 
 cluding the bills contracted 
 
 prior to June 30, 1868, and 
 
 paid during the present 
 
 year 43,483 92 
 
 Washington, D. C, July i, 1869. 
 
 To the Honorable Mayor, Boards of Aldermen and 
 Common Council of the City of Washington : 
 
 Gentlemen : — I have the honor to submit to you my 
 annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1869. 
 
 As you are doubtless well aware, I assumed control 
 of the aft airs of the Fire Department one year ago, un- 
 der the most disadvantageous circumstances possible. 
 The Department came into my hands completely disor- 
 ganized, as to its members, and in utter disorder as to 
 its property. 
 
 Immediately upon the announcement of my appoint- 
 ment as Chief Engineer, the members of Engine Com- 
 
panics Nos. i and 2, and Hook and Ladder Company, 
 No. I, being bitterly opposed to me on political grounds, 
 resigned and left the engine houses in a body, thus leav- 
 ing me to begin my duties without a single man (so far 
 as the companies spoken of were concerned) to work 
 the apparatus or care for the stock left in the houses. 
 One solitary compan}^ (Columbia, No. 3) remained at 
 their post, where they still remain ; and I am happy to 
 state that I have ever found them prompt, reliable and 
 faithful in the performance of every duty, and I ieel that 
 too much praise cannot be bestowed upon them for their 
 good conduct in this particular. Had a tire of any 
 magnitude occurred just at that time the result might 
 have proved disastrous to some of the property holders 
 ot our city. In addition to this I found the engine 
 houses dismantled to a great degree (nearly everything 
 portable having been carried oft' by the outgoing compa- 
 nies) and purposely put in the worst condition possible. 
 The bath tubs and water closets were in a plight which 
 precluded all possibility of their being used in their then 
 condition ; and upon examination I discovered that the 
 escape pipes had been stopped up by ramming down 
 them soda w'ater bottles, cotton waste, old shoes, etc., 
 etc., and it was with no little labor and expense that 
 they were put in repair and rendered fit for use. No. i 
 engine was found to have been tilled with stones and 
 gravel (either by accident or design) to such a degree as 
 to make it necessary to take it apart and cleanse it before 
 it was deemed safe to put it into service. With this ex- 
 ception, the apparatus was found to be in tolerably good 
 condition, with the exception of one hose carriage which 
 it w^as found necessary to repair before putting into ser- 
 vice. 
 
 Two of the horses at No. i engine house I found to 
 be not onl}' out of service but unserviceable, and a third 
 suffering severely from disease of the kidneys. 
 
 I was considerably astonished on taking charge of the 
 property of the Department to ftnd a great discrepencj^ 
 betw^een the statements contained in the inventories ac- 
 companying the last annual report of the outgoing Chief 
 Engineer and the actual facts in the case. The last re- 
 
 c5 
 
53 
 
 port of the late Chief Engineer was made on the ist of 
 July, and I took charge of the affairs of the Department 
 on the 9th of the same month. To my surprise, I dis- 
 covered that very many of the articles entered in the 
 inventories attached to his report as on hand (among 
 other articles, a large quantity of feed, a lot of coal, 
 combs, brushes, &c., &c.,) were not to be found; and 
 of the other articles which were inventoried as on hand, 
 without any intimation of their being unserviceable, a 
 very large majority — I should think at least two-thirds — 
 were badly out of repair and the greater portion of them 
 totally unfit for use. The furniture in all the houses, 
 except No. i, was in bad condition, being much worn 
 and dilapidated. Many of the articles were beyond re- 
 pair and had to be replaced with new. The mattresses, 
 sheets, pillow cases and blankets were unfit for use, and 
 it was found necessar}- to re-furnish all the houses, save 
 one, with these articles. 
 
 This is the condition in which the Department was 
 found when it came into my hands, and I immediately took 
 measures to thoroughly reorganize it and put it in good 
 working order. My first step was, of course, to re-fill the 
 companies left vacant by the resignations before spoken 
 of; and it is hardly necessary to narrate to you here 
 with whet bitter opposition and open animosity I was met 
 at every step of m}^ endeavors. Suffice it to say that 
 in a very short space of time, I had reorganized those 
 companies, placing in them as members persons whom 
 I believe to be quite as reliable, prompt and efficient, as 
 any who went before them ; and it is with sincere plea- 
 sure that I now report to you that the whole Department 
 is in excellent working order. The houses are well fur- 
 nished and comfortable ; the stock is in fine condition and 
 the apparatus in thorough repair ; and the men under 
 my control are prompt, energetic, efficient and willing, 
 and I think I may safely say that the Department has 
 never been more effective than now. 
 
 Appended, will be found an inventory of the propertv 
 in the several engine houses, together with a detailed 
 statement of the fires, alarms, losses, insurance, &c., as 
 far as it was possible for me to ascertain them. 
 
54 
 
 Before closing this report, I desire to use it as a 
 medium through which to return my sincere thanks to 
 the Mayor, Board of Fire Commissioners, and their effi- 
 cient Secretary, for their unvarying kindness and cour- 
 tesy towards me, and the valuable support they have so 
 willingly extended to me in my labors during the past 
 year; also to the officers of the Fire Alarm Telegraph, 
 and to the Metropolitan Police force who have kindly ren- 
 dered me every assistance in their power. 
 
 I desire also to thank and compliment the men who 
 have served under me since the beginning of my term 
 of office. In the arduous labor they have taken upon 
 themselves — leading lives at all times fraught with dan- 
 ger — they have at all times performed their several du- 
 ties to my entire satisfaction. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 W. D. Elwood, 
 
 Chief Engineer . 
 
 Officers and Members of the Fire Department. 
 
 George W. Goodall, Charles King, John H. Johnson, 
 William H. Gorbutt — Fire Commisssioners . 
 
 W. D. Elwood — Chief Engineer. 
 
 E. L. Corbin — Acting Secretary. 
 
 J. H. Larcombe — Superintendent Fire Alarm Tele- 
 graph. 
 
 H. H. Bishop, H. R. W\\QQ—Oferators. 
 
 Steam Engine Company, No. i. 
 
 • C. T. Elwood — Foreman. 
 
 I. H. Hurdle — Engineer. 
 
 John S. Brent — Fireman. 
 
 J. W. Edmonson — Hostler. 
 
 H. C. Hensley, G. E. Ward, T. E. Venable, W. D. 
 Buckley, C. Hayden, J. F. Bright — Extramen. 
 
55 
 
 C. Day, W. Fister, F. Fugitt, W. Rowland, G. Ed- 
 wards, J. V. McGraw, J. C. McConnell — Supernufne- 
 raries. 
 
 Steam Engine Company, No. 2. 
 John Dickerson — Foreman. 
 Martin Cronin — Engineer. 
 George S. Langley — Fireman. 
 R. T. Johnson — Hostler. 
 
 Thomas Stone, F. H. Myers, Charles Gottenkieng, 
 John E. Piggott, John Johnson, Levi Moulding — Ex- 
 tramen. 
 
 John C. Clary, R. Williams, E. Grinnel, Lemuel 
 Wheeden, R. Lincoln — Su^pernumeraries . 
 
 Steam Engine Company, No. 3. 
 
 James Lowe — Foreman. 
 
 Daniel Barron — Engineer. 
 
 Jasper A. Smith — Fireman. 
 
 M. Y^2.nQ.— Hostler. 
 
 C. Kaufman, Frank Lewis, John Gedney, Frank 
 Fry, Walter Cox, Charles Meads — Extramen. 
 
 S. C. Wailes, George JefFers, James Hess, John 
 Kane, James Frazier, E. B. Gatton — Supernumeraries. 
 
 Hook and Ladder Company, No. i. 
 
 Julius Strobel — Foreman. 
 
 G. N. Nicholson — Tillerman. 
 
 R. J. Mo^xoy—Hostler. 
 
 W. Nicholson, John Dawson, R. W. Waters, James 
 
56 
 Elwood, William S. Crew, William Anderson — Extra- 
 
 men. 
 
 Joseph Lewis, James Jones, George Palant, P. 
 Malone, Arthur McNally, George Mulloy, T. Houri- 
 h an — Stiver n um eraries . 
 
 Office of the Fire Alarm Telegraph, 
 
 Washington, June 30th, 1869. 
 
 To the Honorable Mayor, Boards of Aldermen and 
 Common Council of the City of Washington : 
 
 Gentlemen : — I herewith submit my annual report 
 of the operations of the Fire Alarm Telegraph for the 
 year ending June 30, 1869, together with such recom- 
 mendations and suggestions as in my judgment the in- 
 terests of the city demand, to which I invite your atten- 
 tion. 
 
 Notwithstanding the bad condition in which I found 
 the telegraph at the commencement of the year, the 
 lines and the cffice requiring a large amount of re- 
 pairs, as well as the renovation of the office, together 
 with the fact that it was found necessary to change the 
 locks upon the alarm boxes and fit new keys to them, 
 the expenses will be found to compare favorably with 
 those of former 3^ears, and to fall considerably below the 
 sum appropriated by you for that purpose, which was 
 based upon the experience of previous years. 
 
 The following synopsis will be found to include all 
 money expended, under its appropriate head : 
 
 Rent, _----- 
 
 Fuel and light, _ _ _ _ - 
 
 Repairs of telegraph, - - - - 
 Battery expenses, ----- 
 Incidentals, - _ - - - 
 
 Office and office furniture, 
 New keys for alarm boxes, - - - 
 
 Total, - - - - $1,397 27 
 
 $250 
 
 00 
 
 z^z 
 
 94 
 
 352 
 
 55 
 
 195 
 
 62 
 
 46 
 
 77 
 
 122 
 
 64 
 
 115 
 
 75 
 
57 
 
 I desire to submit to 3''ou the following estimate of ex- 
 penses for the ensuing year : 
 
 Rent, - ------ $250 00 
 
 Fuel and light, _ _ - - - 300 00 
 
 Repairs of telegraph, ----- 600 00 
 
 Battery expenses, ----- 300 00 
 
 Incidentals, ------ 150 00 
 
 Total, - - - - $1,600 00 
 
 Allow me to call your attention to the fact that for the 
 last few years the city has been rapidly extending its 
 limits, and that large districts, containing valuable 
 property, have not in them a single alarm box, 
 
 I would name as localities where boxes are urgently 
 needed the following : 
 
 At or near 20th street west and E street north. 
 i6th " " " P " " 
 9th " " " Q^ " " 
 Newjersey ave. " P " " 
 
 Mar3dandWe. " F " " 
 
 East Capitol st. " 12th " east. 
 
 Others might be added, but these may suffice for the 
 present. 
 
 Another matter demands your attention, viz : The 
 citizens are growing restive under the use of their roofs 
 as a support tor the wires, which causes leaks and in- 
 jures seriously their property, entailing expenses upon 
 the city, which are rapidly increasing, and will in the 
 end cost far more than it will now to alter the wires. 
 Peremptor}' demands have been made in many cases for 
 their removal. 
 
 There is still another matter to which I feel that I must 
 allude, although I do it under protest to m}^ own feel- 
 ings. The law, as it now stands, provides for the ap- 
 pointment of one Superintendent and two operators for 
 the Fire Alarm Telegraph. No city in the Union hav- 
 ing a Fire Alarm Telegraph has less than three opera- 
 tors, many of them four, and they all have in addition to 
 these three or four operators a man for repairs. 
 
58 
 
 I was tauntingly asked by a former Fire Commission- 
 er of this city, "You did not think that you would have 
 to do your own repairing, I guess?" Such, however, is 
 the case. It is impossible to pick up, at the moment when 
 needed, a man who can intelligently perform even the 
 plainest work required, and, of necessity, the Superinten- 
 dent must himself do it, or it must remain undone ; and, 
 in addition to this, owing to the scarcity of operators, he 
 is forced to take on himself the night duty in the office. 
 
 While upon this subject, let me pursue it a step fur- 
 ther. I informed you above that no city had less than 
 three operators and a repair man ; let me add that their 
 salaries are in almost all the cities respectively, super- 
 intendent, $2,000 ; operators, $1,500 ; and repairman, 
 $800 to $1,000 ; and this is about the compensation to 
 men of corresponding qualifications in Ihe commercial 
 telegraph offices in all the cities of the country. I need 
 offer no comment, but simply ask you to note these facts, 
 and follow the promptings of your judgment. 
 
 Allow me, in this connection, to bear testimony to the 
 efficiency and faithfulness of the operators who have 
 cordially and earnestly assisted me in every emergency. 
 
 There have been, during the year, 109 alarms of fire, 
 of which 22 were false and 3 were test alarms ; 84 being 
 from fires, many of which were so insignificant that they 
 might be added, the list of false. The large number of 
 purely false alarms should receive your attention, in 
 order that such legislation may be had as will lead to 
 the detection and punishment of the authors. 
 
 I remain yours, 
 
 J. H. Larcombe, 
 
 Superintendent. 
 
REPORT OF THE INTENDANT OF THE 
 WASHINGTON ASYLUM. 
 
 Washington Asylum, yune 24, 1869. 
 To the Hon. Sayles J. Bowen^ 
 
 Mayor, Washington, D. C: 
 
 Sir : — In compliance with your request, I have the 
 honor to transmit herewith statement of the expenditures 
 of the Washington Asylum for the present fiscal year, 
 amounting in the aggregate to $19,710 70. 
 
 I would respectfullv call your attention to the fact that 
 the expenditures of the last fiscal year, under the late 
 administration, amounted, I believe, to upwards of $36,000, 
 while this year the institution has been maintained on a 
 little over one-half that amount ; notwithstanding which, 
 I can safely declare without fear of contradiction that the 
 inmates have been as well, if not better, fed and clothed, 
 and are as happy and comfortable and under better dis- 
 cipline than they have ever been heretofore. 
 
 On entering upon the discharge of my duties here, I 
 was fully determined to manage the institution upon the 
 principles of honesty and economy ; and it is well known 
 that in the beginning I was sun-ounded with difficulties 
 which appeared almost insurmountable. I found neither 
 money nor provisions on hand, and the institution was so 
 deeply in debt that its credit was almost gone. Further- 
 more, every department was under the immediate control 
 of irresponsible persons, who were not only extravagant, 
 but, in many instances, appropriated and sold for their 
 own special use and benefit the provisions issued in bulk 
 for distinbution to the inmates. Moreover, there were no 
 books to show either what had been purchased or issued, 
 and I found that the reports presented weekly to the Board 
 of Commissioners were so grossly incorrect that some 
 forty-three (43) inmates were reported present over and 
 above what were actually in the institution. 
 
Hi) 
 
 Under these circumstances, my first duty was to find 
 out how many people were actually under my charge, and 
 the exact amount of provisions required for their con- 
 sumption ; to dismiss those whom I had reason to believe 
 were engaged in pilfering and stealing ; and, while hold- 
 ing all to a strict accountability, to exercise a personal 
 supervision over every department, and see that ever}^ 
 article purchased for and issued to the inmates was put to 
 its legitimate use, and that nothing was stolen or wasted, 
 either in the almshouse or in the apartments of the 
 Intendant. 
 
 In proof of the fact that I have succeeded in my en- 
 deavors to reorganize the institution, I, certainly with 
 some degree of pride, refer to the figures showing the 
 expenses of the past and current fiscal years, and with 
 the thorough knowledge I now possess of the institution 
 and its inmates, together with the prospect of a consider- 
 able reduction in the price of provisions, I feel assured 
 that I can still further reduce the expenses during the 
 ensuing 3'ear. 
 
 About $300, expenses of the small-pox hospital, will 
 have to be deducted from the aggregate here presented, 
 as that hospital has been maintained during the past year 
 out of the appropriation tor the AsA^um. In this con- 
 nection I would respectfully call your attention to the 
 fact that, in the last published report of the Board of 
 Commissioners, which was for the fiscal year ending 
 June 30, 1867, the small-pox hospital is charged with an 
 expenditure of nearl}^ $7,000; while I am informed that 
 the actual expenses of the hospital for that year (exclu- 
 sive of the salary of the attendant, which is paid from 
 the general fund,) amounted to considerably less than 
 $1,000. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Jos. S. Martin. 
 
 Ex'pendihires of the Washington Asyhum during the fiscal year 1868-0, 
 ending June 30. 
 
 FHIST QITARTEK. AMOtTNT. 
 
 S. B. Wait $322 00 
 
 Ridenour& Ban- 586 93 
 
(U 
 
 Rid en our it Ban 
 
 Rideiiour & Barr 
 
 R. Eicliboiu 
 
 J S.J. Carroll 
 
 R. Coheu 
 
 Knee.'^si & Norlleet . ... 
 
 J. H. Garges 
 
 Geo. W. Goodall 
 
 Geo. W. Goodall 
 
 J. W. Selby & Co 
 
 Fninkliu Eugiuo Company, (hoise,) 
 
 T. T. Fowler 
 
 T. T. Fowler , 
 
 SECOND QUARTER. 
 
 Ridenour & Barr 
 
 Dr. Eliot 
 
 Browning & Middleton 
 
 Jokn Soden 
 
 Browning & Middlelon 
 
 National Republican 
 
 Kneessi & Norfleet 
 
 N. Brewer & Co 
 
 R. Coben 
 
 Josepb Carroll 
 
 J. H. Garges , 
 
 L. Martin 
 
 H. I Gregory 
 
 Dr. Sears 
 
 R. Eicbboru 
 
 Sarab A. P. MMrtin 
 
 Jobu Socens 
 
 Jobn Grant 
 
 Julius Wallace 
 
 James Welcli 
 
 D. F. Atkins 
 
 Dr. Sears 
 
 THIRD QUARTER. 
 
 Browning & Middleton 
 
 Browning & Middleton 
 
 Sarab A. P. Martin 
 
 Wasbington and Georgetown Coal Companj^ 
 
 Browning & Middleton , 
 
 Jos. J. Carroll 
 
 N. Brewer & Co 
 
 W. L. Sears 
 
 537 
 
 61 
 
 539 
 
 50 
 
 311 
 
 62 
 
 932 
 
 02 
 
 978 
 
 70 
 
 66 
 
 00 
 
 70 40 
 
 55 
 
 65 
 
 54 85 
 
 779 
 
 36 
 
 150 00 
 
 397 
 
 15 
 
 831 
 
 38 
 
 544 89 
 
 35 
 
 00 
 
 533 
 
 98 
 
 50 00 
 
 700 67 
 
 8 
 
 75 
 
 2 
 
 50 
 
 208 43 
 
 27 
 
 50 
 
 980 
 
 57 
 
 34 57 
 
 67 12 
 
 79 42 
 
 329 
 
 86 
 
 223 
 
 81 
 
 90 
 
 00 
 
 25 
 
 00 
 
 120 
 
 00 
 
 125 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 200 
 
 00 
 
 849 
 
 95 
 
 521 
 
 97 
 
 578 
 
 15 
 
 45 00 
 
 140 
 
 00 
 
 445 
 
 66 
 
 881 
 
 55 
 
 172 
 
 35 
 
 409 
 
 oo 
 
62 
 
 Browning & Micldleton 690 85 
 
 Jno. A. Baker 60 03 
 
 L. Martin 43 19 
 
 L. Martin 8 36 
 
 David Atkins 129 00 
 
 *Michl. McClure 25 00 
 
 *Thos. Can- 5 00 
 
 *Jno. Craig 35 80 
 
 *Henry Monroe 12 05 
 
 *Walter Smith 3 00 
 
 Wm. A. Carroli 50 00 
 
 John Gi-ant 60 00 
 
 Henry Monroe ^. 40 00 
 
 Anthony Gray 25 00 
 
 R. Eiclihorn 109 17 
 
 H. I. Gregory 12 15 
 
 FOURTH QtiARTEU. 
 
 Browning* Middleton 460 57 
 
 Jno. O. Evans 40 56 
 
 G. W. Goodall 32 90 
 
 L. Martin 32 15 
 
 R. Cohen 38 75 
 
 Approximating amount of bills becoming due this quarter 2,527 93 
 
 Total 119,645 66 
 
 •Paid to Jos. S, Martin. 
 
 Recapttulution of expenditures, Ji»cal year 1868-9. 
 
 EXPENDITURES. 
 
 First quarter f 6 613 16 
 
 Second quarter 5,307 02 
 
 Third quarter 4,592 62 
 
 Fourth quarter 3,132 86 
 
 Total $19,645 66 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 Amount tle}X)sited with the First National 
 
 Bank $12,067 98 
 
 Drawn by checks, 11,8^3 03 
 
 Cashinbank 204 95 
 
 12,067 98 
 
 Paid by checks of Mayor Bowen •• 4,253 97 
 
 Remaining unpaid ,..,», 3,823 71 
 
 $19,645 66 
 
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