USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Historical sketches of the ten miles square forming the District of Columbia : with a picture of Washington, describing objects of general interest or curiosity at the metropolis of the Union. > Part 35
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From the same to the President's Square, twenty-five eente.
For any distance between the Capitol Square and any of the above mentioned places, not exceeding one half of the entire distance, twelve and one half cents, but any distance more than one half, shall be reckoned as the entire distance.
From Greenleaf's Point to the Navy Yard, twenty-five eents.
From the Navy Yard to the Eastern Branch Bridge, twen- ty-five cents.
From the President's Square to Greenleaf's Point, twenty- five cents.
From the same to the Hamburgh Wharf, twenty-Sve cents. From the same to the Western limits of the city, twenty- five cents.
For any distance between Greenleaf's Point and the Navy Yard, or between the Navy Yard and the Eastern Branch bridge, or between the President's Square and Greenleaf's Point, or the Hainburgh wharf, or the Western limits of the City, not exceeding one half of the entire distance, twelve and one half cents; but any distance more than one half, shall be reckoned as the whole distance: Provided, no charge shall be made exceeding twelve and one half cents a mile, for any dis- tance exceeding two miles; and in ease of any detention of a hackney carriage beyond five minutes, the driver thereof shall be allowed for the whole hack, a sum not exceeding twelve; and one half eents for every fifteen minutes.
And for the conveyance of persons from any one place to another, in the City of Washington, not specified above, at the rate of twelve and a half' cents a mile. And for all convey- ances or detentions, later than eight o'clock. P. M. the own- ers or drivers of hackney carriages may demand and receive
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Corporation Luws.
at the rate of fifty per centum on the foregoing charges, iu addition thereto; and in all the foregoing cases, the same char- ges shall be allowed for a part of a mile as for a whole mile.
That if any owner or driver of a hackney carriage, shall refuse to carry a passenger or passengers at the foregoing rates, or demand or receive any greater sum for the convey- ance of persons than the rates herein established; or shall take up any passengers contrary to the provisions of the fol -. lowing sections, he or they shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dollars for each and every offence: Provided, always, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent any owner or driver of a hackney carriage from receiving any voluntary compensation for the conveyance of persons, over and above the rates hereby established; but it shall neverthe- less be the duty of the owner or driver aforesaid to inform the person offering such extra compensation, of the rates herein fixed, otherwise the said owner or driver shall be deemed guilty of having demanded extra compensation.
That whenever any owner or driver of a hackney carriage. chall demand or receive any greater sum for the conveyance of persons, who shall have resided twelve months within the City of Washington, than is established by the rates of fare »foresaid, or shall refuse to carry such person or persons at. the said rates, he shall forfeit and pay double the penalty pre- scribed by the thirtieth section herwof, any thing contained in the said section to the contrary notwithstanding.
15. That no driver of a hackney carriage, shall, when can- rying any number of passengers more than two, or when the passengers in the hack agree to pay for three seats therein, bc allowed to take up avy other passenger on the way, without the permission of the persons then in the hack.
19. That all fines and penalties imposed by virtue of this act, shall be recovered as small debts are recoverable, in the name of " the Mavor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Washington." before a single magistrate, one half part thereof shall go to the person who shall prosecute for and re- cover the same, and the other half part shall be paid to the Treasurer of the said city.
Howkers and Prdlers. All hawkers and pedlers selling goods within the jurisdiction of the Corporation, must pay Afty dollars per annum for a license, under a penalty of thirty-five dollars for filing to do so. They must also show their license to any officer requiring it.
Hoge are not allowed to go st largo south of Massachusetts Avenue, under the penalty of being seized and given to the
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Corporation Laws.
tery, fifty dollars penalty for suffering such a lottery to be clerk of the market ot the ward in which the same may be seized, and sold at public auction-one-half of the proceeds of sale to the person seizing, the other to the corporation.
Horses. Racing in streets ten dollars penalty ; cruelty to, five to ten.
Health. A Board of Health, consisting of one citizen and one physician from each ward, is annually appointed. They have the power of forming such a code of regulations for the preservation or restoration of the health of the city, as may not be incompatible with, or repugnant to, the charter ; they also have the power of causing the removal, under the penalty of from one to five dollars, any nuisance that may exist in any cellar or domestic enclosure, after giving notice to the owner of said cellar or domestic enclosure to remove the same. The. said board have the power, also, when they have cause to sus- pect that a nuisance, dangerous to the health of the city, exits in any house, cellar, or enclosure, to demand entry therein ia the day time, and upon the refusal of the owner or occupier to open the same admit a free examination, a penalty of ten dol- Jars is forfeited.
Three hundred dollars allowed to procure vaccine matter.
Inclosures. No one is allowed to enclose any street or avenue so as to obstruct a free passage under the penalty of 20 dollars, without leave from the Mayor.
Index boards to be placed at corners of streets.
Judicial Expenses and Fees. In case of any decision be- fore a court or justice of the peace, the Mayor is authorized to receive any money recovered ; or to pay any expenses in- curred.
Lighting streets, &c. The Mayor is authorized to have the streets and avenues lighted ; and to pay for the same.
Licenses .- See Vires, page 515.
Lumber. Six inspectors are appointed by the Mayor, &c. to inspect all lumber for sale ; and to be allowed for the same 20 cents per 1,000 feet ; to be paid equally by the seller and the purchaser. They have also the power to condemn un- merchantable lumber.
Lunatics. The Mayor is authorized to provide security and maintenance for lunatics ; and to charge the expense to the Corporation ; giving # statement of the saine to the Council.
Lotteries. Private lotteries prohibited, on penalty of five. hundred dollars ; none allowed but by authority of corpora- tion or congress ; penalty for selling tickets of an illegal los-
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drawn in one's house-if done by tavern keeper, he forfeits his license.
Markets are established and held in the following manner : At the Centre Market, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur- days. At the West Market, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At the Eastern Branch Market, Mondays, Wed. nesdays, and Fridays. At the Capitol Hill Market, on Mion- days, Wednesdays, and Fridays : the following hours to be observed, from the first day of May, till the first of October, from four in the morning till nine ; and from the 1st of Oeto- ber till the first of May, from five to ten.
Saturday evening markets are held at the respective mar- ket-houses, from the 1st of May until the 1st of October ; open at 5 and close at 9 o'clock, P. M. ; and from the 1st et October till the Ist of May, open at S and close at 8 o'clock, P. M.
All provisions must be sold in markets during the markets hours, under a penalty of two dollars, for both seller and buyer, except fish between the 1st of March and the 1st of November.
No person shall purchase any article of provision, and sell the same in the same market, on the day of purchase, under the penalty of six dollars.
All articles to be sold by weight or measure, and if fo.ind deficient to be forfeited, for the use of the poor.
The stalls to be rented to butchers and others. And any butcher or other person occupying a stall without having rent- ed it, shall pay a fine of ten dollars. No one shall occupy more than one bench or block, four fect six inches in length:, and four feet in width.
No person, except butchers who have rented stalls, shall sell less than one quarter of an animal, under the penalty of forfeiting the ment for the use of the pocr.
A clerk for each market is appointed by the Mavor, &c. whose duty it is to see the laws enforced, and to have the mar- ket cleaned out ; for which services he is to receive 75 cents for every day's attendance.
Mayor receives one thousand dollars per annum, and for acknowledgments of deeds, fees, &c
Merchants. Non-resident merchants must take out a li- cense, and pay therefor at the rate of 100 dollars per annum ; and no license to be issued for a shorter period than three months; or if issued for a shorter period, not less than 25 dol- lars to be paid therefor.
Minors-Allowed time to redeem property sold for taxes See .Act of 13th October, 1823.
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Negroes, Mulattoes, &c. All free negroes or mulattoes Just have their names registered within ten days from the time of their coming to live within the limits of the corpora- tion ; males above 16 and females above 14 years. The city register who registers the same, is required to furnish a per- mait to the head of each family, or to every single person, if not married, for which he is to charge 25 cents. Those ne- glecting to obtain such certificate to be fined six dollars, or to be imprisoned for each neglect for a time not exceeding ten days.
Slaves, or free blacks or mulattocs, must not assemble in the street, or any in other place in a tumultuous manner : for each offence, slaves not to receive more than twenty lashes, and free blacks or mulattoes to be fined in a sum not more than twenty dollars, or in case of inability to pay, to be im- prisoned for a time not exceeding ninety days.
No slave, nor free black or mulatto, can play at any game or ohance, under a penalty of ten dollars for each offence : in case of inability to pay, imprisonment 30 days ; or if a slave, to receive fifteen lashes on the bare back.
All vagrants, &c. who in any way disturb the public peace, to be apprehended, and made to give security for good beha- viour for one year, or be subject to a fine of twenty dollars, or imprisonment for a time not exceeding ninety days. Public prostitutes are subject to fine or imprisonment.
Any free black or mulatto allowing of a dance at his or her house, without first obtaining the license from a justice of the peace or the Mayor, to be fined twenty dollars; or in case of inability or refusal to pay, to be imprisoned for a time exceed- ing ninety days ; or if a slave, to receive ten lashes.
Any slave, or free black or mulatto found at large in the streets, after ten o'clock at night, from the first of April to. the 1st of October ; or atter 9 o'clock from the 1st of October to the 1st of April, shall be apprehended, unless such slaves have a pass, or if a free colored person, a pass from a justice of the peace. A slave so offending to receive thirty-nine lashes ; and a free black fined in a sum not exceeding twenty dollars ; or on refusal to pay, imprisonment for ninety days. The masters of slaves to pay the fines, or require the slave to te whipped ; in case of whipping, fifty cents to be paid by the owner to the constable.
Any person entertaining a slave after 10 o'clock at night, shall be fined five dollars, except the slave shall have been cent on business.
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Corporation Laws.
When any colored persons are apprehended, on any of the above charges, they are to be confined in the lock-up house in each ward. Constables neglecting their duty in executing this law, to be fined five dollars.
Penalty on non-residents for hiring, (tax unpaid,) twenty dollars ; penalty on resident, twenty dollars, and five dollars per month after ; slaves to be recorded within twenty days.
Nuisances. The superintendence of the police is vested in the commissioners. Any persons making excavations in the streets or public reservations, and suffer them to remain open twenty-four hours, to be fined five dollars ; and if sfter having received written notice thereof from the commissioner, and still neglects to fill the same within ten days, to be fined ten dollars. Every possessor of vacant lots, in which any ex- cavation has been made is required to have the same filled up, and upon refusal to fill up, drain or inclose the excavations, drain the stagnant waters or enclose the areas, shall pay a fine of ten dollars, exclusive of the expense incurred by filling up, draining or enclosing the same.
Any person leaving or causing any nuisance, or obstruction, to be fined one dollar ; and if not removed within twenty-four hours after receiving due notice in writing from a commission- er, to be fined ten dollars. Any one leaving the offals of fish more than twenty-four hours without burying them, to be fined ten dollars.
The owner of any cow, horse, &c. dying on the streets, &c. must bury the same within twelve hours after being duly no- ticed, under a penalty of not less than five, or more than twenty dollars.
Any one making an excavation under a privy, to be fined ten dollars, and the excavation to be filled up at the expense of the owner. Any one obstructing a bridge to be fined out dollar.
In all cases of nuisances or other obstructions, whose re- moval is pot otherwise provided for, shall be removed by the commissioner at the expense of the person offending, if no- exceeding the penalty incurred. The commissioner failing or neglecting to remove a nuisance, when required so to do by any member of the Board of Health forfeits and pays ten dollars. Also, when any member of the Board of Health shall give notice of any nuisance in the warm weather, it must be removed within twenty-four hours, under a penalty of fre dollars, to be paid by the person offending.
Obstructions of streets, &c. By packages, prohibited ; boxes and casks not to remain in streets, except while unpack.
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ing and storing, exception in favor of auctioneers, inspectors and guagers : penalty for breach of act, one dollar per day : persons building may occupy half of footway, &c. one-third of carriage war in front of lot only : materials not to remain more than 30 days, after finishing : wood not to be placed on footway on penalty of two dollars; comissioners to cause re- moval of.
Poor, infirm and diseased Persons. Six Guardians of the Poor, are appointed annually by the Mayor, &c .- They are required to meet at least once in every week; a ma- jority to form a quorum for doing business, and are empower- ed to draw on the Mayor for money to discharge the necessary expenses which their duties require. They are to receive one dollar per day, for every day they attend, provided the whole expense does not exceed 300 dollars per annum. They are also authorized to employ a clerk at one hundred dollars per annum. Their duty is to attend to the wants of the poor, and distressed: and to provide for the interment of those who have not left the means to defray the expense of burial.
The Guardians have the power to provide tools, and to pre- scribe rules for the regulation of the poor. An Intendant of the Asylum, at a salary of 500 per annum, is appointed annu- ally by the Mayor with the consent of the Board of Alder- man, whose duty it is to superintend generally the concerns of the establishment, subject to the orders or instructions of the Board of Guardians.
Porter, &c. All retailers of porter, ale and cider, are re- quired to take out a license, for which they pay 15 dollars per annum, and enter into bond with two securities in the sum of 100 dollars, on condition that they keep a quiet, orderly house, &c.
Confectioners are required to pay a license of ten dollars, and give bond conditioned as above.
Pumps, wells, springs and hydrants. On application of two thirds, or such number of inhabitants of a neighborhood as the Mayor think, proper, he can order the sinking of a well, crection of a pump, and whatever he thinks proper as respects the mode of supplying water for the neighborhood. One half of the expense to be assessed from, and paid by those owning property in the vicinity, and who are immediately benefitted by the same. Injuring pumps $10 fine.
Any person eleaning fish, &c. at the pumps or hydrands, and injuring the water, is liable to a fine of five dollars.
Racing. Any person running a horse on any of the aven. ues or streets, within 300 yards of any dwelling house, to be
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fined ten dollars. Parents and masters to be subject to the fine for minors or apprentices under their charge; if slaves be found offending, to be publicly whipped.
Register, to be appointed annually by the Mayor, &a whose duty it is to perform all such acts as may be required by the laws and resolutions of the Corporation as his duties; for which he is to receive 1600 dollars per annum, and to give a bond with two securities of 5000 dollars, for the faithful performance of his duties. One dollar is to be paid for af- fixing the seal of the Corporation to any instrument, and 124 cents for every 150 words, except the same be for the Corpo- mition, to be paid into the Treasury.
. It is also made his duty to audit and settle the accounts of the Corporation; and in the absence of the Mayor to grant licenses, &c. and to keep a just and true account of all the moneyed transactions of the Corporation.
Retailers. All retailers of wines and spirituous liquors, in quantities not less than a pint, to pay ten dollars; those re- tailing in less quantities than a pint, to pay fifty dollars per annum for a license, and bond with two securities of 100 dol- lars each, to conform to the laws on this subject-Retailers of foreign dry goods, 10 dollars, the Register to receive one dollar for the city seal, for the use of the Corporation. No kind of gaming is allowed in houses licensed to sell by retail. Not to sell to apprentices or slaves-penalty $20.
Register of Births and Marriages. It is the duty of the head of every family to report to the commissioner of the . ward in which he or she resides, within six days, all the births . and deaths that occur in the house over which they preside, with their sex and color; and in case of death, their age and the disease of which they died, under a penalty of five dollars. And the commissioner is to report the same within six days, to the health officer of the city.
It is also the duty of every clergyman, or person author- ized to unite persons in marriage, to keep a regular account of all the names and residences of those whom he marries; and to furnish a correct copy to the city Register within thies months, under a penalty of twenty dollars for omission.
Schools. The city is divided into two school districts .- The first, second and third wards, compose the Western dis- trict, and the fourth, fifth and sixth wards, the Eastern dis- triet. The school of eash district to be under the direction of a Board of Trustees (chosen annually by the two Board!s of the city council in joint meeting) and such officers as they shall appoint,
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For the purpose of endowing these two public charity schools, in compliance with the requisitions of the charter of the city, and agreeably to resolutions passed by the Corpora- tion and approved by the President of the United States, au- thorising the corporate authorities to raise By lottery, a sum not exceeding $10,000 annually, for that and other purposes; the sum of $10,000 is appropriated, solemnly pledged, and set apart, to be paid by the lottery agents of the Corporation out of the first moneys arising from the sale of lottery right 6 of said Corporation, including two thirds of $20,000 already received from Yates and M'Intyre for classes sold them now standing to the credit of said agents in the Bank of Washing- ton, and two thirds of each succeeding payment to be by them made.
The agents of the Corporation are required to place to the credit of the general fund of the city, the proceeds of said lot- tery right, as it may be received by them, until the two-thirds amount to the sum of $10, 000. And the Mayor is authorized and required to purchase stock, bearing an interest of not less than six per centum, to the full amt. of the two-thirds of the money directed to be placed to the credit of the general fund by the lottery igents; which money is to be kept vested con- tinually and forever after by the Mayor, for the support of said schools: one moiety of the interest of which stock is to be collected and paid quarter yearly by the Mayor over to the treasurer of cach school, to be applied by the trustees thereof to the payment of the salaries of the teachers and defraying the contingent expenses of said schools.
The proceeds of the lottery funds are now sufficient to sup- port the city schools without any assistance from the Corpora- tion.
Shooting. Any person who shall fre a gun or pistol, idly for sport, within 250 yards of a dwelling house, in that part of the city contained in North M street, Massachusetts avenue, Seventh street Last, Pennsylvania avenue, the Eastern Branch, Sixth street West, Virginia avenue and Rock Creek, or in any part of the city on the Sabbath, shall be fined in a sum not ex- ceeding ten, nor less than five dollars. This regulation does not extend against shooting water fowls in the Potomac, Eastern Branch, or Rock Creek. Parents and masters to be answerable for those under their charge.
Saves. Slaves of owners not living in the city, must pay the following tax :-- For all male slaves between twelve and eighteen years of age, twelve dollars per annum; for all over eighteen, twenty dollars; and for all female slaves over fifteen
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Corporation Laws.
years of age, two dollars, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each neglect to pay. No slave of a non-resident shall re- side in the city unless hired by the owner to an inhabitant of the city.
Any slave found offending shall be committed to the work- house, there to remain until released by the owner; and the constable, taking up such slave shall receive from the owner thereof when released, the sum of ten dollars as a compensa- tion for his services.
No slave of any resident shall be permitted to keep house in the city unless the owner of said slave shall have previously entered into bond with good and sufficient surety in the sum of 500 dollars -- conditioned for the orderly, sober and decent conduct of such slave. And for every week such slave shaft keep house, without such bond having been entered into as aforesaid, the owner shall incur a penalty of twenty dollars.
Every person bringing or sending slaves to the city, to hire or reside therein, must within twenty days thereafter, cause the said slaves to be recorded on the books of the Corpora- tion, and must deposit with the Register an affidavit that such slaves are, bona fide, his or her property. Every person faits ing so to do, incurs a penalty of twenty dollars for each slave.
Slaughter Houses are to be all licensed by the Mayor, who shall prescribe regulations for their management. But per- sons feeling themselves aggrieved, may appeal to the Mayor for redress. Penalty $10 for erecting without license.
Small Pox. No one shall introduce the small pox into the city, under a penalty of 100 dollars. Every person in whose house the small pox accidentally occurs, must report the same to the Mayor, under a penalty of twenty dollars for neglect.
Surveyor. A surveyor is appointed by the Mayor, &c. to lay off lots, and graduate the streets of the city; for which he is to receive & hundred dollars per annum. See act 13, Aug. 1828.
Sweeping Chimneys. The Mayor appoints contractors for scraping and sweeping the chimneys of the city; they giving bond and security for 500 dollars each, for the performance of their duties.
It is made the duty of the contractors every month, to visit every inhabited house within their districts, having given ten days' previous notice, and thoroughly serape and sweep every fun in which fre has been used.
Persons refusing to have their chimneys swept, as required by law, shall pay the same fees as if they had been swept. -- And if any such chimneys catch fire, the occupier of the house
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to be fined eight dollars for each offence, except that the refu- sal was made in consequence of sickness or recent death in the family. If a chimney take fire from the neglect of the con- tractor in sweeping, he is liable to a fine of ten dollars. Per- sons must not set fire to their chimneys under a penalty of five dollars, except when the flues are too small to be swept by the contractor. The contractor is to receive ten cents for. every flue and for every story.
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