Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/155

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 147 and 8,032 mulattoes. There were 28,719 per- sons 10 years old and over unable to write, of whom 26,501 were native and 2,218 foreign; 4,876 were white and 23,843 colored; 11,418 were male and 17,301 female; 22,112 were over 21 years of age, and 6,607 between 10 and 21 ; of those over 21, 1,214 were white males, 2,542 white females, 7,599 colored males, and 10,757 colored females. There were 78 blind, 134 deaf and dumb, 479 insane, and 50 idiotic; 303 paupers received support during the year ; and 145 persons were convicted of crimes. There were 25,276 families, averaging 5-21 persons, and 23,308 dwellings, averaging 5-65 persons to each. There were 1,365 per- sons over 10 years of age engaged in agricul- ture, 29,845 in professional and personal ser- vices, 6,126 in trade and transportation, and 11,705 in manufactures and mining. The sur- face is undulating, with hills which command extensive views and afford fine sites for public edifices. Two considerable streams empty into the Potomac within the District, Rock creek and the Anacostia or Eastern branch. There are also several small brooks, to one of which the name of the Tiber was given in the 17th century, because a planter named Pope lived near it. The climate is moist and warm, and there is much local miasma. In the summer and autumn fevers prevail in some parts, es- pecially in the low grounds near -the Potomac. The mean temperature of Washington in spring is 54*2, in summer 73'1, in autumn 53'9, in winter 33'9 ; year, 53-8. The average rainfall in spring is 10'45, in summer 10*52, in autumn 10-16, in winter 11'07; year, 41*20 inches. The whole number of deaths in 1870 was 2,015, of which 826 were from general dis- eases, 280 from diseases of the nervous system, 80 of the circulatory, 237 of the respiratory, 356 of the digestive system, 77 from accident and injuries, and the rest from various causes. Consumption proved fatal in 442 cases, pneu- monia in 123, and cholera infantum in 150. The soil is light and moderately fertile. In 1870 there were 8,266 acres of improved land. The productions were 3,782 bushels of wheat, 3,724 of rye, 28,020 of Indian corn, 8,500 of oats, 27,367 of Irish and 5,790 of sweet pota- toes, 40 of peas and beans, 2,019 tons of hay, 126,077 gallons of milk sold, 900 of wine, and 4,495 Ibs. of butter. There were 533 horses, 124 mules and asses, 657 milch cows, 144 other cattle, 604 sheep, and 577 swine ; there were besides 5,496 horses and 1,000 cattle not on farms. The cash value of farms was $3,800,- 230 ; of farming implements and machinery, $39,450 ; wages paid during the year, including value of board, $124,338 ; estimated value of farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $319,517; of orchard pro- ducts, $6,781 ; of produce of market gardens, $112,034; of live stock, $114,916. There were 952 manufacturing establishments, with 54 steam engines of 789 horse power, and 15 water wheels of 1,100 horse power, em- ploying 4,685 hands, of whom 4,333 were males above 16, 216 females above 16, and 136 youth; capital invested, $5,021,925; wages paid during the year, $2,007,600; value of ma- terials, $4,754,883; of products, $9,292,173. The commerce, almost entirely domestic, is carried on chiefly through Georgetown. For the year ending June 30, 1872, there were en- tered in the coastwise trade 231 steam vessels of 109,681 tons, and 96 sailing vessels of 22,245 tons ; cleared, 108 steamers of 69,308 tons, and 65 sailing vessels of 13,402 tons; registered, enrolled, and licensed, 419 vessels, with an ag- gregate tonnage of 26,623, of which 25, of 5,084 tons, were steam vessels; 103, of 2,987 tons, sailing vessels ; 275, of 17,778 tons, canal boats; and 16, of 774 tons, barges. There were 31 vessels, of 1,352 tons, built during the year. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal passes through a portion of the District, and crossing the Potomac at Georgetown terminates at Alexandria. Branches of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad from Relay, and from Point of Rocks, Md., terminate in Washington, and a railroad connects Washington with Alexandria. The Baltimore and Potomac railroad connects Baltimore and Washington. There are 5 na- tional banks with $1,531,000 capital, 3 savings banks, 1 safe deposit company, 6 fire insurance companies with a capital of $1,725,000, and 2 life insurance companies. By the act of con- gress of Feb. 21, 1871, all the territory included within the limits of the District was erected into a government, by the name of the District of Columbia, which is constituted a body cor- porate, with the usual powers, for municipal purposes. The executive power is vested in a governor and secretary, appointed by the president, with the advice and consent of the senate, for four years; and in a comptroller, collector, auditor, treasurer, attorney, register, superintendent of assessments and taxes, water registrar, and surveyor, appointed by local au- thority. The board of health consists of five members, and the board of public works of four, besides the governor ex officio. There is a metropolitan police force for the District, under the charge of five commissioners, to- gether with the governor ex officio. The com- missioners and members of the boards are ap- pointed in the same manner as the governor. A fire department has been organized by the territorial government. The legislative power is vested in an assembly, consisting of a coun- cil of 11 members, appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the senate, for a term of two years, and a house of delegates of 22 members, elected annually by the people. Two of the councilmen must be residents of and appointed from Georgetown, and two from that portion of the District outside of George- town and Washington. The territory is divi- ded into districts for the appointment and elec- tion of councilmen and delegates. All male citizens 21 years of age, except convicts and those of unsound mind, who have resided one