2o8 DAVIS 



of the streets or avenues in front of, or adjoining to, or which 

 may pass through, or between, any of the pubHc squares or 

 reservations, which proportion shall be determined by a com- 

 parison of the length of the front, or fronts, of the said squares 

 or reservations, of the United States, on any such street or 

 avenue, with the whole extent of the two sides thereof ; and he 

 shall cause the curb stones to be set, and foot ways to be paved, 

 on the side or sides of any such street or avenue, whenever the 

 said corporation shall, by law, direct such improvements to be 

 made by the proprietors of the lots on the opposite side of any 

 such street or avenue, or adjacent to any such square or reser- 

 vation ; and he shall cause the foot ways to be paved, and the 

 curb stones to be set, in front of any lot or lots belonging to the 

 United States, when the like improvements shall be ordered by 

 the corporation in front of the lots adjoining, or squares adjacent 

 thereto ; and he shall defray the expenses directed by this sec- 

 tion, out of any moneys arising from the sale of lots in the city 

 of Washington, belonging to the United States, and from no 

 other fund. 



A supplementary act was passed May 26, 1824 (4 Stats. 

 75), providing more fully for tax sales, and providing also (by 

 section 14), for the removal of nuisances from lots belonging to 

 the United States, at the expense of the United States, to be de- 

 frayed out of moneys in the hands of the City Commissioner 

 from the sale of public property in the cit}'. 



The last general act of Congress in relation to the corporation 

 of Washington is that of May 17, 1848 (9 Stats. 223), entitled 

 ' An act to continue, alter and amend the Charter of the City 

 of Washington.' This act provides for continuing in force for 

 the term of twenty years from its date, or until Congress should 

 by law determine otherwise, the acts of May 15, 1820, and May 

 26, 1824, " and the act or acts supplemental or additional to 

 said acts which were in force on the fourteenth day of May, 

 eighteen hundred and forty, or which may, at the passing of 

 this act, be in force." The act deals largely with the levy and 

 collection of taxes ; provides for the election of a board of asses- 

 sors, a register, a collector and a surveyor ; and prescribes more 

 fully the qualifications of electors and the jurisdiction, duties 

 and tenure of office of justices of the peace. Sections 12 and 

 13 of the act are of especial interest as dealing further with the 

 duty and liability of the general government in respect of open- 



