The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-31
MACON.
NOTES.
NOTES.
% Henning's Statutes of Virginia a, large, vol. tx
(2) Ibid
THE PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
FOR THE AADISONfAN.


Public attention has for some time been directed
towards the improvement of the Pennsy lvana avenue
The surface Of the MacaGamizing is nearly worn Of,
and some plan for the preservation and Grafton
of this great thoroughfare between the Capitol and
the Executive Departments is now demanded.
OF the various projects that have Of late been de-
vsed for the improvement or restoration of the face
OF the avenue thus at once TO get rid Of the DUST and
to protect the passenger more efectuay from the
scorching rays of the summers sun, the plan formally
disclosed in the papers by MIR. MAnER, the public
gardener, meets with the most general appreciation
as combining all the most desirable objects for the
security, comfort, and pleasure of promenade fur
nishng ample shade uniform side walks, and CON-
pete protection from the annoyance of dust thus re-
moving the main objections to this wide road, which
he intends to effect as follows:
/. He proposes to extend the side walks, and to
dispose of the spout water that falls from the ad ia.
cent buildings, so as to preserve the walks dry.
2. He then proposes to divide The main body of the
avenue into three sections, thus distributing the prn-
cpal space into convenient roads, graveled or paved
the promenade walks TO be adorned with four ar FIVE
hundred additional trees, suitable for the location
climate, and shade, producing effect no doubt sur
passing any point of the Boulevards of Paris as
the vista is more ample, on the coup d'GiL
,. From the Capitol gate to the Treasury there
will be something like eighty thousand square wards
Of work and this, il is njectured may be execut-
ed in the best for between sixty and seventy
cents per square yard, al say total amount Of fty
| thousand dollars, being more than onehalf less than
the Macadamizing cost the public, aud completing a
more durable work. that may embellsh and beauty
| the avenue for ages to come.
This plan il will be seen furnishes an ample road
| for persons in carriages on horseback or on foot
| a dpnDe w a. -
raversng the heart of the business part of the CITY
skirted in most parts with the Congress boarding
houses, elegant private houses, the principal hotels
stores and the Centre market, and where are ALREADY
| the main walks either for pleasure or exercise
This plan would also go far towards correcting a
growing nuisance. ! refer 10 the accumulation of
stagnant water in the cellars of most Of the houses
along the line OF the avenue, which, fom an amos,
insurmouniaole defect IN the fall Of the sew
ers threatens the worst consequences to say nothing
of the destruction of the foundation walls of the
houses, and is every summer liable TO generate dis
ease. This fact the Board of Health are well an
prised Of. This plan would afford a remedy as al
| the waste water would be conducted TO a much
greater distance from the houses into a sort of AID
Cutler, answering the double purpose of more com
plee drainage, and OF aiordng at all seasons no,r
isbment TO the roots Of the whole range of sbad,
trees. Tie merit of this single feature of Mr. Ma
hers plan is sufficient to recommend the nronosed
improvement Of the avenue
The defects OF the graduation Of the Avenue wer,
pointed out many years ago, by the writer of thes,
lines before the canal filled UP for the reception
of building sites. 1t was proposed to erect com
mon sewer OF six feet bore in the bed of the old ca
nal before filling in, and, TO afford a more permanent
gradaon, 10 raise the surface Of the avenue from IN,
materials Of the adj accnt heights north; but the cry
then was, from the short-sighted il would cot m,
| corporation too much. ! would ask what would
no,o the propcriyhoders give for such a graduation
aordng better foundations dry cellars Of eight OF
ten feet depth IL is now too late they are doomed
to submit to occasional foundations not only in thei,
cellars, but IN some instances in their store-room,
above The remedy far as is now practicable lie,
IN the adoption by Congress Of the proposed plan
where the water, thrown on the adjacen surfaces is
| conducted more TOW ards the centre Of the avenue
placing Il beyond the reach Of breaking into cellar,
or sopping foundations, and also out Of the way OF
! the pedestrian.
In order to enlighten the public mind more full,
on this plan, would II not be well if the Committe,
on the District Of Columbia would direct the Iitbo
graphing Of the drawing in the possession of MIR
Msheri few dollars would accomplish the oh
Jec and place the subject in plain and inteligbl,
light
On the lawn west Of the Capitol, opposite IN,
fountains and ad acen TO the terminus Of the
where could there be more appropriate position
for the marble statue of the immortal founder of I'M
city However, this is matter for future consde
ration.