Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-15

10 pave them in . suitable nsnner. In tho.e
that are too narrow 70 admit OF this ar
ransemenf, an sgreeahe variety may lie
produced by Transferring the ,ide~aits 10
the SPACE saved from the prescut roadway.
thur giving room ior small erase pls;s In iron.
OF residences, or for porchc>. bay Windows, and
sress, and leaving the portion reserved for
sidewalk entirely free from distractions. This
style Of improvement would also obyiste the
necessity Tor open gu;ters st the Intersections,
Which now render driving perilous 20 life, limb
! relief I'm roads beyond the city limits The ad-
xantages Of the plan here proposed are obvious.
Its ADOPTION viii enable the city % pave iis
s s ~ moderate cost, give beauty 20 oar
thoroughfsres. and relieve the tressirv from
the expense incident 90 the care OF the area
placed IN the keeping OF residents- II will slsc
remove An eyu long aud seriously felt hy the
citizens OF Georgetown, where the sl,lesaikS
originally narrow. are. In many of the pr-,frfpal
streets, reduced BY stePs aud similar ohstrue-
tlons TO q width OF less than four feet To re-
move them would involve many of the citizens
In considerable expense, and, besides ininre
the buildings, while. BY extending the curss,
these objections would be avoided.
The attention OF the Legislative Assembly -
respectfully iEvlted 20 the importance of en-
lsrstng the means or communication hstNeeB
the cities OF Washington aud Georgetown, nee
limited 90 the bridges which cross Rock Greek
AZ X and NJ streets and Pennsylvanis ayenne
While the bridge al n street II eQasl IN capacity
10 the Demands made upon Il, that ~ VI street
Is dinicut OF approach, and q imperfect con-
suucuon. IL should without delay be replaced
bv ssuitaele structure, and the grades on each
side o arranged ss % make an easy and pleas
ant approach. The bridge now being huflt II
street which should De pressed 60 spesly com
plehonl viii furnish an important connection
between the two cities.
Itmsy here be suggested that the openinr o.
NJ street, from Rock Greek 90 isth street. ant
the Improvement OF Bridge street. would furnish
one 90 the most deSirahle and direct routes be
tween Washington aud Gsorgetewn. and thar
TsTt OF irgibis the trade OF which passes over
Tire Agueduct snd Chain bridges, while che tm-
proyenent Of Mas achusetts avenue. in wash
ington, and Of West street. IN GsOrgetOwn.
would. by means OF the bridge AZ a. street, al
ford direct communication With the north vest
I.fuon OF TIC District, and with Maryland via
the Rockville road.
Prominent among the thoroughfares W. -r
should he promptly improved are Seveut...
Ninth, Fourteenth, aud h streets, New
and Maryland avenues. and the eastern psr'f .a
OF Gennsylvani avenue. all of which conn.
with important country roads. The entire D..
tTict having been ylaCed under one governmei
The streets and avenues which give &C cess % eco
outlying portions should receive early cOnsil.
GRAFTON. The money expended In facilitating
distributed among those ~ho VIII he taxed gJE
the improvement.
Next In order of importance are the streets
between the Capitol and tie Executive Man
street, northwest, and such others a. are thicklN
populated. Expenditures upon streets not
needed a. means OF commune alton, aud in sec
tone but sparsely settled, should in the opinsou
Of the board, he avoided, as improvemeuts an
such localities are generally destroyed by the
elements before they become available % prom
erty holders or the public. The great syenne.
are the main arteries for the circulation OF the
population. The Capitol and the Etecutiy.
Mansion are the two great centeTs from which
they radiste. The streets which connect with
this radiation of avenues constitute a part %
the system OF INSTRUMENTATION with the dit
ferent portions OF the city, and deserve atten-
uon I'D any Plan OF improvements that NAV be
adopted.
The removal Of the Western and Northern
ma Wlnt1 LIB .r..aI--.
earnestly recommended by the Board The
Northern Market occupies the space formed
by tie intersection OF street and Mass
chuset;s and New York avenues: and ~ re-
moved, will permit the Improvement OF large
reservation, greatly needed by the citizens
residing in that locality.
during the past yesr have, In many INSTANCES,
been In advance of sewerage and the proper
grsdirg OF the streets. IL will lie the purpose O
the Board, with the corporation OF the Isgi--
laiive Assembly, 10 second the efforts OF private
enterprise by Furnishing the necessary sew eraga
and providing for the grading and paving oT
streets.
The Bosrdhave under consideration A plan
for ihe combination into grand national park
Of the reservations which separate the CITY
proper IRON the Island. Thn accomplished and
the streets through the reservations narrowed
according to the plan herein before recommen-
def, the Island would soon become one of the
m'st desirable places OF residence within Tie
lui's OF the national capital.
BY recent legislation OF Congress the i'm
prove mont OF the canal was placed under the
control of the Board OF Public Works aud it
viii lie lbsir endeavOr 20 effect this end A, tie
slil htest possible eNI'endtBre consistent with
TIE accomplishment Of successfUl results.
IL ~ the intention Of the Board 20 require that
ali sewers. water maiUs, and gas-pipe-. shall h,,
lad before street II paved, and that they hal
be 80 Plsced as TO admit OF repair witho1; inter
ference with the roadway.
Reference 20 the importance Of improving the
roads that connect the cities with the County
AID the adjoining Ststes is scarcely necessaTS.
4 Ia laarh auafa e.
mUnity, a. II governs, 10 some extent, the price
OF the produce daily brought 20 oEr N trxet-.
Congress having declared two of the main turn
pixies 10 be lee roads, the Board viii take
iinmt d ate measures 10 place them in proper
oLdtion for travel. Much repair D.
needed on all the roads, and an effort should DE
seaeon will permit. IL IL recommended that am
appropriation he granted for q new station
house in the county. that now used being un-
suited for the purpose and not eligibly located.
The Board regret that, in order 20 obtain
control Of Improvements placed under their
direct on by Congress, they have been com
PEELED TO resort TO legal proceedings. They
believe that under the Law their authority began
with the date OF their commissions. Bat the
claim having been denied recourse has been
had 10 the courts. This step was taken In the
interests Of the property holders, as, by the
terms OF the organic act, property adjoining
and to be especially benehtted by improve
ments IL 10 be assessed a reasonable proportion
Of the cost, not exceeding one-third: wheres
under the laws OF the Corporation OF Washing
ton The owner 10 required TO paw the entire es-
penses. The Board IL just Informed that a
decision has been rendered in their favor.
IL IL proper here 90 recommend that pro-
vision be made TO meet the Districts proportion
Of the assessment for special improvements
The board respectfully submit that this can
best be done by q loan OF from twenty 20 thirty
years, the proceeds OF which shall be ercln
sively applied TO the payment Of this asses
ment. By the creation OF s1ch a loan, with
proper provision for the collection of tb,.
amount required 10 pay the interest, and by the
of a sinking fund for the eveutusl
retirement Of the bonds the burdens of ta,a-
lion " Ill be materially leesened, and owners of
real estate receive more than equivalent in the
enhanced value OF their property.
IL only remains for the board q give the as
sursnce that ia the discharge OF their duties
they will be governed by strict economy. i'm
partial justice, and honest desire - adj
vance the interests OF the citizens OF the Dis
trict of Columbia.
HENRY ID. COOKE
ALEx. X SHEPaERp,
A b. hULLKTT,
JAS. A. MAGRpDER.
). p. BRowN
Board Of Public Works.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., May Il, 1871.
ACTION ON rHs MESSAGE.
Mr. Thompson offered q RESOLUTION TIA the