Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-10
Public ImDrOyememts

While We cannot applaud the tone of the com
munieatiop signed Equal Rights to All :" pub
l.shed in yesterday s paper, We think Ii must be
admitted by any fair minded observer that tn
Board Of Public Works is making a mistake in
allowing the trees % stand in the roadway of M
street, now being covered with wood pavement
And this mistake is the more glsring and OFTEN
Give from the fact that the trees SO situuted have
already been removed entirely from three
squares Of the street and partially from soma
others
As TO the wickedness OF destroying a vsluabl,
tree anywhere, if IL can be saved with due re-
gard 70 other considerations, TIT ere can be no
two opinions We deplore the loss of one "A
much as any person can, but il often happen,
that In carrying out important Improvements
IL Is found necessary to correct the errors
of the pas, when to do 30 may subject those
charged with the unpleasant duty to harsh crfti-
cism or bitter censure. The great advantage of
having a wide and unobstructed carriapeway in
thoToughtare 30 popular and much-used As NJ
street must become, after IL is well paved is not
TO be overlooked and it having once been de-
cited after mature elaboration that that adj
vantage, coupled with safety, uniformity, aud
better appearance generally, would more than
counterbalance the loss OF the very few valuable
trees required to secure the desired result, and
=
tie original plan should now be carried out re-
gtTdless Of the private wishes OF any individual
or individuals, be they ak or powerful
IL Is the simple and sole duty OF the Board OF
Public Works 10 adopt and intexi5!y carry out
such plans a. may be decided TO be best, all
things considered. for the whole community, OF
for the particular locality affected by any given
work as the case NAV be; aud it will be toun1
10 he an exceedingly dangerous proceed NJ TO
weigh sgant this obligation the taste or
Feelings Of any person or persons and mucb
more so to change a well matured general plan
N obedience to individual fancy or caprics
Inc rule thus indicated is the one which the
Nomnlssloners originally in charge of this bar
tcuIsr Improvement prescribef for their gov.
erhment IN the premises. and ifthe new B,.rJ
ADOPTS or suffers itself TO follow auv other
either in regard 10 this or any other work c,n
mit'ed to its charge, 1t will find itself 80 ham
Iered and embarrassed at every step that II.
futile etiort., ine2ugruous achievements. aud
general inefhcieney will soon becoms a bygord
and reprOsch, even with its best friends
While these remarks are called out specially
by the work nov going on in VI street, they
have q general applicability which we trust viii
not be lost sight or But in regard to the chsnse
in this particular improvement We think. a.
stated above, tue Board has mad, a sarious
mistake, and one which IL will do we'll 4, corrac.
before 1t is too late. So fine a street should not
be spoiled for slight cause; and a sacri6ce
having been required of some property holders
TOT It's better appearance and the public con-
venienee and safety, the same should be re-
CURED OF all similarly situated. The rule of
treating all classes alike will ever be foup5 a
good one. IN public a. wei as private affairs.