Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-02

This he acceded, and the Board were about To
enter upon the work, when they were request ID
by him TO defer further operations. The Board
also proposed TO pave the southern spproac les
IL the Capitol, anu to connect, with good paw
neBt, Pennsylvania avenue east and west. Al
though the assent OF the architect was obtained,
the Board wei g subs quently compelled through
his nterpoSi ion, 70 desl>t from the undertaking
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The board take pleasure in ackno wled yiug
the aid which they have received from the able
eounsels OF the advisory beard, consisting OF
Gems. Al. z. Megs, Il. A. Humphreys, j. h.
Barnes and A. L. BabcOck. The value OF their
services cam OF be too highly appreciated, and
will ever be held in kind rene nbrance by a
grateful community. In the month of october
last, Mr.. A. Il. Mullett found it necessary TO
resign bis position as a member of the board in
consequence OF the pressure of other Off cial
duties. Those with whom he so faithfully
served bear cheerful testimony 10 the ability
and zeal with which he discharged his duties.
al d by which he contributed 20 largely TO what
ever OF success has thus far attended the opera
tiOns OF the board.
BRIDGES.
The necessity for greater facilities Of conimu-
n1Catlon between Washington ami Georgetown
WAS so apparent as TO call for immediate action
Oh the part of the Board. The r street i'm
prOyement. which connects the northwestern
section OF Wa hingtCn with the heights Of
Georgetown, has been pushed to completion
and the streets leading to it are being paved.
Il terminus OF Nj street has been removed, and
handsome iron bridge erected in in its place.
The grades of Nj and Bridge streets have been
- change as 20 make the approaches easy, and
greatly 20 enhance the value and con yenience
vi uiS as OEC OF the principal thOroughfares of
travel between Washington and Georgetown.
The old bridge which spanned the canal at
Tin street has been removed and placed At
tie y street crossing of the James creek canal g,
FIST having been altered into draw bridge. 1t
IL the intention OF the Board, so soon the
canal bed shall have been filed, TO remove the
ether bridges and place them across the James
creek canal on the streets connecting Capitol
bill with South Washington. In the county
fine bridge is in course OF erection acress Rock
creek, on the Pearce Mill road, an Improvement
which has long been needed. On the It'll
street and Bladensburg turnpike heavy stone
culyerts have been substituted for the unsafe
wooden structures heretofore provided.
Tie construction of main sewers in certai
portions of the city has enabled the Board to
remove a large number OF temporary wooden
bridges crossing natural water courses which,
remaining open, have hitherto constituted the
principal sewers of the city.
SHADE TREES.
In the selection of trees TO be planted along
the streets and avenues of the city, it has been
the aim OF the Board to obtain such varieties as
experience has shown to be adapted to eur
climate, capable of thriving under the peculiar
circumstances of wood and asphalt pavements.
and not liable to the least objection as shade
trees. As far as practicable, different variety
has been selected for each street, so as to avoid
monotony In appearance. A large number of
trees have been planted during the present sea-
son, and the purpose is to extend this kind OF
characterization 10 all improved streets. The
Board, in considering this subject, avaied
themselves OF the experience OF Messrs. Smith
OF MIR. John Saul, and gladly embrace this OPP
pOrtunity to acknowledge the services of these
gentlemen, who, without remuneration, have
rendered them such valuable assistance.
MARKET BUILDINGS.
Under AN appropriation of So, 900 made by the
legislative Assembly, lot was purchased at
the Junction OF 9TH street east and North Caro-
lima avenue, and a suitable market building has
been constructed thereon, for the accOmmoda-
ton OF citizens residing in that section of the
city.
An appropriation of 800, 900 was also made
for a market house in lieu of the one in the CEN
ter of 4 street, between 10Th and Goth streets
northwest, and for a market building on square
numbered ii6. a lot was secured Immediately
west of the old location of the Western Market,
on the corner OF DIST and X streets, for the sum
OF SO eco, and a building is in course of erec-
ton, the cost OF which, when completed, will be
about $4,000.
The old structure which stood at the intersec-
ton OF 9TH street and Massachusetts avenue
having been torn down by the Board, tempo
rary sheds were erected on square numbered
446, between 9Th and 9TH and . and p streets.
The construction OF building for the North
ern market was, by subsequent action of the
Legislative Assembly, transferred to joint
committee of the Council and House of Dele
gates, and, under their auspices, the work has
been put under contract. The old Western
Market building, which formerly stood on X
street, has been removed to the intersection of
Sd and II streets northeast, and is being rebuilt
upon a lot leased tor that purpose, with a view
of supplying that locality.
The Bridge street (GeOTgetOwn) market-houSe
in consequence of a change of grade, has been
raised fourteen feet, and is now undergoing the
needed repairs.
These market structures, in connection with
the Center market, which, By law of Congress,
Is in the hands OF a private corporation, viii
furnish ample accommodation for the people OF
tie District OF Columbia.
NOMBNCLATURE OF TIE STREETS.
The system of nomenclature Of the streets of
washington, divided, as Ii is, into eastern and
western, northern and southern, with duplicate
letters and numbers, is source OF confusion
and annoyance, both 20 strangers and citizens.
The practice OF designating streets simply by
Letters and numbers, even without the compli-
ton OF duplicates, is one OF questionable taste
and tie Board submit a statement embodying
suggestions Of change in this regard, prepared
by persons whose familiarity with and attention
to The subject eptitt0 their recommendations to
serious consideration.
STREET RAILROADS.
An effort has been made by the Board to re-
quire the Washington and Georgetown railroad
Company to conform their track to the grade
and plan OF improvement OF Pennsylvania ave-
nue., and also to pave between their tracks with
the material adopted for the streets which they
traverse. This was resisted by the railroad
company, and the matter having been carried to
the courts, the decision was in their favor. It
is hoped a law may be passed requiring all rail-
in respect to pavements and grades as apply to
the streets on which their tracks are located.
The Board have requested street railroad
companies whose charters require their ulti-
mate extension into streets and avenues in
course OF improvement, to place the timbers for
their tracks before the pavements should be
laid. This request, intended to prevent the ne
cessity OF tearing up streets when tracks were to
be laid, has been compiled with.
The grades of LIST street west and M aryIand
avenue having been changed, the company
controlling the Washington and Alexandra
railroad were requested to conform their track
thereto, and ample time was afforded for that
purpose. No attention having been given to
this notification, the Board were compelled to
remove the track on these streets, as they were
about being paved. 1t is recommended that
where steam railways are given the right to
traverse streets OF avenues of the city, they be
restricted to laying two tracks on any street,
and that they be quired, under the supervision
OF the Board of Public Works, to enclose them
by substantial ornamental fence between the
intersections Of streets; also; that when trains
are moving, they be required to keep flagmen at
each street crossing, and to lay fiat rails on all
streets and avenues OF the city through which
they pass.
FINANCES.
A detailed statement OF the receipts and ex-
pendtures of the Board accompanies this re-