National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-03

20 the brick foot pavement heretofore In usc
In tho District, mainly on account OF Its cheap
meas, o. II Il about 33l per cent, lcss than that
Of the cheapest Of other descriptions. A con-
siderable quantity however, OF concrete foot
walks has been laid, which have generally
proved satisfactory. The board have been de-
iaycd in finishing this class Of work on account
Of the scarcity Of bricks, the demand being far
In excess Of the supply, aud have exhausted this
market and drawn very largely from the neigh
boring city Of Baltimore. An objection exists
on the part Of prOperty-Owners 10 the con-
crete sidewalk, which, In the judgment Of the
board is lll-foundcd as II Ia much more dura-
bic, elastic, and smooth than the brick foot
walk; aud were II not for tho difference In
price would undoubtedly supersedo the latter.
The following statement shows the amount
Of sidewalks laid by the boardi
Brick g5;;s...'.'''''''....''.' '9's miles
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1913 miles
PIPE SEWER.
This species Of sewer has been used almost
exclusively by the board IN their street I'm
provements, for the reason that II presents q
smoother surface, can be laid more easily and
quickly, and does not afford the same oppor-
tunity for cheating as brick sewers. Under
the old corporation many sewers were con-
structed without proper supervision, and the
board have been compelled, In some ln-
stances, to CXpend large sums Of money In
perfectlng work improperly done. In one
Instance, Con Fourteenth street, for space
Of 30 feet, only q portion Of the sewer had
been constructed, the contractor having en-
tlrely dispensed with the arch, and left moth
Ing but the earth as q substitute. The pipe
used has been furnished from Baltimore,
Philadelphia, Ohio and Scotland, at price
q per cent. lower than Is believed to have
been paid In any other city. The fact that
the main sewers had TO be constructed before
the laterals could DO laid has retarded the
progress Of the work, and II Is matter of
COngrntulatiOn that so much has been accom-
plishod In this respect when II Ia remen-
bcrcd that but very little Of the main sewer
aye had been provided for when tho board
entered upon It's duties.
PARKS AND INTERSECTIONS.
The waste places formed by the lntersec-
ton of our broad streets and avenues have
been laid OIL In small parks, with fountains,
and by this means an agreeable effect has
been produced, and at the same timo con
siderable saving secured In the cost Of paw
! ing, In this, as indeed in everything con.
noCted with tho improvement Of the city, tho
board have had the cordial corporation Of
| the able and efficient engineer In charge Of
| the public buildings and grounds Of tho Gen
oral Government. Scott and Farragut squares
and the parks and Intersections at Ninth stree
and Pennsylvania avenue, Mount Vernon place
and Rawllns square, have, by the Joint effort
| Of General BabcOCk and the board, been 81
| improved as to add greatly to the attraction
Of the localities In which they arc situated
| The reservations at tho intersection of Con
neCticut avenue and z street. Sixteenth stree
and Massachusetts, avenue, Rhode Islant
avenue and Thirteenth street, are now belnl
curbcd and paved, preparatory to furthe
| improvements, and when completed will con
/ tribute materially to the beauty and dcslra
! billty Of those DDrtlDns Of tho civ
! II Is proper here to state, with respect Il
| the Capitol grounds, that while the Improve
mcnt of First street west will soon DO com
| pleted, the approaches on the north, south
and east arc, without fault of the board, In al
| unfinished condition. Immediately after tn
adjournment of the last session, the boar
proposed to the architect In charge Of tn
Capitol that they should carry out the grade
| established by Congress ON First street east
so that the intersectlng streets, then under
going Improvement should he established a
their proper grade. To this he acceded, an
the board were about to enter upon the work
when they were requested by him to dcfe
further operations. The board also propose,
to pave the southern approaches to the Capt.
toll, and to connect, with good pavement
Pennsylvania avenue east and west. Although
the assent Of the architect was obtained, tn
board were subsequently compelled, thrOug
his interpretation, to desst from the under
taking.
BRIDGES.
The necessity for greater facilities of com
municatiOn between Washington and George
town was so apparent "a to call for immedlat
action on the part Of the board. The
street Improvement, which connects the north
western section Of Washington with tn
heights of Georgetown, has been pushed l.
completion, and the streets leading to 1t ar
being paved The old wooden structur
across Rock creek at the terminus Of NJ stree
has been removed, and handsome irO
bridge erected In Its place. The grades Of
and Bridge streets have been so changed As 4
make tho approaches easy, and greatly to en-
nance the value and convenience Of this q
one Of the principal thOrOughfarus Of trayC
between Washington and Georgetown. Tn
old bridge which spanncd the canal at Scventl
street has been removed and placed ut the n
street crossing Of tic james creek canal, frs
having been altered Into draw-bridge. II !
the Intention Of the board, 50 soon as the cana
bed shall have been lillcd, to remove the Othe
bridgesRnd place thcm across the james creel
, canal on the streets connecting Capitol Hi
with South Washington. In the county
fine bridge Il In CuurS"Of erection across ROcl
creek, on the PUdrCC Mill road, an improve
mGnt which has long been needed. On tn
Seventh street aud Bladensburg turnpike
heavy stone culverts have been substituted 70
tho unsafe wooden structures heretofore pro
| yidcd.
The construction Of main sewers In certall
portions Of the city has enabled the board /,
remove large number Of temporary wOOdel
bridges crossing natural water-courses which
remaining open, have hitherto constituted th
principal sewers Of the city.
SHADE TREES.
In The selection Of trees to be planted alOn,
the streets and avenues Of the city, Il hG
| been the aim of the board to obtain such va
rietiss rs experience has shown to be adaptb,
TO our climate, capable Of thriving under tn
peculiar circumstances Of wood and asphal
/ pavements, and not liable to the least ohiec
ton as shade trees. As far az practicable,
different variety has been selected for eacl
street, so as TO avoid mOnOtOny In appear
ance. A large number Of trees have beeI
planted during the present season, and tn
purpose Is to extend this kind Of ornamental
/ tlon 10 all improved streets. The board, II
considering this subject, awaited themsalvO
of the experience Of Messrs. Smith and Saun
dcrs, Of the Government gardens, and of Mr.
John Saul, aud gladly embrace this Opportu
nifty to acknowledge the services OF thes,
gentlemen, who without remuneration, hay,
/ rendered them such valuable assistance.
MARKET BUILDINGS.
! Under an appropriation Of 800, 900 made Ll
the Legislative Assembly, a lot was purchased
at the junction Of Seventh street east ant
North Carolina avenue, and a suitable marke
! uuhuluB lluh Dttn constructed tneTCOn TOT thl
accommodation Of citizens residing In tina
section Of the city.
An appropriation Of $500, 900 WIS also madt
for market-hOuse In lieu Of the one In thu
centre OF X street, between Nineteenth ant
Twentieth streets northwest, and for marke
building on square numbered 44B. A lot wa
secured Immediately west of the old location
Of the Western market, on the corner o
Twenty-first and X streets, for the sum o
$4,000 and building Is In course Of eroc
ton, the cost Of which, when completed, viii
be about $4,000
The old structure which stood at the inter
section Of Seventh street and Massachusetts
avenue having been torn down by thu
board, temporary sheds were erected OF
square numbered 446, between Sixth ant
Seventh and o and p streets. The cOnstruc
ton OF building for the Northern market
was, by subsequent action Of the Legislative
Assembly, transferred to a Joint committee
OF the Council and House Of Delegates, and
under their auspices, the work has beer
put under contract The old Western market
building, which formerly stood on X street.
has been removed to the intersection OF Third
and II streets northeast, and Is being rebuilt
upon Il lot leased for that purpose, with a
Wow Of supplying that locality.
The BTidge-strect (GeOrgetOwn) market,
0 hon t.. - -