Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-08
ICOMMUNICATED.
Street Improvement.

Ifmy historical knowledge of the city docs
not tnl NO. think the most important improve
mchts OF the streets was commenced about 1916,
and continued for several years then dlscontln.
ucd, and WAS not again resumed until about
twenty five years ago. The Improvements made
then comprised the grading and paving of but
one or two streets and the attention Of our citi-
zens WAS diverted from the Importance of the
Improvement OF the streets to The more attrac.
tive but delusve scheme of building up railroads
to build up, rs 1t was hoped, the prosperity of
Alexandria. The city has grown in the last
twenty years; and this growth has so much out
stripped the improvements of the sidewalks and
carriage ways of the streets that it was made
quite appa ent that the wear and tear of time
had not only rendered the improved streets
nearly worthless, but the unimproved ones al
most impossible; and it is not subject of won
der that the health and comfort of the cltiZens
should have aroused an interest TO the unavoid-
able necessity Of putting streets in tulcra-
bic condition. Indeed the sanitary state OF the
city demanded the introduction of some plan for
the Improvement OF the streets and to meet this
indication, tho City Council OF 1923 passed an
act ii ing special tax IF twelve cents on the
hundred dollars worth of real estate property
to be collected and set aside Us the Improvement
| fund 1t was thus that spirit for the improve
ment OF our streets Was again, for the third time,
awakened and thu probability is that the neces-
| sity (o1 such improvement was never more unan-
lmously admitted than at present. 1t Is reason
ably expected that improvements Of the streets
| CAM OF be conducted without money; nor can
| the most insignificant street be improved with
out putting the property holders along it TO more
! or less temporary Inconvenience and expense.
This all rational persons anticipate, and 1t Is not
| until after the work has been completed that the
| greet advantage OF such improvements becomes
Enthusiastically apparent, Is not smooth SIDE,
| walk better than rough and broken one? and
is not IL street graded in scientific manner to
carry off the water that falls upon II better than
| one which does not carry oil its water, but re.
tsns it in deep bitches to become stagnant and
putrd giving Out foul odors to render the at
mosphera offensive to nhsle and noxious TO
| breathe? As an example OF the many Localities
Of the city that eliminate their mophitic exha-
lations to faint the air, let any ut nighttall visit
| the intersection Of Royal and Wolfe streets, and
! smell the foul and nauscous gas from the deep
| bitches that bind the pavementless sidewalks
! there, and keep their bottoms all the year COW
cred with dirty, filthy water, constantly dis
charging sickcning and disgusting vapor, and
| he will be convinced that something should be
done TO correct the evil, and will very likely
conclude that the citizens Of Alexandria ought
to be willing and able to spend every year one
mill and two tenths of q mill per cent on their
real estate property in order to render the side
| walks safe and pleasant to walk upon, and the
atmosphere of the streets healthy to breathe !;
| for it is not only misdirccted but mean econ
| omy that refuses the eXpcnd turc when inc
health of life and the pleasure of existence de-
nnnd for their care and support. Alexandria Is
our home. It is the centre of our interest, and
the abode Of our families 1t is the place where
our friends visit U.s. and it is all the world 70 US
Surely we are not so penurious as to be unwilling
to pay a small sum of money every year 10 rem
der our walks from one part of the city to anoth
| CT safe and pleasant? There will be plenty OF
money left after we have all died and been for
gotten and the grasping cagerness of the self
| denial which we are too apt to practice to hush
| the voice of our real comfort and moral wants IN
order to save money will be, in sl likelihood, more
than equallcd by the Indifference and ingratl-
tudc with which it will be spent by those who
come after US. Therefore, why all this grudg-
ing limping, grulnbng tardincss to make our
streets pleasant and safe to enjoy after the hours
of the days trouble and business? All the i'm
| pavement which we may put upon our streets
is for our good, comfort and convenience No
ono can take it away from Us, misuse or cheat
Us out of it. 1t is like repairing B house 1t Is
so much added TO the worth and comfort of the
property; and every dollar spent upon street
| in order TO invite travel or residence thereon
is but adding value TO the property on the
! street. j.