Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-11

The Commissioners appointed to select aud
lay new pavement on Pennsylvania ave-
hue have no common duty To perform. The
street Is In many respects the finest In the
world; the city to which IL belongs is the
capital OF the United States; the work is to
be done under the express authority and d.
rection OF Congress, acting In behalf OF the
people OF the whole country, and partly at
their expense. THESE conditions, as applied
TO the paving OF a street, are In every sense
exceptional. They raise to the dignity of a
national work what would under ordinary
circumstances be mere local Improvement,
and they call for uncommon care, both In
The selection OF the pavement itself and In
the manner In which II shall be putdovp. In
both respects the work must be OF the best,
or the members OF the commission will not
only commit lasting wrong upon their
country, but they will clothe themselves
with disgrace and infsmy for all time to
come.
Already IL Is alleged that more than one
Di the gentlemen chosen for the delic ate and
responsible task are committed In advance
10 particular style OF pavement, and also
mat combinations have been formed and are
now actively at work TO secure the adoption
OF certain patents In which their members
are interested, or which they entirely con.
frol. We give these current statements for
what they are worth, only hoping they may
have no foundation In truth. But that they
are In circulation is a suggestive fact, and
one which shoald not only put the Commits
sioners toalously on their guard, but also
prompt them TO extraordinary vigilance and
fidelity in the performance OF their trust.
The eyes not OF Washington alone, but of
the whole country are upon them, and they
will be held to rigid accountability as to
The manner In which their duty shall be per-
formed. They have both the authority to
select and the means to put down the best
pavement In the worlI, and this they are
called upon To secure, as well by public SEN
Iment as by the language Of the law under
which they act.
Another thing. The bill as 1t fnally came
srom the conference committee was happily
modified considerably as to the latitude
given 10 the street railway company In re-
gard to paving its portion OF the street, and
which was so Objectionable feature In the
Dill as ii first passed both Houses. After
providing for a division OF the cost OF the
WORK, the language OF the law on this point
Is as follows:
-'but the said railroad Company, hav-
ing conformet 10 the grade established by
Inc commissioners. may use cobbie- stone or
belgian rock In paving their tracks or the
space between their tracks, as the Commits
sioners may direct"
This means, first, that the present danger
ous AID ursightly ridge between the two car
tracks and also the space between the rails
s',S Dc ieUeed dotCI 10 the graft ofthe rest of the
street, and, second, that the Commissioners
may require the use OF tuii form smoothly laid
Besgtdd block, instead OF the wretehed co5ble-
Some aoDmtnattO1 now imposed on the
public against Its Indignant protest. And
these two things, IN behalf of the psople of
washington and OF the United States,-yho
are alike interested in the appearance and
condition OF the street, and who have to paw
Lac expense of improving tive call upon
Inc Commissioners to have done. The excuse
often given that the railway company can
not afford the expense Is not entitled to a
moments consideration. 1t may possibly
be true to some extent; but we doubt 1t. But
suppose II is. Plenty OF property holders on
The Avenue cannot or think they cannot
ahord 70 bear their share of the expense.
either; but they are com PEELED to pay 1t,
nevertheless, and for such style Of pavement,
too, as the Commissioners may select, with
out reference TO their wishes or their pecua-
larry ability.
The work of paving the Avenue now, IL the
kind be wisely chosen and the WORK properly
done, will be In its essential features a re.
suit for al time 1t Is consequently OF the
highest importance that neither corporate
nor private interests be allowed to interfere
In the slightest degree with that consum-
nation. Again, therefore, we appeal TO the
Commissioners TO select the very best pave
ment anywhere to be found, Irrespective OF
outside influences or personal predictions
previously entertained; TO have IL put down
IN the best manner possible; and to grant to
10 corporation or company any privileges
or favors In connection with IT that are not
at the same time, In the same way, and to
The same extent, freely accorie1 TO the hum
blest citizen. Nothing less will be worthy
The high character OF the gentlemen consti-
1uting the commission or the important
trust committed to their charge.
What has become of the spots On the snr,