Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-26
, any theories Of their own. they maintain

block, OF rather smaller dimensions than is
usually used In other cities In this country has
been selected. These blocks, where subjected
to heavy traffic, must be based on q firm f0ua-
dalton Of hydraulic cement. Where the traffic
is lighter, and especially where the slopes are
such as TO give rapid drainage the base may De
prepared with broken stone or gravel. An ex-
ample Of this pavement may be found upon 7th
street northwest.
AS the standard asphaltum pavement. the
commissioners have adopted a hydraulic con-
crete base, SIX inches in thickness, with a sur
face Of 219 inches of asphal,ic composition in
which no product OF the dLotillasion OF coal tar
is admitted.
The Neuchatel they condemn as being too
slippery for practical use. AS an experimental!
pavement, a small distance upon E street has
been laid with the compressed asphalt block
While some of the later and better class Of coal
tar pavements show good surfaces and give fair
promise OF a reasonable durability, yet the gen.
eral condition OF this class of pavement in the
city is such as to lead To their condemnation a
faulty in principle and deficient in vitality.
to many perplexing problems in the grades of
the streets upon which they have been used
and as. when properly laid; their Cos. IS a,
great II not greater, than the r,uraulic con
crete, they have been definitely abandoned
The commissioners do not place an nnre-
SerVeo confidence In any form of asphalt pave
nent as yet Invented. They are, howe yer, OF
the opinion that with the present prices of slch
payementS they may be considered as Injuries
not too eXtravagant for the public purse They
promise at least much less cost of mainte-
nance III IN any OIneT form OF smooth pave
ment. and they are certainly well adapted to
the light and uniformly distributed traffic of
this city. 1t will require several years more of
actual trial to determine finally the precise cost
OF tie maintenance Of such paveneat5. Until
the test OF time has been put upon them 1t Is
idle to advance theories upon the subject. 1t IS
however assumed from the trials thus far
made that the cost will be very far within that
Of the coal-tar payementS heretofore laid.
There still remain about $4,000 square yar1S
Of more or less rotten wooden surface to be re-
placed, a schedule OF which is presented with
this report. The expense OF repaying is esii-
Liated at 81 IS per yard, including all eos q,
grading. resetting curbS, and minor ems M
extra work, but not including the relavinr of
footwalhs Tie total sum thl-7 calculated ex-
ceeds by large amount tic possible surplus
revenues OF the District within the next two
years. The aggregate is, however presented in
this report, and is included in the Supplemental
order that the present condition Of tae streets
| of tie city may be understood and some means
OF relief may, II possible, be devised.
In determining the Kind of pavement to be
used in each special locality the Commissioner,
! adopt as a general rule that purely business
streets. over which heavy traffic is passing,
| shall be paved with granite bl0ckS also ali
| slopes OF which the inclination exceeds in -;
| also the rOadWayS between the curbS OF the
| fC0;WalkS and the rails of the Street-railWayS
/ where the space is 50 narrow as to cause the
surface to be cut in rutS. All streets which are
! net used exclusively for business purposes, and
upon which the traffic is light and diffuSei over
! large surfaces are 10 be paved with sphait:
! suburban streets to be graveled or macaclln-
! lied. These general rules are not intended a.,
| final and dognatic ruling under which all new
| paVementS are to be stlmmarily condemned. bat
are intended TO represent the basis upon which
| the present estimates of the board are made
| In laying a small amount of the compressed
asphaltum block. the commissioners have been
Influenced by favorable reports of its duab;lifv
in Philadelphia and Providence and by the
opinions OF many distinguished engineers as
well as by the evident advantage which it
presents over all continuous surface road
coverings. in that it can readily be taken up
and relaid when required by the water gas or
sewer service OF the streets. There can be
little reasonable doubt OF its durability under
the light traffic OF this city, but it is held to be
the more prudent policy to accept only the
proof OF actual trial. and to make its extension
year by year, keep pace with this test. 1t is
not probable that this pavement can compete
In point OF price with the aSphaitum roadwdy5
as now laid.
The unprecedented storms of the past sum
mer have brought very prominently into view
the deficiencies in the main sewerage system of
the city. The necessary examinations have
been made, and approximate estimates are pre-
scented of the cost OF relieving the lOW-lyng
portions of the city from the floods of water
poured upon them from the upper areas and the
surrounding country. The two drainage basins
which present the most serious difficulties are
those which discharge their waters through
| the old course of the Tfber and the bed OF the
canal along street northwest. The accurnu-
lated waters OF the immense basin draiueI By
the 1iber now pass through the single arch IN
der the Botanical Gardens. Its capacity IS en-
tiiey inadequate TO perform the service re
CURED CT IL, and, as q result, each heavy rain
fali Hoods the surface TO depth OF from TWO
to three feet A portion OF the city narrowly
eScaTed serious disaster from the h,,rSiIl ~
the arch in the gardens. The lifting OF that val
mass Of masonry and its settlement again in
place, instead Of falling in a mass OF ruins
choking the entire waterway and pouring II .l0n
the surface volume OF water equal to tnat OF
some navigable streams, is a source of w0ndp.
and subject for cOngratulatiOn. The cOadi-
ton OF the lOW-lying grounds in the vicinity OF
the gardens and along the b street sewer is
simply 1nt0lerabie. An approximate estimate
Tor Its relief IS presented, amounting in the
total to $4,000 The details of the proposed
lntercepting sewers and their connections. with
final estimates, are being rapidly prepared and
Will be presented when complete. The reVe-
nues of the District will not meet this necessary
expenditure. and the Commissioners are com
PEELED to present this case, as well as the re
placement or the rotten parements OF the city
for the favorable consideration OF Congress
WATER SUPPLY.
The subject OF the water supply Of the city is
one which has for some time past given much
cause for complaint among those living upon
the nigh grounds. Yearly year, as the city in
creaseS, the demand for a greater supply or
water will become more and more imperative
The commissioners are not at this time pre-
pared to present plan for femedying the pres
ent difficulty. Heretofore, as the wants OF the
city have demanded, new mains have been laid
to the lower reservoir. 1t would seem that the
tiiI-S 10 Cli dt lic IL VIII Ut utteSSdFS
TO take more comprehensive view OF this sub
ject looking to economy in the future. and to
the health and comfort OF an increasing popu-
latiOn.
The resources OF the water department. are at
present barely able to support the current ez-
penSeS, and it will not be possible To lay the
new mains necessary for the proper service O.
the present system without a slight increase in
the water rates. AS under the existing law,
the department is supposed to be Sef-SuDpors
ing. any increase in the rates must of necessit
be limited by the actual need Ofthe water service
RAILROAD STATIONS.
We feel it to be our duty to refer to the pre-
ence OF the two railway depots i'll the city oI
cleS 10 the Improvement of the localities where
they are established, besides being sources OF
unnecessary danger to the public In the streets
along which their tracks passed
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad depot, with
It's tracks for approach, prevents grading the
streets upon the north side In the Immediate
vicinity Of the Capitol grounds. It's tracks from
Baltimore and TO the west occupy consider
able portion OF the northeastern part Of the
city in such manner as to impair the value OF
property and Impede the progress OF improve
mentS While they cross Massachusetts, avenue
| practically severing the finest street in the
| two lines outside the city and bring them iii
| upon one line OF street, to a station somewhere
| north OF Massachusetts avenue and thus re-
| move much Of the objection to and damage,
arising from the location Of the depot in that
| portion OF the city.
| The Baltimore and Potomac railroad deDOt and
| tracks are equally injurious 10 the Improvement
| and welfare Of that part of the city they occupy
Crossing the Mall, they divide and distigure this