National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-17
MILES OF PAvEMERTS.
Money Spent for Improving the
Streets of the City.
Replacing the Rotten Wood Pavements Will
Asphalt and Granite Block-stroots Left
Unfinished by the Board of Public
Works-Irrcgular Streets In
the Suburban villages
Recommendations.
Lieutenant Greene,s Annual Report.

lions Of the portion of the Engineer depart
mont under his direction for the year ending
Juno 80, 1879. On the first of July there were
in the District % clio miles containing $50 957
square yards of wood pavements, SO 7-10 miles
containing 933,760 square yards OF concrete
and asphaltum, 10 210 miles containing 332,-
651 square yards of stone block pavement and
II 7-1O miles containing 100000 square yards
blue stone, cObble and other rough stone pave
mcnts, $40 miles containing 1S7. los square
yards Macadam pavoments, 10 6.10 miles con-
tanning 4l9,7l7 square yards gravel roadways,
90 7-l0 miles containing ,Si3, 1856 square yards
wholly unimprovcd Streets making "A total oils
miles ofimprOved carriageways. The wooden
pavoments are what remain of those laid be-
tween 1871 aud 1874. which aggregated 1905
23l square yards. With few exceptions they
are now so rotten and broken as to make the
streets impossible for ordinary carriages.
Under the contracts made during the year,
1864 square yards Of the rotten wood pave
ments have been replaced with asphalt or
stone. During the current year the appropria-
ton for replacement of pavemeuts is $780,
600. At present prices this will be
sufficient TO replace only about $4,000
square yards, leaving 100000 square yards on
hand at the beginning of the next year. At
this rate the wooden pavements cannot DO re-
placed in less than seven years. The report
calls attention to the Importance ef providing
for the replacement of those pavements at the
rate of not less than 100000 square yards
year. Tho numerous varieties of so-called
concrete pavcmcnts laid between 1871 and
1875 are, as a general rule in n fair state of
preservation, especially those which were laid
or resuriaced in 1875 aud 1876. The appropri-
alton for the current year for repairs to con-
crete pavements is 100000, which will be
sufficient 10 repair about 100000 square
artla A ahO Ina
made for the next fiscal year. The trap block
pavemcnts laid by the Board of Public Works
are in very fair order The rough-stone pave
mcnts laid principally by the old corporation
are much complained of by the property
owners and residents. They should remain
however, until tho rotten wood pavements are
disposed Of, as they are passablO at all seasons
and not injurious to health. Tho gravel road
| ways in the suburbs, If an appropriation was
| made for their repair, would answer for sew
| eral years to come. The Macadam pavement on
| Four.and.a.half street, from Missouri avenue to
| the Arsenal which is in very bad order,
| should be relaid with durable stone pave
| ment. All the new pavements are of two
casses-asphalt and granite block; 14l $50
| yards Of asphalt pavement were contracted
| for during tho year ut prices ranging from
| S2.0II to Sl.47 per square yard. The total ex-
| penditures for asphalt pavcments amount to
| 1909, 459.5S a portion of the contracts being
| still incomplete; 56,9ii square yards of stone
| block pavements were laid at prices varying
from So 81 to Sl.95, the total expenditures
amounting to 1928, i3i.74. All new pavements
| have been laid according to law, with guar
| antee on tho part of the contractor to keep
| them in repair for five years, Nine thousand
| four hundred and thirty-two dollars aud sew
| ,nty-six cents has been spent in grading
streets, setting curbs, brick footwalks, SC.
One hundred thousand dollars is appropriated
for the same purpose this year, of which about
0ne-half has been put under contract. large
| portion of the unmproved streets are in the
suburbs and will need no attention for a few
years. Others, however, are in the heart of the
city, and should be improved at once. Prom
nent among the latter are tho streets in the
vicinity of the Capitol. There are many
streets in various sections Of the city which
were partly improved by the Board of Public
Works and left unfinished, aud for several
| years have been almost impossible. All of
these streets are in the estimates for improve
ment, which make up a total of over $500, 900.
| Their improvement is of secondary Importance
compared 10 the prime necessity Of replacing
the rotten wood pavements at the earliest pos.
sible date. The l02 miles of county roads have
been kept in repair rs rule by days labor,
the total expenditure on their account being
500, 452.14 1t will not be possible to devote to
the county roads this year more than $4,000,
which will be sufficient for ordinary repairs,
|
street turnpike and Others, which arc in such
bad condition that they need very extensive
| work upon them. Twenty thousand dollars
| will be required to repair the Mlcadam on the
Seventh street road alone. The report recon.
mcnds that authority be asked from Con-
gress to condemn the Tennallytown road, the
| only toll-Ioad now existing in the District rs
a free, public road, so that it may kept in good
condition. The work ofimproving the Seventh.
street road is now progressing rapidly. The
work on the new Tunlaw road is nearly com.
pleted. The report calls attention to the
necessity of properly marking the boundaries
and recording the plots OF county roads, and
Of imposing some legal restriction on the
building of villages just outside the city with
steets running ut random, involving great ex.
pense in strengthening them out in the future.
The general plan of the city should be ap.
piled 10 the suburbs, aud tho work cannot
be undertaken too soon. He recommends as
a thorough geodetic and typographical survey
of the county, The monuments marking the
roads could be placed ~ the survey progressed.
The total cost Of such thorough survey would
be not less than 50 $40 per square mile, or a
total cost Of 100000. II Congress would au.
thorizc the employment Of the officers aud In.
struments of the Coast Survey, the District
would be spared nearly half the expense. The
report recommends that $4,000 be apprO.
| priated for commencing such a survey at once
dollars aud thirty.seyon cents was expended
in repairing streets, alleys and sewers ina
Washington and Georgetown, and over S. 900
on the repairs Of Seyenth.street road and the
construction of Tunlaw road. He recon.
meuds an appropriation of not less than
100000 for the repairs ofroads, streets alley 5,
sc. lie invites attention to the condition
OF sidewalks in tho city which the property
owners or residents are required under the
old Corporation ordinances, now almost obso-
lete, to keep in repair, and recommends that
either the old law be ro-enacted or the Dis.
trict assume entire charge of the sidewalks
and put them in repair. Not less than Sl5,.
900 per annum would be required for this
purpose, The sweepingof the streets has been
performed satisfactorily. Great difficulty is
experienced in keeping alleys clean in pre-.
venting parties residing on the alleys from
throwing refuse matter upon them. More
stringent legislation is needed in this matter
for sanitary reasons. The report refers also
10 the reports of the superintendent of lamps
and Of the parking commissioners.
What Time Is IT.
S35 for a solid pold Waltham or Eloin gtou,