The Evening critic., 1881-09-01
THE SIDEWALKS.
why they Have Not Been Repaired.

why tbey hnvc MOI bcen hcpbtrcu.
The Commissioners have received the
following report upon the sidewalks in the
city, the bad condition of which have called
forth so much unfavorable comment: o
GENTLEMEN The condition of the
sidewalks has not been overlooked, but for
reasons hereafter stated it has been impos-
sible to keep them in proper repair. There
arc in round numbers 225 miles of brick
sidewalks in the city, containing about L.
100000 square yards of surface. OF this
amount at least one-tenth probably more) is
in very bad order and in urgent need of re-
pair. But the act of Congress establishing
the present form of government for the
District requires money to be paid out only
in pursuance of specific appropriations by
Congress, and these appropriations to be
based on estimates submitted annually by
the Commissioners; and the most pressing
necessity of the streets for the past three
years has been to get rid of the impossible
and unhealthy wooden pavements, and the
greater part of the estimates, rs well as the
expenditures on the streets for the past
three years, has therefore been devoted to
this purpose The work is even yet not
complete and after the present contracts
are finished there will be over ten miles of
wood-pavcd streets. Under these circum-
stances it has not been possible
to devote to the sidewalks the attention
which they deserve, and, in fact, the old
municipal ordinance throws upon the
owners or occupiers of property" the en-
tire expense of keeping the sidewalks in
proper repair. The Commissioners have,
however, annually submitted to Congress
an estimate for the purchase of materials for
permit work" and under the appropriation
made for that purpose the Com
missioners have purchased bricks, curb,
&C., and furnished them to all par
ties who would lay or repair their
sidewalks at their own expense. This,
however, neccssitates voluntary action on
the part Of the property-Owner or occupier,
aud does not meet the case of parties who
decline to do the work or of nonresident
owners of vacant lots. Some method should
be devised to meet such cases. and
know of none better than the old
ordinance, which required the commits
sioner of improvements of the ward
to notify the "owners or 0ccupiers" of prop
erty where the sidewalk was out of repair
to repair It., and If the notice was not COM
piled with in five days. the COMM ssioner
of improvements was to pave it himself,
paying the cost out of the funds of the
ward" He was then to furnish the reg
lister with statement of the cost, and the
register was to transmit it to the collector
who would collect it within thirty days,
or failing that, would collect it in the same
manner that taxes on real property are col
lected, and with interest at 10 per cent. un.
til paid. 1t is question for the Commits
soners to determine, under advice of the
attorney, whether it is advisable to revive
the system Of assessment to the extent
above quoted, and how much of the above
ordinance still remains operative under the
various changes of government which have
taken place since it was enacted.
"Yours, respectfully,
Of. V. GREENE,
First Lieutenant Engineers, U. S. A.
The paper was referred to Attorney Rid
die with the following Endorsement
Is the ordinance of the old corporation
still in force, and if so, is there way, in
the absence Of an appropriation, of compell-
ing compliance with its requirements"