Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-04

Eleventh Street East, the Route to the
AnacOstia Bridge, Macadan,iZcd.

One of the cheapest and best public improve
ments in a small way made this year by the Dis
trict authorities. under Lieut.. F. Y. Greene's
| supervision, is that of 18th street southeast
from Pennsylvania avenue to the navy yard
bridge. This is one Of the most frequented
thoroughfares leading out of this city, commu-
nicating as it does direct with Uniontown, all
the adjacent villages the insane asylum. MARI
| DOrO and all the towns of the lower counties of
Maryland. For some reason this thorougilfare
has never been kept in first-cass condition. Sew
eral spasmodic attempts were made years ago
b. the old corporation of Washington TO cut it
down to the proper grade, followed 10y the
| dumping OF OF loose gravel with skiring Of
rough cobble-stone cutters. The hill was al
ways too steep. and the heavy rains were sure to
wash the gravel and even the cobbie cutters
| down into the branch. leaving the roadway full
! OF gulches and heavy boulders. During the war,
when so much travelled by heavy teams. it was
! patched up several times by the military au-
tAorlties, but never repaired in permanent
| manner The frequent loud complaints. which
| have lately been laid before the Commissioners
ana referred to Lieut.. Greene prompted an exam
inat,OH by the latter. which led to determination
| to do something in the way OF repairs, although
no appropriation had been made specifically for
! IL. The small balance left of the repair fund.
after the worst OF the roads about the city had
been mended, looked rather insignificant; yet it
was the only recourse left.
The 18th street road had been completed to
Brentwood, and Lieut. Greene directed Mr. J.
}. Burrows, the superintendent, to take his
force of laborers. horses and appliances to this
street and do the best he could. 1t has been
! hnished and every citizen living on the line
Is now loud in praise of the job. The
work is in all respects similar to the 7th street
road in the county with the eXceUtiOn of the
Gyipula1 fan foot f-,s.l bp
line OF the curb on that portion of the street
between Pennsylvania avenue and II street
south. where the granite block commences on
the steep portion OF the hill, and extends TO the
bridge.
THE REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT BURROWS
shows how such work can be done with econ
ony and In a first-c!ass manner with proper
management 1t is as follows:
Il have the homer to report the completion
OF repairs to 18th street southeast. between
Pennsylvania avenue and II street. which were
made by the District OF Columbia under the
days work system They comprise: LOT cubic
yards excavation. including that d0ne Tor
granite block pavement south OF NJ street;
4461 square yards cobbIe stone pavement 5. $50
square yards macadam pavement. $50 square
yards gravel pavement, ,195 linear feet gutter
flag. 504 linear feet crossings flag The old
macadam. between NJ street and the bridge
was taken M screened and used to rcDair | 18th
street north OF M-I,O12 cubic yards being had
from this source. The balance ofthe material re-
qulrc1-l30 cubic yards-was obtained from the
District CT Columbia sand yard, ard from the
Washington monument. 53 cubic yards AID Il
cube yards respectively. Topping for the
macadam was obtained by screening such as
was suitable after removing the old material
south OF " STREET.-THE cubic yards. from lots
owned by Alr. Talbcrt, 10 cubic Yards AID from
bank in 18th street southeast. near the Baiti-
more ard Potomac railroad. Gj cubic yards: in
all $50 cubic yards. The Old cutters were taken
UP. relaid to the true section of the new road
way and increased to ten feet in width.
Additional cObbla stone for this purpose were
gotten from District of Columbia sand yard ! .2S3
square yards; from reservation II, 276 sGUare
yards: from cutters south Of NJ street SEQ square
yards. and from gravel banks and purchase. 80
square yards; in all .0J5 square Yards.
The gravel used in paving these rat
tiers. amounting to 40 cutie Yards was had
from the same sources as that used for the top
ping of the macaGain. The surplus gravel eX-
cayated fer the granite block pavement was
used in repairing adjacent gravel roadways.
The street now presents a perfectly smooth ma
cada'n roadway 80 feet wide llaHked by two
strips OF cobble store pavement, each 10 feet
vide from Pennsylvania avenue to NJ street.
thence to the bridge the new granite block
pavement completes a thor0ughfare. which for
driving purposes, Is unsurpassed in the city.
Inc total cost OF these repairs was %3.G90.2S.
Deductlng the cost Of excayating for the granite
block pavement and for laying gutter ami cross
ing flag, the cost of the cobbe and niacadam
payements averages only twenty cents per
square yard -