Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-14
How Soush Washington is treated.


To the Fdi.ur of THE EVENING STAR:
During the last season, but little has been done
toward putting the long lines OF unimprOved
streets $50 called III South WaShin Eton in that
order, which is the due OF SO We'll settled a sec
ton. To that fact invite the attention OF our
city government To obvious general IoOseness in
the conduct OF that government, / invite the at
tehti0n OF all concerned. The Commissioners are
often credited with making good government
ExPresident Hayes recently said $50 it is reported
That Washington has the best municipal govern
mebt in the world; than which. nothing can be
farther nom the truth. In theiast ten years a
Yass sum OF money has been put On the streets
principally 10 the northwest section where it Will
40 MOS EoId Ia thc way or reputation. In con-
Sequence these streets have a beautiful appear
sncc, and drive over them soma fine day can
easily create Such an impression as the above
But Impressions thus gained are not the truths OF
The situation rs experience VIII prove. Our gov
eminent is the victim Of every person or corpora
ton That chooses TO set at H6usLt it authority or
taH rights Of citizens, which Il IS its duty 10 pro-
teCL
RAILROAD ABUSES.
II has allowed the railroad corporations to bear
their own sway within our city; to use our streets
and avenues as their depOJs; TO multiply the
number OF tracks allowed them; To injure streets
and abutting property by running branch tracks
into private business establishment Is; to locate
Dy permission, a baggage room public street
anu when afterwards ordered peTemptGr1y to re-
move tine auGe, to make i blank II lusal 10 be the
pdoic, the uhtrQtH that certain $4,000 sheds
GREETING, were old ones from Philadelphia erect
ed here teInp1r3riy; AMI further To allow the
company 10 erect frame building on 9th and G
streets, against their own enactmehtS and proL
tests OF heiShoOrins citizens All this In the
question OF improvements and prosperity are
fl, u OF the greatest Importance TO South WASH
1n-tOR, that overlooked section which exists f1r
the prime purpose OF paying taxes TO improve
When the Commissioners nave attempted any,
thing at all in this section OF impossible open
n In - door
saTy trade OF nearly century, it is no more than
little bait 70 keep closed awhile longer the
mouths or the most enduring people ever put un-
ueI the yoEe OF nfStectiHg municipality. few
years 3c-n + street was paved over the extraor1j
nary tch- IN Oh t'c0 S'ft7Te In the fall OF 1880
Stlect NaN improved over the same remarkable
length, ttrO squares, while the street for months
was Kept blocked up. Last spring E street got its
regulation. TWO SIulrcS, whist those TWO seas OF
mud. the uninprUV5d portions. extend on either
SIDE TO the boundaries OF the section. The In
prOYeTnent of AZ street was so ueCp,Ssry and ire
ACCOMPLISHMENT puts us 10 such 2 pIpaS,'n nj state
OF mimi that can stand some minor DRAWBACKS.
but it was great mistake u lay Macadam roads
north and south OF the SIR squares OF good block
pavement put down Tue street ought 10 have
been uniformly improved from Pennsy lvanfa ave-
nue. 10 the Arsenal; IL was neccSsary-thcSe roads
win not stand the travel upon them-and 1t win
cost more III the end.
To this point have mentioned only what has
been done To indicate all our areas Of mud which
most urgently need attention, would be beyond
my limits II space. And here, as view II,
nici 1fity has no right 70 lay costly and yet more
costly improvements upon one section, while other
quarters have comparatively nothing bestowed
upon them; and this outside OF the mere question
OF justice each Streets are provided as conve-
nicaceS or lOcOmOtlun and tralnc, and not 10 be
treated as extensions and front yards Tor rich
mems property, to be improved at the expense OF
citiIcnS more huinbly situated. who have only the
Te,ht reserved 70 them or pulling through sloughS
OF mud 10 their OWN homes OF the streets In
A PRE-ENfSEXTLY BAD CONDITION,
VIII specify Virginia avenue from It'll street TO
South Capitol street, street from AZ east and Sd
from street south, which are literal Quagmres
ana well nigh absolutely impossible "a short
uile since, truck OF the fire department. proceed
I.g 70 burning stable on Virginia avenue was
SttCA t'tst not stones throw from its deStina-
SIOi am Stilld there until long after the IRE was
OoCl itt these are all Important tnOrouehfares
~ IiCsI would Oe In the economy or the city and
~ os!heSS were they 10 receive proppr attention.
Ihey are now but vast areas OF eirtit in SoIutton
VI Ifozen c'Od5 or vast clouds of dust as tine tenn
PStd1uFe may De. Virginia ayenue il tba norn-aI
shotoaShidfe from the upDer Dlrt of fhFs CecIic-
W Sne navy yard, as street Is or the lower Sfor
to- ts1e oSiheSs from the wharves yet its condi
oeks us description IL has no SldewarS fron,
49,, ~ .,tstwlfd and It's roadway Is sinDIv tha
cs~NI ~, ~ t1e CITY Units Third street is the mir
sf,nSnra9 iSnlafe OF plat LETT utterly to its own
~ e ~ toauIIon refer to that pesse az lsnd
~ s1.IIe mistake Included ION the nlsnsS IN IT,
lily OF Washington Iyinu betwear ~ ~
" streets and south from r DoYvn 49, .st
ssuoIuueaiare IN rainy weather from tho trsh,
oSihS from the streets in this District ftayvr
ciS % oloader surface than many a strr.an, os
go 49, Alsse No sidewalks from HI street SIar.S
sa, Vssaes ous Ysst Sea OF mud And thus Tarsss
oouta washington. e' 40
Co.,