Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-23

The schedule of 1890 hours, or six hours q
night, requires the lamps to be extinguished
whenever the moon Is ahoye the, horizon,
whether it is obscured by clouds or not. When
the moon is thus hidden the city must either be
left in darkness or the lamps must be lighted
during portion of the night. thus increasing
the number Of hours; and in order to keep the
total within the limit of 1900. the lamps must
be put out long before daylight In the morning.
This course is very Objectionable, but it seems
to be the less of two evils and it has been gen
orally followed. In order to light the city pro-
perly. as its size and Importance demand the
number of hours should be increased to 3 ,OOO
per annnm. No injury would result from re-
ducing the burners to the size Of S feet per hour
instead Of feet, as the law now requires; and
the diminutl0n in the size Of burners would
largely offset the increase in the quantity of
gas required by the increased number Of hours,
80 that no extra expense need be incurred by
the change. The character Of the gas, illumin-
ating power, purity. pressure, etc., fully set
forth in the accompanying report Of the y. 8.
inspector Of gas and meters.
PARKING COMMISSION
The report Of the parking commission shows
that during the past year 2, ATT new trees have
been planted on the Streets and that 1858 trees
have been set out in place of others which had
been destroyed by storms. The total number
OF trees is now 81 $685. giving 100 miles of shaded
streets. The principal expense Of the parking
ls tIlc CouSCanC repair OF wooden
tree boxes, which are so essential to the proper
growth Of young trees, 5,475 boxes having been
renewed during the past year, and 6. 900 pounds
OF leather used for securing the trees to the
boxes. The pruning Of the trees is also con-
stantly growing expense. But the entire cost
less than $50, 900, or $154 per mile of shade.
Probably no other equal amount of the annual
expenses contributes SO much to the comfort.
health and beauty Of the city as the money ex-
pended on the trees. AS yet no systematic
planting of the roads and suburban streets has
Deen attempted, as the appropriation is not suf-
feient but trees furnished free Of cost to all
parties who will plant and box them properly on
such roads under the supervision of the parking
commission. large number of trees have been
planted In the county under these conditions
During the past year all applications of tele-
graph companies to prune the trees which inter-
ferred with the working Of their wires have uni
formly been refused; no trees have been pruned
except by the.emplOyes Of the parking commits
sion, and solely with reference TO the Necessities
Of the tree itself, as determined by the members
OF the parking commission, who are experts il,
this matter and whose Judgment In regard to all
technical details ia invariably accepted as final
COUNTY ROADS. -
The total length of roads In the county is
about 102 miles, They are kept in repa,r nv
days labor, under the direction of a supervisor
In each district, the county being divided into
three districts for that purpose. Some of the
roads are well constructed, with good grades.
substantial culverts and hard beds; Others are
very inferior, having very steep grades and no
covering other than the clayey son through
which they are cut. The appropriation for their
repair last year was eco, 900, which was Insult
dcient for the purpose, and many OF them were
In bad order last spring. For the present wear
the approximation is s25, 900, and they are now
appropriation Is made for their repair. effort is
made to keep all the roads In passable con-
dition, and to make permanent and durable re-
pairs on those which are most heavily travelled.
with the expectation that these pesmanank e.