Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24

phalt and they are gradually wearing out
BY means OF prompt repairs they are kept in or
der until the top surface has entirely worn off.
An entirely new surface of asphalt is then laid
upon them. The necessity of preserving these
pavements by resurfacng them, in addition TO
the minor repairs needed from time to time. in
wolves anexpense of about $4,000 per annum.
This amount has been appropriated for several
years past, and is included i'm the estimates for
next year The number of yards resurfaced
during the last five years is 1876 27 at an aver
age cost OF $3.50 per square yard The pave
ments when thus treated are nearly as good as
new. ~
In addition to the 70 miles OF standard nave
ments asphalt and grante) there are II miles
OF cobbie. miles of macadam and "a miles of
gravel. or, in ALL So miles OF rOadways of an in
Terror character. They are kept in as good or
der as is possible with the appropriation of
S2ooOO for current repairs. Such repairs as are
absolutely necessary to the sidewalks are also
paid from this fund. A detailed statement OF
its expenditure will be found in the appendix,
Under the existing law all improvements are
made at the expense of the city at large, with
out special assessment upon the abutting pro-
perry. which is greatly enhanced in value by the
improvements The demand for such improve
ments being far in excess of the current reve-
nues. an appropriation is made annually for the
purchase OF materials for permit work" These
materials are issued under certain restrictions
to parties who will pay the cost of laying them
This amounts to voluntary assessment in
which the District pays about twO-thirds and
the parties benefited One-thrd. 1t is evidently
advantageous to the District to have as much
work done on these terms as possible, and the
system is acceptable to property owners, as is
shown by the fact that there is always a larger
demand for these materials than the apprOpria-
lions can meet. For the next year the estimates
provide for increasing this appropriation and
slightly diminishing the appropriation for i'm
prOvementS at the general expense.
fhn CT ,af OfoI ,rl, n -
feet OF tagging, 700 yards Of cObble stones Z $50
asphalt blocks and Ala. 523 paving bricks were
purchased from this appropriation. at a cost of
Sl2.1oS.02. and about two miles of streets were
improved by them.
The principal benefit derived from this appro-
priation is in laying new sidewalks and paving
alleys. 1t often happens however that parties
decline to contribute anything towards the cost
OF keeping the sidewalks and alleys adjacent to
their property in proper condition. Under these
circumstances the system becomes imperative.
and the sidewalks and alleys remain in very bad
order. Especially is this the case in regard to the
alleys, many of which are In such a condition
as to be Injurious to health. Legislation is
needed to empower the Commissioners when
ever an alley is declared by the health officer to
be in such condition as to constitute nuisance.
Injurious to public health. to order it to be
paved the materials being purchased from the
appropriation for permit work. and the cost of
labor being assessed against the adjoining prop
STREET AND ALLEY CLEANING.
The paved streets and alleys are cleaned by
contract at fixed price per square yard for
each cleaning. The rate during the past year.
under the contract then existing, was 1891
cents per thousand yards, and the total amount
cleaned was 122 779 square yards. The
streets are swept at regular intervals. some
daily, some three times, twice. or once week
the amount of travel. On an average every
paved street is cleaned once in ten DAYS. The
sweeping is done by machines between the
hours of 10 pm. and am. The dirt is shoveled
up ana removed before noon OF the following
day.
Unpaved streets were swept last year from
time to time as needed. by days labor. At
present the labor of the inmates of the work.
house has been made available for this purpose
and the large force thus brought into use has
made it possible during the last few months to
put the outlying gravel streets in cleaner con-
dition than they have known for several years
Ice and snow are partially removed from the
principal thOroughfares during the winter by
days labor. but the amount of this work has
necessarily been small During the coming
winter the workhouse labor will be very SER
viceable for this purpose. During the past year
the total expenses for street cleaning We're as
follows:
Cleaning paved streets. .S29 1SS. ~.
1.UN
removing Ice and snow. 1.2S9.S1
Cost OF inspection. observation-disclosures. 14S4. 10
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s32. 969.07
The contract with H. L. Crawford expired by
on the 3Oth Of June last.
Proposals for continuing the work during the
present year were called for in May. The lowest
bidder was /. S. Filbert. at 1874 cents per
thousand yards. The next lowest bidder was
l.. p Wright Son. at 2919 cents per thousand
yards. The difference between the bids ON the
amount of work for the whole year
was 1919. The machines of both parties had
been thoroughly tested in actual use in this
city, and those of Wright Il son were considered
TO be enough superior to those OF Mr.. Filbert
TO warrant the extra expenditure of 1915 The
contract was therefore awarded to Wright &
Son. 10y whom the work is now being per-
formed.
The contract rate for cleaning paved alleys
during the past year was 40 cents per thousand
yards, and the total expenditures S7455 H. of
which 81. AIS was for salaries of inspectors For
the present year the rate is 40 cents per thou
sand yards. The work was let to the lowest
bidder in public competition. The alleys are
Cleaned once week in summer and once in two
weeks in winter. Unpaved alleys are cleaned
from time to time by work house labor.
STREET LIGHTING.
The report of the superintendent of lamps
shows the following:
Number of lamps June 80, 1882 .4,24O
Erected 1928 "a
Reli@hted 1852 2
Number of lamps June 80. 1888 go
1T is estimated that Is lamps will be erected
during the current year, and As during the
month of July. 1884, making 4.3S9 lamps for
the next fiscal year. OF these 70 are chargeable
to the railroad companies and 4.310 are to be
paid for by the District. The estimates are
based on this number. The cost of lighting
during the past year under contracts with the
Washington and Georgetown Gaslight COM
panies was S25 per annum for each lamp. This
included the cleaning, lighting, extinguishing
and repairs of all kinds. New lamps were
furnished by the District and q reasonable price
was paid for erecting them. as provided in the
contract. TIE total expenses Of street lighting,
including erection Of lamps were sos O56 SO
The drst controller having disallowed all ex-
penditures for erecting lamps during the past
year. as well as the four preceding years. the
companies were required in May last to refund
payments on this account amounting in oil to
several thousand dollars. This they did under
protest. and they have since brought suit to re-
cover these amounts. which. they claim were
due them under the law and the terms of their
contracts. The suits are now pending
During the past year the lamps were lighted
on the old village system o. six hours per night
(22OO hours per annum trusting to the moon
to make up the deficiency. Urgent recommen-
datOns have been made at various times within
the past three years to have the law regulating
gas works SO amended as to require the lamps
70 no lirhtpN for a haas no,