Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-15
4s.1Sg
Cost or inspection. 1,1s5


s49,g74 81
From this It viii be seen that the annual cost OF
maintaining the luxury OF 60 miles OF smooth sur
lace pavementS IS about $4,000. or 1893 per mile
The number of yards Is about 400 OOO and the cost
per yard 81 cents 1t will be noticed that 81 BOTS
OF the appropriation was expended for reSurfacing
or practically renewing the coal-tar pavementS.
Inc asphalt pavements, covering surface OF about
100000 yards, cost only S. 45 49, or about three
fourthS OF cent per yard for annual maintenance.
II will be necessary however. to continue for sew
eral years the work of gradually reSurfacing the
eoaltar pavements Since 1873, 146,053 yards have
been reSurfaced.
Street repairs other than on concrete payements
are all conducted by days labor under a most
encient superintendent Of streets Mr.. J. j. Bur-
extend over length OF about go miles, and the
alleys are nearly as much more These inferior
classes OF roadways require constant work, each
piece small in itself, but forming large amount IN
the aggregate. detailed statement CT this work
viii he found in the appendix. The execution of
permit work" Is also conducted by days labor
under the superintendent OF streets. the property
holders paying tie cost OF the labor. and the Dis
trlct purchasing the materials This permit wOk is
In effect voluntary assessment system. As the Dis
trict cannot By any means extend Improvements as
rapidly as they are asked for the petitions now on
file ask for more than 100000 worth of work. it
Is designed TO give 10 Such parties willing TO
pay BART OF the cost the benent OF improvements in
advance OF the regular schedule. For this purpose
an annual appropriation has been made Tor several
years for the purchase Of materials for permit work.
Ihese materials being laid at the expense OF the
parties benefited by them. During the past wear
103 feet or curb 7Si7 feet OF tagging, 51S5 yards
SJ,tD
and 53 ,2i0 paving bricks were purchased at a cost
or $4 95O92, and laid at cost Of IS w. deposited
Ior Inat purpose oy the property owners, the in
proVementS aggregating 90 miles f.. length. For
the current year the appropriation for these ma
terals was increased TO $4,000, In order TO meet
the increasing demand for them.
As before stated, this assessment is purely VOL
untary, and IL fails TO meet class Of cases which,
every year. are demanding more attention viz
defective alleys and sidewalks OF the 30 miles OF
brick sidewalks and the 200 alleys a very consid-
cradle portion Is in bad order. The sidewalks in
10 ta,>.yr
alleys are not paved at all. and receiving the
slop-water and refuse thrown them. in spite CT
the health regulations, they constitute very seri-
Gus nuisance. In order 10 remedy these defects
one or the other OF two courses l. possible: LIST to
aTuuSe Ine appropriation Tor street improvements,
anu QeEOte the money 10 the alleys ana sidewalks;
or, 3D. 10 compel the paving OF alleys and side
walks under the permit system. 1t would seem to
DC oeSt loF the interests OF the city. and al con-
cerned, that the street improvements should not
DC stopped. and therefore suggest that leqisla-
tiUn be asked for, under which whenever rhe
health officer declares an alley to be a nuisance
the commissioners may order il to be paved and
whenever the commissioners declare Sidewalk TO
be worn out, they may order IL TO be relaId with
new bricks; the materials in each case 10 be pur-
chased from the appropriation Tor permit work,
and the cost OF the labor, not exceeding one-half
or The cost OF the materials be assessed against
the aDuttlng property, under such equitable rules
o. may DC esta4Ished by the Commissioners and
mendatlon OF the same tenor this was made in
my last annual report The necessity for such
Ies!stAlioh Is every year becoming more apparent
and therefore venture TO renew the recommends,
uon and urge IL upon your consideration.
STREET AND ALLEY CLEANING.
The paved streets and alleys are cleaned by CON-
tract, unpaved streets and alleys In part by DAYS
labor, but principally by the inmates OF the work
house. The streets are cleaned from once day To
once In two weeks, depending the traffic. the al
ieys once week or once in two weeks according
10 the season The rate for street cleaning last
year, under contract with l. p. Wright q son was
w per 1000 square yards. This contract having
been satisfactorily executed, it was extended 10
cover the present year at the same rates. Next
spring Is proposed 10 advertise for bias for this
work for period OF fve years, in accordance with
The authority granted for this purpose BY Congress-
al us last session This act was passed il time
10 take action under II for the present year. The
amount cleaned last year was 1870, 800 square
yards AS the area OF paved streets is extending
and the number OF vehicles and animals is tDcreas
ing with the growth OF the city it VIII be necessary
70 incIese the amount OF cleaning next year, and
the estimate is increased from $4,000 to SIS 600 for
this purpose. The rate for alley cleaning last wear
was ~ cents per loO0 square yards and the amount
clean l4,662, 5sl square yards. For the currens
year the rate is 42H cents and the appropriation
waSincreased nom So 500 10 $1,000 II IL baiisyod
that this amount WIN De sufficient for nexI wear
also. AS there Is no expensive plant NECESSARY for
tnis WORK there Is no advantage in making a con-
tract lor more than one year, and proposals are
therefore invited annually. "
The total expenses for cleaning last year were as
Cleaning paved streets "a. oeo =,
Cleaning unpayed streets. .......... 6GS 70
nenos!ne ice and snow ......-......... y13 "a
Sose Oh Inspection ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. os3 90
To'ai Tor streets. $4,000 90
Cleaning paved alleys Is Sc, %
cleaning unpayed alleys.................
Cost OF inspection. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. "a o.
Total for alleys..-...................s7,2 ls OF
STREET LIGHTING.
The report OF the superintendent OF lamps shows
The following:
Number OF lamps June 80 iSss 4e7s
Eaecteo 1855 --.-.........--..........s SO
OAScOAeANucu-
Reiighted. %
Nuinper OK lamps June 30, 1884. 1856
IL Is estimated that 10 lamps will be erected
turing the current year and the first month OF
next year. making 4,4s6 lamps 10 be provided for
railroad companies under existing laws, and 4 asa
are 70 be paid for by the District The estimate OF
100000 Is based on this NUMBER az s22 per lamp
Aaylng margin OF S3,5Os for the purchase aud