Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-03

cPicHulQ success aCQ1eVeQ DY the members OF
the parking commission, Messrs. W. R. Smith,
VIM. Saunders and John Saul, in their efforts
at systematic tree planting in this city. Their
telligent plans and botanical knowledge are
now the admiration alike OF every visitor and
resident While it was necessary to use large
numbers of the quick growing, soft naples, yet
they are interspersed with elms and other hard
varieties which will take the place of the short
their prime. OF lindens alone there is a con-
tnuous drive of 13 miles in length, with four
rows on Massachusetts avenue in one stretch of
over 3 miles long. OF Carolina poplars, tulip
trees aud buttonwoods there are about an equal
length.
The trimming of the trees is carried on solely
according to the judgment of the parking COM
mission in the furtherance of their plans for
improving the appearance OF the trees. No
the telegraph wires, and if no other means can
be found to remove them the trees will drive
the wires off the streets In a few years at the
most.
The appropriation for repairs Of county roads
during the past year was S25, 900, with q pro-
viso in the deficiency bill that any unexpended
balances under the head of Improvement and
repairs might be used to meet any deficiencies
for the roads. The total expenditures were
$50, 5O669. OF this nearly $4,000 was ex-
pended on the 9TH street road, completing its
the Maryland line, a distance of nearly five
miles. This work was begun in the sum.
mer of 1880, and has been continued
has been about $45, 200. The work has COM
priSed over $4,000 square yards of new
macadam from e to 10 inches in thickness
curbtng and cutters at the lower end, near
Boundary. The road is now in first-c1aSs con-
dition with the exception of the portion
street and supports heavier traffic than three
fourths of the streets within the city limits
Under this traffic the macadam wears out very
rapidly and has to be extensively repaired
every year. In the interest OF economy 1t will
probably be necessary to pave this portion OF
The Tennallytown road leading out Of
Georgetown is only secondary in importance to
the 7th street road. 1t was acquired from u
it had been allowed to go to ruin. 1t will be
necessary to entirely rebuild it in the same
manner as the tn street road has been rebuilt.
Its length from the limits of Georgetown to the
Maryland line is a little over three miles, and
the cost will be about $4,000. Work was be-
gun last season and completed as far as Wood
ley Lane, a distance of about 5000 feet, at a
cost oil $500. The work is TO be resumed this
summer and continued as far Perce's Mill
road or possibly to Tennalytown.
Iii the eastern district the most important
road for the farmers is the Good Hope road.
This was ihoroughly repaired during the past
year for about half q mile from Uniontown.
During the present year it is proposed 10 con-
tinue this work to the top of Good Hone hill.
y detailed statement OF the expenditures on
the roads will be found in the appendix. In add
dition To the work already named large eXpen-
ditureS were made in rebuilding culverts and
bridges just east OF the Eastern branch, which
were washed out by heavy storm in July last
also in Strengthening ard repairing seNe al of
the suburban streets near Mt. Pleasant, and in
general repairs throughout the county. One
new road called the 'kiingie Road" connect
ing uudley Lane with the Pierce's MIL Road,
WIS dedicated by the property owners q few
months since. and nearly naf the expense OF
opening it was paid by them. Work on this
road i now in progress, and Will be finished in
lew days.
For the year fSS5-S6 the appropriation is
S4b.Dtut and A. the roads aggregate lS mi les
in ienst til, and travel Oh them is constantly in
creasing, this amount should not he dimin-
graphical survey of the county, special maps
have been made aud preliminary plans pre-
pared orthe extension oi Massachusetts avenue
from boundary street to TcnnalIeytowD road,
including hands, .ine bridge across Rock
creek; for a drive along the banks OF kock
creek from 2 street brid re to Pierces mill; and
for the extension OF Rhode Island avenue
from Boundary street past the new reservoir to
MiddletOn's corner just east OF the ~oltiers
home. The Ompeion Of these plans depends
upon the consent OF the property owners by
whom the land must be dedicated, and this
viii involve a considerable amount OF negotia-
ton and discussion. Ii is believed. however
that the lines can be adj usted satisfactorily for
a portion of the Ma ,>achu>etts avenue extern
sion and the Il ok creek drive at an early day
in order To lernit some work upon them dur
ing the presen, season. There is "A large demand
for the opening Of the suburban streets Laid out
on paper, just beyond the city limits. II is i'm
possible TO acceie to these requests unless the
property benefited will pay part of the cost.
mere the property owners will lay the curbs
and sidewalks on proper grades under the per-
mt system, the District can improve the road
ways.
The survey of the county with reference to
the extension of streets and avenues has con-
tinucd us Usual during the past year. Nine
streets, covering an area OF about eleven square
mile, have now been mpIeted and photoiitho-
grapned. Three sheets are In the hands OF the
draug htsman and should be completed this
summer. The triangusttion was com leted
four years ago. The scale Of thi, map is 400
feet to tine inch IL 1920 and the N
five feet apart The Geographical work is Of
the highest order of excellence, being done by
Dom in charge. The utility of these accurate
maps OF the county is every year more APP
parent. not only IN reference 10 the lines and
sraGes OF the suburban streets, but also in con-
nection with questions OF water supply and
drainage for the suburban district, the solution
Oh which will have to be undertaken before
many years.
TELEGRAPH WIRES.
During the past year permits were issued for
266 new poles, OF which GA were on the Streets
1T on the alleys and 25 in the county. The
number OF poles removed was 30 so that the
net increa e within the city limits was 212,
nearly all OF which were on the alleys. The
total number Of poles at this date is $500. with
about 800 miles of wire attached to them. AT
the date OF the last report The amount OF under
ground lines We're sOmet ming over six miles.
with 2S5 miles OF wire. Since then the teie-
phone company has added Ia miles of line
with ga miles of wire underground, and is now
2ts miles III length, with 519 miles OF wire.
W hen these lines are completed the telephone
com i'any will have about l,3UO miles of wire
underground in this city. All of the lines
hitherto laid are now in successful operation.
The difficulties attending the underground
system are somewhat le.sened by permitting
the of poles in alleys for distributing pul-
poses. Al new poles however, whether on the
streets or alleys are erected only OH Il written
agreement tn:tt they shall be taken down when
ordered by the Commissioners, so that no
ve-ted rights 10 this use OF the streets can be
held to be acquired
The older telegraph companies have not as
yet made mach progress with underground
now making plans Tor u line from its depot to
18th street, which will remove nearly all of it's
poles from the central part of the city. The
Western Union company made application in
May last for Il Encouragement Of its lines and
the permit was Granted on condition that about
one mile should be laid underground, IL, miles
on new poles, and IL miles OF poles shOuj be
REMOVED en,ircl:'. This would have made a
net reduction OF S'.s miles of pole lines, with
over 500 poles and probably $50 miles of
line was to De on 9TH street, this street
having been selected because it is de-
voted almost exclusively to business purposes
and contains no trees. The pro.;erty-owners on
erection of these poles, and the whole plan has
therefore been brought TO a st;lnd-stil until the
question OF the authority of the Commissioners
Ia regulate this matter, which until now has
never been seriously questioned, can be passed
upon by the higher courts. 1t is to be noticed
that in New York, Philadelphia and Chica go
laws have been pa Sed ord erng The peremptOry
removal OF all telegraph poles ON a certain
date. In all OF these cities the dates have
passed, and the laws have not been repeaIed
but the poles still stand on the streets. Tue
interests involved are too great to permit the
telegraph business OF the country to be cut off