National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-31

The so-called favored northwest section
of tho city makes showing in the fol-
lowing memorial to congress by o COM
mittee of its leading citizens which
demonstrates an entirely different propo-
sition, that IL has been badly neglected
in the matter of street improvements.
The paper is full of pertinent facts, and
its deductions are based upon official
figures in every case:
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES; We respectfully ask tho atten-
ton of congress to what we deem an I'M
just discrimination against the northwest
section Of the city in the distribution, as
recommended by the commissioners, of
the appropriation for street improvements
IN THE COMING YEAR.
The recommendation is as follows:
=Class A-Replaceme of Wood Pavements.-
Fifteenth street from $ to u, 1910 square yards,
at S22j per yard, total cost 1920; Eighteenth
street from X TO H. l,i29 square yards at S2.25
per yard, $500; Nineteenth street nom Kto NJ,
$40 yards at 81 10, sl0.7I0: Twenty-scCond
&c, 100; Twenty.third street from X to NJ, 2g20
square yards, at ". %, 81, g20; New Hampshire
avenue from p to q streets 2,7l0 square yards,
at 1928, S6,OH. Total cost of class A, $40, liz.
Class Enlightenment of Rubble.-Filh
street northwest from d to streets, l,l5i square
yards, at 22J, ll,Sl9; Sixth street northwest
4i57 square yards at g. % $40, rs; Tenth street
from d street TO + street. l, ig3 square yards, at
t225, 1855; Fourteenth street from Pennsyl-
yania avenue to i street ,Gi5 square yards, at
$40, $685.; & between Four.andahali and
Seventh streets, Also square yards, at S2.25,
Sl4, $50: II street from Fourth to seventh Streets
1000 square yards at 81 25 sl5,27i; street
from Eighth to Ninth streets, $50 square yards,
at S22b, Sl,iiS; | street from Tenth to Eleventh
streets $50 square yards, at So 81 3l5. Total
square yards of class ID, 226i6, at total cost Of
Sts,27l.
Glass C--Lsying New Psvements-sixth
street southeast, from East Capitol street to
South Carolina avenue, 0,30j square yards, at
SIS, Spool A street southeast, from Third
street TO Sixth street, 1857 square yards, at
s22j, 5000; Fitth street northeast, from East
Capitol street to Maryland avenue, 4, 600 square
yards, at s2.25, $4,000; sixth street northeast
from East Capitol street to Massachusetts, ave
nue. 1000 square yards, Sli 900; street north.
east, from Fourth to sixth Streets z, 500 square
yards at g. %, $3.50; Third street southwest
from Virginia avenue to + street, 1858 square
yards, at S2.25 S6,0OO Tenth street southwest
fIom b street TO Maryland avenue, 5000 square
yards at S2.25, sIl00; G street southwest, from
Ninth TO Fourteenth streets, 1928 square yards,
at S22b, SO, 1853; Thiry.first street. Georgetown,
rom II to U streets, 5,230 square yards, Mt s22j,
400; street, Georgetown, from Twenty
eighth TO Thirty-second streets, 5,Sl3 square
yards at So, siS, 745; Total square yards Of
Glass D-Grading and Regulating. Eighth
street southeast. from Pennsylvania avenue to
East Capitol street, $4,000 L street southeast,
from Third to Eleventh street, SlO3O0; q
street southeast, from Third to Eleventh street,
$1,000; South Carolina avenue. from Third to
Eleventh street, $1,000; ID street northeast,
from North Capitol street to Maryland avenue,
$500: Eighth street southwest, from g to
Water street, S9.l00; Thirteenth street north.
west, from I to Boundary street, sG0OO New
Jersey avenue, from NJ to Boundary street,
m from 10 nat nfiar
street, 5000; for filling up any streets below
the established grade, provided the cost in no
instance shall exceed 10 cents per cubic yard,
$500.
From this II is seen that out of 1925 900
recommended for new asphalt pavemen is,
not q single dollar is to be expended in
any portion of the northwest section OF
the city. The recommendations for re-
placing wood pavements embrace only
streets for paving which one-third of the
cost has been at some time heretofore
ASSESSED UPON THE ADJOINING PROP
ERTY-owNERs.
The rubble to be replaced is only upon
streets which have heretofore been paved
roughly, but substantially, at the sole OK
pense of the owners Of tho adjoining
property.
In respect to streets of the latter char
acter previously paved with wood and
rubble), the commissioners have hitherto
recognized that there was superior
equity emitting them to requirement. from
the general fund, in preference to other
streets, wherever situated, for the paving
OF which no special tax had been imposed
upon adjoining property. So far as we
know the justice Of this distinction has
not been questioned. If it be correct,
then the replacing Of such pavements
wherever deemed necessary should con-
stitute first claim upon the general fund
and should not be taken into cOnsidera.
tion in oquitably distributing any surplus
applicable to laying new pavements
where adjoining owners have paid no tax
The commissioners, however, have nov
entirely ignored this principle, and while
recommending large sum for new pave
ments elsewhere, have considered the
claims of the northwest section to BIO sat
isied by a certain amount of this pre-
ferred class of improvements.
IN JUSTICE, THE COST
OF this preferred class of work should bt
first deducted from the amount OF the
whole appropriation, and tho residue only
held subject to distribution between thu
sections, according to their respectv,
equities. But for present purpose, thit
distinction need not be insisted upon
Placing all improvements in this respect
upon an equality, the injustice to the
northwest section is still strikingly ap
parent.
As preliminary to any Just judgment in
this respect, IL is necessary that som,
principle Of distribution should be deter.
mined. It's safe to say that there Is no.
whore in the city limits an unimprovet
street which the adjoining property own
ers would not like to have
IMPROVED AT THE GENERAL EXPENSE.
Tho direct effect of first class pave
ment, wherever placed, is to enhance the
value of adjacent property. Besides tn,
general advantage accruing to all from
an extension of the system of pavements
there is direct and particular advantage
10 the adjoining property owner. Unless
with some rule of general operation, Il
must be left TO the discretion Of the com
missioners. in which case IL ID easy to SCI
that the duty becomes delicate and diff
cult. Especially is this true now that
the commissioners say that the preferred
work is nearly completed and that il
future all, or the greater part, Of appro
priations can be expended in laying new
pavements. The importance of estab
fishing general governing principle
both for the sake Of doing Justice anC
also for the sake of avoiding unpleasant
contests for favors between different sec
tions of the city. cannot be denied. Tn,
commissioners do not seem to have dc
teTmined
ANY GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF DIsTRi
BUTTON.
II they have 1t does not appear in their
report nor is il suggested by the recon
mendations themselves. These seem t
rest solely upon their personal iudg
ment--exercised, no doubt, conscienti
ously, but at the same time arbitrarily.
In our opinion there are two rules o
general operation, which, not only fo
this year. but for all years, should guild,
and largely control the commissioners IL
accommodating and cOnproga in annrnV