Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06

| pairing popuidtSOu deOTBel0Wu mas n00 o-1O pck
cent northwest 81 per cent, southwest II 40 pc!
cent southeast II 40 per cent and northeast
or assessed taxable valuations. which are the
basis OF the revenues derived from taxation and
represent the prOporttOnRte amounts collected
IRON IRON eacr secaon GEORGETOWN owns GIG pc!
cent, southeast lilo per cent and northeast
In seeking to ,x upon a n.,,. oe distribution o,
street improvements to the several localities sup
posing that local data should determine what was
equitable the adoption OF either area, population
70 on the part Of those whose interests would
thereby be adversely affected. For example, the
nrS paying s Per cent Of the taxes w1gn
three-fourths OF the total expenditure should be
made In that section, while the northeast, with
quite clear that the all0tments should be made
upon tne acreage basis. and so with the rest.
| Avoiding decision upon this point, and giving
percentages, the striking result is shown that in
1act the expenditures for nine years approximate
abo9e nge1as eiesene to the mean as
tne schedule OF streets to be improved for the year
ending June 3Oth, 1883, recently prepared by the
the Treasury for transmittal to Congress- closely
follows similar propositions although without
conclusive answer to those who have declared that
certain sections have been favored and others
sllghted The contrary IL shown to have been the
case and that all sections have been fairly treated
on the whole with reference to the appropriations
1Or street improvements.
RxPAIRs 10 sTRKHr PAYMENTS.
Under the provisions Of the contracts for laying
improved pavements, the contractor obligates
himself to maintain and, IL necessary, to renew
them In case of failure or need of repair for the
period OF five years, and as year by year these
guarantees expire, the District must assume the
responsibility OF an annually increasing amount
OF street surface.
Captain Grif1ins report gives important i'm.
formation in this regard, and the table OF yearly
Increase In concerted streets to be maintained by
amounts which wifi be needful under this head Of
appropriation for several years to come, both by
reason OF the natural increase and because the
the current one remained stationary, taking no
account OF the additional labor thrown in.
Captain Grifins report gives important tntorma.
yearly increase in concerted steets to be
maintained by the District is prepared to show
under s d Of WIN be
10 come, both 0y reason OF the natural increase
and because the annual appropriations for three
tionary taking no account OF the conditional labor
thrown upon the District It results from this in.
adequacy CT appropriation that the work Of repair
ana reSurfac1ng rendered necessary by wear has
fallen In arrears, and must as rapidly as possible
be recovered, II the street pavements are to be
SUCCESSIVE for the vears and
g were for $4,000 each, increased to S65 900 for
the current year, the table as computed makes 1t
than $4,000 and for three successive years about
100000. A few words upon this subject may be
appropriate. The modern washington street pave
either hydraulic or bftumlnous which constitutes
the real pavement, with surface coat or skin
designed to receive the wear from contact, and
readily capable OF renewal when needful.
me base Is not intended to support traffic.
Although In fact capable to a certain
ting the surface coat to wear down and expose the
holes In the concrete ITSELF when rapidly enlarge
these pavements therefore is, that they must ut
all times be maintained in smooth and unimpaired
condition, and that their economy OF maintenance
can be secured only by systematic and prompt re-
pair. Capt Griffin states that even with the COM
paratively liberal appropriations above indicated
yards Of pavement, having an average period OF
service OF 16 years, and OF this amount not less
than $4,000 yards ought to be resurfaced at once.
PERMIT WORK.
The permit system, under which the District fur
nishes the material and the owner pays for the labor
required for given work, is development which
has secured economical results and given general
satisfaction. 1t is applicable to the repair and
construction OF sidewalks upon streets not speci-
ncally appropriated fOr-the paving and sewerage
OF alleys, and other work from which, as a rule,
the principal benehciaries are the owners of con-
sb TSop p Inc contr9l and
the satisfactory character OF the work and inures
to the advantage OF the citizen by costing him
ing demand for work to be done under this sys-
tenn, and the advantageous results, lead newt
ably to the increase in the estimate which is re-
commended to Congress for favorable e0nsidera-
ton.
STREET CLEANING.
The need for increased appropriation under this
head-tO keep pace with the annually charging
area to be covered and the heed for more frequent
sweeping OF certain streets as trafc increases-is
urgent.
The contract rate OF street sweeping for the cur
rent year is 25H cents per 200 square yards The
year is regulated by the amount OF the appropria-
ton, and this necessitates the preparation OF a
schedule OF streets to be swept, designating in
are now but four streets swept daily but FIVE
swept every other day and but ten swept twice
week. OF the remainder 131 can be covered but
once week and liz once in two weeks.
The result OF this is, that during the intervals
the streets accumulate litter and become very
untidy and especially Is this the case during the
1t IS very desirable that the street cleaning ap-
preparation be augmented, SO that several streets
now needing more frequent attention than they
receive may be transferred from the present list to
higher one. The daily schedule should be
about 10 per cent of the remaining streets should
be transferred upward. The increased cost OF this
as wen as OF the annual additional area Of streets
the cleaning Of paved alleys, and moderate sprink
ling OF macadam1x6d streets the approximation of
$4,000 Is recommended for the year 1SS7-8s.
STHn6F kD9H1lN6.
The total number OF gas lamps In service on July
1, 1885, and maintained at the expense Of the Dis
trict was 622 an increase of 131 during the year.
The cost OF the service including that OF the new
lamps, was $9s, Geo. The actual amount of street
Illumination In Washington is insufficient and the
city, with its wide spaces and abundant foliage
often gives the Impression OF being badly lighted
Under existing arrangements, in order to bring
the expenditures within the appropriation the
lighting Of the lamps is limited in hours and en-.
tirely omitted when the moon Is regarded as high
and full enough to answer the purpose AS is inev-
liable with this dependence upon natural sources of
light, the moon occasionally falls to keep its en-
gagements, and marked by clouds, has at times
lert the city In almost total darkness. 1t is be-
lieved that no other city Of equal Importance
In the country exhibits this naif trust i'm
the heavenly tilumfhants but to do otherwise and
arrange for the regular lightning OF the gas
lamps daily from dark to dawn would ENHANCE
are also numerous applications for new lamps In
localities recently improved and unli9hted and I'm
the region bordering Boundary street Numerous
gus lamps are greatly needed.
Congress authorized the expenditure OF $4,000
for electric lighting, and In pursuance of this
provision contract was made for the maintenance
OF fOrtythree lights at designated points ON Penn
rise. The gas lamps in the same neighborhOod
were at the same time omitted. The Commits
SiOnerS believed that for its large areas and wide
streets Washington might with advantage follow
the example OF other cities, and contemplate the
enhancement OF the public safety and the attrac-
tiveness OF its principal avenues by gradually
augmentfng the system OF electric lighting The
brtiiiancy OF pennsylvania avenue at night from
the numerous electric lights maintained by the
shops and other places Of business is in itself the
most conclusive argument.
The inspector OF gas and meters, as now pro.
Tded for by law OF 1874 occupies an anomalous