Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-04
THE STREETS AND ROADS.
Capt. Griffin's Report Of the Work of
tho Year.

the lCaHs
THE LAST OF THE WOODEN PAyEMEENTs-rrTryRr
APPROPRIATIONS TO BE USED ON NEW woRK-A
PLAN FOR KEEPING UP THE COUNTY ROADS.
Capt. Eugene Griffin, assistant to Engineer Com
missioner Ludlow, in charge of the department re-
lating to pavementS street improvements, county
roads, sweeping and repairs OF streets and alleys
construction and repairs OF bridges and generally
all surface work. has submitted his annual report
10 Col. Ludlow. summary OF operations and es-
Inmates shows that the work In Capt. Gr1fGns de-
partment during the last fiscal year cost s5l3-
5e4.69; the current appropriations are S57S, &c.,
and the estimates for the next fiscal year amount
to SSH 900 including s4O5, 900 for "work on SUM-
dry avenues and replacement OF pavements" and
100000 for opening and extending suburban
streets, under Which head the current appropria-
ton IS $500
CONDITION OF THR STREETS.
table is given showing the condition OF streets
on July LIST, 1886. This shows that there are
slxty-Seven square miles OF concrete asphalt or
coal tar pavements FL ID miles stone block nave
ment, 13.9S miles rough stone pavement, $40
miles macadam pavement, 1858 miles gravel
niles Of Streets The od Wood a1a paye
ment has been entirely replaced with other pave
ments, with the exception OF small strip Of
tween New York avenue and o street northwest.
THE NEXT IMPORTANT STEP
In this class Of improvements Will be the replace
ment OF the old rubble and cobble pavements
1904 square yards. Indiana and Dunbarton
avenues, 14th, ~, and 9th streets are on the
year But rueble pavements. however disagree
rapid s extension Of the CITY may make
pressing importance f Tor the next new few
years than the replacement Of rubble on the more
outlying streets For the past eight years the
greater part OF each annual appropriation has
been expended In replacing the wood pavements,
and the amount OF new work executed has been
since 1878 has been los. sS square Yards. Costing
$143, 3O9.9A. Last year 4o,657 square yards were
n a1 at , S1S5 OF The annual appro-
EXTENDING THE AREAS OF PAVED STREETS.
After giving an account Of the expenditure of
$4,000 appropriated for repairs to concrete pave
ments, Capt. Griffin says, in theory each OF these
pavements consists Of practically indestructible
s eaae covered ae D sro wearing surface which
and which can be renewed whenever needful.
Many OF the older pavements which have worn
In 1S71-7, TAI, AS square yards OF disttllate
pavements were laid. Such pave1nents Of these as
my the a Sfa are stu IN excellent
OF the best materials, nor laid nv the most ar
proved methods, and have, as rule failed to show
exhtbet.
RRsuRRAcISG PATENT pAyEMRNTa
The Restricting does not keep pace with the de-
terioration OF these .pavements; on many streets
the surface Is entirely gone and the base is
Which 1t was never contemplated that ID should
support. es>- ~
In 1875 1878 2lss43 square yards were resur.
faced with coal tar; IN 1870, ,664 square yards
were entirely replaced With asphalt pavement, and
ll lS!S-lasS. l70SSa So yds. were resurfaced with
which have received no repairs beyond ordinary
patching since laying In 1917. This large area
pavementA which are annually turned over to the
District for maintenance as the contractors guar
Sntees expire made u Of pressing importance that