Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-21

Merchants on That Thoroughfare Want
Asphalt.

Il
| THEY THINK THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF THE
| STREET ARE HURT By ITS PRESENT CONDITION
| WHAT THE MERCHANTS AND OTHERS SAID TO A
| STAR REPoRTLR.
This morning a STAR reporter called on
| number of leading business men on It'll street
| to find out what they thought of the PROPOSE
| ton that has been recently made to pave that
| street with asphalt There was q unanimity Of
opinion not often shown on any subject, for
every one favors the proposed change and
brings many arguments to show what bless
ing IL would be in bringing increased business
to that thoroughfare. do we want it? Well
L should say we do" said Mr. Charles Baum
las it is now 9th street and street aud PENN
sylvania avenue are paved In the best possible
manner, taking away large part of the trade
that would otherwise come our way, and what
can we do about 1t! think it a clear case of
discrimination. Seventh street is really one of
the main arteries for the citys trade and
should be especially the route chosen by
farmers coming in from the country. But
with 9Th and 9th streets on either side offering
a smooth surface for their vehicles as soon as
they reach the city limits we rarely if ever see
them. So it is with the carriage trade. OF
course they prefer to do their shopping on
streets that are really accessible. / am not
complaining of trade it is. am only show
ing how much better it might be if We had
better facilities"
THE COMPLAINTS OF BUSINESS MEN.
Representative men in almost every branch
OF business showed they were of the same opin-
Ian. They complain that the Belgian block
pavement that is now in use has been torn up
and reiald for various purposes SO many times
that 1t Is no longer even a good block pave
ment. The noise and dirt are great drawback
10 the success of 18th street a business street.
A number OF business men showed how deeply
they were interested in the movement by saying
tnat II 1t was necessary and the desired end
could be achieved that way they would be per-
ieeuy satisfied to pay directly their share of
tne expense or paving the street. MIR. LanS-
Durgh thought there was no one who was not
really In favor OF paving the street with as
phait except the street railway company, who
have just gone to the expense of paving with
block all the space between their tracks.
But. said he, Il can see no objection to
leaving that part of the street as it is while re-
paving the rest" A number of others
pressed the same opinion, for they said they
had no desire to impose on the railway COM
pany. especially the latter had done so well
with their part Of the paving.
BANK PRESIDENTS VIEW.
Mr. NJ. G.. Emery, president of the Second
national bank, said: II am heartily In favor of
the movement, and would certainly be willing to
do all l could to further its interests. 1 am
sure it would largely increase the business of
the street besides making it far pleasanter
thoroughfare. The noise and dust from the
street, paved as it is now, are a nuisance and a
serious drawback to our comfort and convent
ence. As a property holder on 9TH street can
readily see the advantages that would accrue
from repaving it"
THE HISTORY OF THE STREET.
MIR. VIM. Ballantyne, when asked by the re-
porter what changes had taken place in the
street within his memory, said:
when first came down here, thirty-eight
years ago, the avenue had lust been paved.
though not very well, while It'll street was
sea OF mud. The only building on the block
was two-story frame house, known as the
old Harbaugh mansion. This afterward tore
down, and on that site stands my present
building. An old pump stood in the street
about four feet from the sidewalk, and fur
nlshel water to the whole neighborhood |
When the street was first paved, about thirty |
years ago, think the workmen merely planked
over the well and laid the new road-bed on
that. Of course it all sank in before long and |
had to be filed in and repaved. The
earth there has again sunk somewhat |
since then, and the location of that |
old well is still clearly defued. The street was
atterward graded and repaved by the board of
public works under Gov. Shepherd-irst with
wooden blocks, which proved entirely unsatis-
factory. and afterward with the present Belgian
block. This, l think, makes &. durable and on
the whole, q very satisfactory pavement, and |
think it would be good plan if some of the
less-used streets mad been paved in that man
ner, tor there such pavement would last an
indefinite time. and would be very satisfac-
tory Investment for the tax payers. Still it is
true that an asphalt pavement makes a street
very popular with the travelling public, and
cannot why It'll street should not have the |
same advantages as the other leading thorough |
fares. l doubt if there is a single business man
Oh 9TH street who would not like to see it paved
with good well laid asphalt
WHAT OTHER MERCHANTS SAY.
Messrs. Frankie 4 Co. of The Fair" said |
that they were in hearty sympathy with the
for they realize how great an i'm
provement it would be to the street and how
great an advantage to all the business interests
on that thoroughfare from Pennsylvania avenue |
to the Boundary.
Mr.. l. Saks OF Saks & Co. was also seen by |
the reporter, and, in answer to his questions |
said: ''Of course we have not SO much to gain |
from the proposed movement so far as it di- |
recty affects our own interests as have the |
merchants further up the street, for We are on |
Market Space as well as on 7th street. STILL |
can easily see what a blessing it would be to |
every one If there were well-laid asphalt pave
ment In place of the present antiquated Bel ian
block. II would bring certain amount OF trade |
back which has been diverted by the unpleasant |
OF the street as it now is You may |
therefore consider me as also in spirit with the |