Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-17
THE CITYS STREETS.
tConfinued from Fifth Paoe.l


suit has been that streets would appear
from year to year appropriated for aud yet
| would be left zone, finally disappearing from
the schedules entirely. To avoid this the pres
ent board OF Commissioners adopted the rule
OF beginning at the top Of the list Of the sche-
duie OF streets and to carry the work as far as
the money available would permit the streets
remaining undone after this to be placed at
| the top Of the next schedule for the coming
year. Should this be carried out citizens may
be certain when their streets arc once appro-
priated for that they will be done in the course
OF Two or three years at the outside, and prob
ably In not more than one year from the time
OF the first appropriation. Although the Com
mlssloners have advertised for and made con-
tracts for the streets mentioned in the fore
going table, yet orders have been issued not to
| DO more than two-tbirds Of the work in each
section contracted for. This is with view of
preventing any chance of exceeding the reve-
nues II the District, and the Commissioners
have requested that in the appropriation bill
clause be added that where any streets have
been omitted now contracted for on account Of
lack OF money they shall be considered in the
new schedule, thus showing an earnest inten-
ton of carrying out the scheme devised for
selection of streets.
In making up the schedule for the year
1892 the appropriation made for the present
fiscal year was taken as a basis for the amounts
properly to be allotted to each section Of the
city, and the schedules were made on that
basis.
PERMIT WORK.
Tables areV given showing the expenditures
from the appropriation Of sI25,OO0 for permit
work, gill, 90 was expended under the
street department. $50, being under the
head OF compulsory permit work.
Inc amount Of the appropriation for 1S90-91
Is $780, 900. This is for sewers. sidewalks and
alleys, and the Commissioners have divided
the amount, giving to sewers $35, 900 and to
sidewalks and alleys S130O00 This expendi-
ture is coupled with the condition that one
! half the cost OF all work shall be charged to
| the abutting property, whether the work is done
| at the request of the property owners or by
order OF the Commissioners necessary to the
pubic health, safety or comfort All this
money and much more could be expended in
this way. 1regard this as one of the most ini-
portant funds given to the Commissioiie II for
expenditure. Not only does 1t affect the pitl1ic
health in the case of alleys, but it permits "a
better class Of sidewalks and new sidewalks to
be laid where without such fund the Commits
sioners would be powerless to require new side
walks to be put down.
With reference to the advantage Of this fund
L feel that can say NO more than was said by
my predecessor in the last annual report which
l quote as follows:
This is the only fund by which the improve
ment OF alleys can be accomplished and by it
the Commissioners are enabled to produce ex-
cellent results from a sanitary point of view
There is large part of the population of Wash
inSton living IN alleys, some of which arc i'm
proved, but many are deficient in the I'M
and health. Many alleys are without
sewerage or paving and filthy slops arc thrown
out to soak into the ground and drain OFF as
best they may. These fostering nuisances are
not visible to the public in driving about the
city, but they are visible to the inspectors OF
this department and of the health department.
and are the constant subject of report and
complaint.
The good health and good name Of the city
demands that the alleys should be kept in as
good sanitary condition as the streets, and the
only way to accomplish this is to provide these
alleys with the necessary modern adjuncts to
clvlllZatlon-water supply sewers and pave
ments. II ever a, fatal epidemic startes in the
city it will be fostered and multi piled in conse-
quence of these hidden, Ioathsome alleys
To guard against anything of the kind would
respectfully and earnestly recommend that
very liberal appropriations be made for their
Improvement. 1t is from this fund also that
improved sidewalks are provided. The need
of these is too well known. and has been too
frequently discussed to require any further
argument in favor Of liberal appropriations
therefor"
During the present fiscal year a new appro-
priatlon has been made for permit work to be
used on roadways and for curbing of the same
Of S5O.O 900. As the appropriation is coupled
with provision requiring the amount to be
done in any case to be not less than one square
and to the full width Of the roadway. it will be
seen that this is only applicable to places where
the property is in the hands of large owners
Should this appropriation be made in
such way as to permit the Commissioners to
expend the money by doing all
work where necessary and taxing tho
abutting property for the amount, 1 be-
lIeve that the same could be advantageously
increased and wisely expended. OF course the
objection would arise to this method that where
streets are specially provided for the property
owner Id put to no expense, and where
it is done under this system he is required
the parties required to pay One-half would feel
aggrleved and that they had just cause for
complaint. To avoid this as far as possible it
might be well TO provide that such work should
only be done on written application signed
by the owners Of majority of the property
affected. This would enable the property
owners TO get such work done a. an early date
when they were willing to pay the expense.
For current repairs to streets, avenues and
alleys $4,000 was expended during the year:
$4,000 is appropriated for the current year
and the same amount is estimated for the next
fiscal year.
SIDEWALKS
Under the regular appropriation for street
Improvements the only sidewalks laid were OF
brick and tile. or new brick sidewalks there
we're laid 72,5S2 square yards. OF old brick
sidewalks relaid there were 80, 534 square yards.
OF tile sidewalks there were 1906
Other walks were laid out of the appropria-
ton for current repairs" as follows: Brick
sidewalks 16, 1914 square yards; asphalt tile, 275
square yards. Under the regular permit sys-
tenn" Asphalt tile, 3,0l2 square yards: brick
side walks. 9,57S square Yards Under the .com-
pulsory permit system Brick sidewalks, s. 2G2
squard yards asphalt tile. $50 square yards
In county, from repairs to county roads: New
brick sidewalk, 410 square yards. In county,
from regular appropriations for street improve
ments, work done by days labor! Brick eide.
walks, 1l,e9C; new plank, III square yards. !
SIDEWALKS. NJ
The sidewalks of the city of Washing. Tor, con.
trast SO badly with the roadways MS to cause
constant remark from strangers and constant
complaints from residents. Anything that can
be devised to better this. it seems to Inc, would
be great advantage to the District, and
would suggest that the Commissioners pass
regulations forbidding on certain streets the
laying of any kind Of sidewalk except the IN ost
approved which believe to be the grano!ithic
or some similar pavement. This should be re-
qulrod GU the business streets OK the first class
OF the city and on the finest residence
streets. On business streets or Residence
| streets where property is not of such high value
grade OF pavement u little below this might
be laid. such a. the asphalt tile sidewalk I his
forms an excellent pavement but Is less oXpen-
slve than granolitlic. On the MINOR streets
and streets where the property Is not improved
| and Is OF no great value the brick sidewalks
might be used. BY following some such scheme
as this believe 1t would result i'll a gradual I'M