Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-04
Total.
Total. 924. o2s j .213. 800 y71. 425 Fan. 449


Total. ga. o2s j. al3. ses a7l. A25 IAN. 449
The coal tar concretes were laid from 1871 to
1879 under several different patents at a cost of
from S2.i7 TO S3.23 per square yard. Since
first laid about three hundred and sixty thou
sand square yards Of these pavements have
been resurfaced with asphalt and are now classi-
fed rs asphalt pavements.
The coal tar distillatcs we're laid from 1856 to
1889. at a cost Of 81 per square yard.
Asphalt pavements have been laid since 1873;
the Trinidad asphalt has been considered the
standard pavement since 1878. The cost has
varied from S1.75 to S3.78 per square yard
but for many years the price has been s225
per square yard with q six-inch concrete base
and q yard with a four-inch concrete or
bituminous base exclusive Of grading, &c.
Asphalt block parements have been laid since
1878; the price has varied from 80 to 80. so per
square yard, but for several years has been %
per square yard. exclusive Of grading.
All pavements laid since 1878 have been kept
in repair by the contractors without cost to the
District for period of five years. The repairs
after the guarantee period have been made by
the District under special contract
REPAIRING AND REsURFAcINd.
The average annual cost Of making ordinary
repairs has been about cents per square yard.
As the pavements now being made are superior
to coal tar and earlier asphalt pavements 1t is
safe to say that this cost will decrease soon
as all the old pavements have been resurfaced.
The cost Of resurfacing will probably remain
constant at about Si.50 q square yard. The
life Of coal tar pavements, that 10 the time
which elapses between the completion and the
resurfacing, has varied from two to twenty
years. The life Of the asphalt and asphalt
block are still undetermined. The asphalt pave
ment laid on Pennsylvania avenue lasted about
twelve years. this should be the minimum life
for these pavements if we'll laid.
The first asphalt block Pavements only lasted
about nine or ten years. but the quality Of the
blocks has improved since these we're laid, and
q much longer life is expected Of those laid
since 1885.
ESTIMATE FOR 1884
The coal tar pavements laid before 1879 can
no longer be kept in good condition by ordi-
nary repairs and should be resurfaced at once.
To provide for this and for ordinary repairs
the appropriation for 1s93-94 should be at least
S200. 900.
In connection with the appropriation for cur
rent repairs the report calls attention to the
curbs around the public parks. There should
be a special amount set aside for this purpose
every year, and Capt Fiebeger suggests that
the appropriation for current repairs Of streets,
DC. for 1893 "a read as follows:
For current repairs Of streets, avenues and
pended upon the sidewalks and curbs around
public parks and reservations.
Extensive repairs, he says, are necessary on
all the principal county roads Of the District,
as the appropriations for the last few years
have been expended principally on suburban
streets
BRIDGES.
The total number of bridges in the District
under the supervision Of the Commissioners is
ixfx -Eya TO e. oh
and three-9uarter miles.
Nearly all Of these bridges have been con-
structed with special reference to economy.
As result they compare very unfavorably with
the other public works in the District.
Many Of them are old wooden structures,
which require constant repair and should be
replaced as soon as possible with more modern
structures Of metal or masonry. The laws
regulating the crossing Of bridges, which were
made many years ago, and do not apply to the
present conditions, should be repealed and the
Commissioners given the power to make such
regulations as they may deem necessary.
He earnestly recommends that the est-
mate of S25.0O0 for ''care of bridges be
approved, and in addition that an appropria-
ton Of $50. 900 be requested for widening the
P street bridge over Rock creek, and another
Of s25O, 900 he requested for replacing the
present Navy Yard bridge.
SURVEYS on ACCOUNT OF SUBDIVISION OF LANDS.
The work of this division has been Of
great importance in not only regulating the
streets Of suburban subdivisions SO that they
conform to law but also in establishing perma-
nent monuments and benches to which they
can always be referred. The location Of many
Of the older roads is very indefinite, there being
no official record or permanent benches from
which their location or width can be deter
mined. As the suburban property is constantly
increasing in value steps should be taken at
once to secure official plats showing the exact
location and dimension Of all roads in the Dis
trict from surveys and the best available data
1t is also important that the present scheme
Of laying out all streets, either north-south or
east-west. should be modified in so far as it re-
lates to subdivisions where the ground is very
irregular. There are many sections Of the Dis
tricf where it will be impossible to secure
streets Of practicable grades il this system Is
rigidly adhered to. Others where these
streets can be opened only by such expendi-
lures for grading as will practically prohibit i'm
proye9ent
In these sections the Commissioners should
be allowed to use their discretion. Plans for
such subdivisions might be prepared by the
computing engineer in conjunction with the
engineer in charge of surveys which would
harmonic with the neighboring subdivisions
and yet conform to the topography Of the
country. The excellent map Of the District
prepared by the coast survey would furnish
sufficient data for all prel rninary work and the
lines could be located in the field by the pres
ent force Of the engineer in charge Of survsya
PARKING COMMISSION.
The care Of the trees along the pubic streets
has, a. heretofore. been under the supervision
of Mr.. VIM. r. Smith OF the Botanical Gar
dens, Mr.. John Sanl and Mr. William Saunders
Of the Agricultural Department. None Of
these gentlemen receives any compensation for
his services. The amount and character Of the
work done d shown in the annual report Of the
superintendent, Mr.. Trueman Lanhan.
The parking commission has repeatedly called
attention TO The necsssity Of tncrsasing ths sp-
propeiations for the care Of ths tress. Not
vtthstandtng ~ growth Il - city thEs b.