Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-19
THE WIDENING OF g STREET.
Capt. Fiebeger's Report Upon the Projec'
and the Estimated Cost.


and the Estimated Cost.
Capt Fiebeger has been engaged for the past
few days upon repor, looking to the widening
OF q street between 5th and 18th. As stated
from time to time in The STAR the Commits
sioners have received number Of petitions
from the residents and property owners along
this street between the points named request
ing that the street be widened.
The street 10 ninety feet wide between the
building lines, but the roadway is only thirty
five feet wide east Of 9TH street and forty feet
wide between It'll and 18th streets. The street
railroad occupies the middle Of the street and
leaves only narrow belt from seven and half
to ten feet wide on each side Of the track be-
tween the Cur and the curb, thereby making it
impossible for two vehicles to pass each other
between the car and the curb, and the street
becomes seriously obstructed IL vehicle stands
| near the curb.
Capt Fiebeger says in his report that the
| least width necessary for the passage OF two
! vehicles is twelve and one-hah feet and for
easy passage this should be increased TO fifteen
feet 1t is on this basis il il proposed to widen
g street between 9Th and 18th, which will soon
| the city.
He further says that it is proposed to adopt
the minimum width east OF It'll street and widen
that street to As feet This will give Is feet be-
between the car and the curb on each side of
the street. West Of 7th street it is proposed
| to increase the present width to 50 feet,
which will give seventeen and half feet be-
| tween the outer rail and curb and fifteen feet
between the car and the curb on each side Of
the street. The width between the curb and
the building line west Of It'll street will then
be twenty feet, or the same width as that on +
street between 9th and 18th streets. This width
Will accommodate Q ten-foo: sidewalk and such
areas steps, &C., as are necessary.
THE ESTIMATED COST.
Referring to the estimated cost Capt Fie-
beger thinks that the best construction Of the
roadway would necessitate removing the sur
face of the present pavement and re-
laying the entire pavement to a new cross
sectional slope. An examination Of the
existing asphalt surface, however, shows it to
be in a very good condition, and seven Of the
ten squares have been paved since 1882 and
three squares are still under guarantee of the
contractor. 1t is therefore recommended to
lay only the belt five feet wide along
each side Of the street. giving il a minimum
cross sectional slope and leaving q higher
curb than Is ordinarily done. The proper
slopes can be given when il becomes necessary
to again resurface the squares improved.
1t is proposed to relay the sidewalks, where
necessary, SO as to have a good walk ten feet
wide the entire length improved.
A new granite curb will be required from 9th
to 18th. As this is to be a business street,
and will demand a wide sidewalk, it is not
considered advisable to replace the trees.
Where the street is paved to the building
line and the trees are desired by the
public they can be replaced at no
great expense. The total amount estimated to
carry out this plan is $4,000.
WHAT THE PROPERTY HOLDERS SHOULD PAY.
As this improvement is made at the request
OF the property owners. who will be greatly
benefited by 1t, they should bear the expense
of altering their buildings and lots to
give the extra width for a roadway and
| sidewalk. This includes the reconstruction
of vaults. terraces, steps, DC. In addition they
| should, in accordance with act l47, be assessed
one half the total cost Of constructing the new
| curb and side walk.
In conclusion he recommends that to prove Mt
a future recurrence OF this trouble no street
railway or railways be permitted to Law double
track or two single tracks in any street the
roadway of which is less than forty fve feet
wide