Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-31


interpreted by the various interested par
ties.
The pavement laid in Detroit having
proved about equal to the Trinidad Lake
not to reject the bid entirely on account Of
the material. Mr.. Thomas having con-
WINGED the Commissioners of his ability to
carry out any contract entered into by him,
and. as the work done by him was to be
superintended by Prof. De Smedt, who has
been for several years inspector Of asphslts
| and cements for the District. he was finally
awarded a contract for paving about 20 o.
square yards. At the present time his work
| In Washington has been completed. and he
Is engaged In carrying out his contract.
Time alone can demonstrate whether his
pavements are equal to those laid with the
Trinidad Lake asphaits."
As there are many of the suburban streets
which require immediate improvement, 1t
Is hoped that the Commissioners will see
MT to include all those given in the schedule
IN their estimates to Congress. In his last
report Capt Fiebeger says he called atten-
ton to the rapid growth of the suburbs. and
ne nao no doubt the new assessment will
show still greater increase In the assessed
valuation of the county.
OF the SIS. 900 appropriated for the i'm
provement and repair Of sidewalks and the
the permit system, so, 900 was expended on
| alleys and sidewalks.
Better Sidewalks.
Considerable progress has been made, I"
says the report, toward securing better
sidewalks. During the fiscal year about
1o.o 900 square yards Of old brick walk were
replaced with granolithic. cement, asphalt
and cement tiles. The granolithic walk Is
the one generally preferred by the prop
erty owners and Is now laid for N.73 l-2
per square yard. This pavement consists
of five inches of Portland cement concrete
The material used in the surface layer
which Is one inch thick, is finely broken
blue stone clippings. This pavement rep
resents an even surface. but 1t Is difficult
walk is made Of compressed hexaxonai or
square blocks laid in q bed of sand. The
present cost is s1.5e per square yard.
This pavement has the advantage Of be-
nary paving bricks laid during the year
cost about 70 cents a square yard. The
paving of alleys Is the most important
work done under this appropriation. As a
compulsory permit system upon the recon-
mendation Of the health officer. The mate
rails used were vitrified brick and asphalt
block, both laid by hired labor. The aver
age cost OF the former was g. and Of the
latter $3.50 per square yard, including re-
grading and cost Of materials
The report calls attention to the neces-
sity Of providing better sidewalks and
curbs around the parks. 1t suggests that
a special amount be set aside for this pur-
pose every year. The opening of new
streets in the suburbs has diverted a large
proportion S or the spprSpriation fro from the
thoroughfares from the country around the
District to the Capitol. A proportionate
increase In the appropriation Is absolutely
necessary IL 1t is proposed to keep them
even in tolerable repair. To make them
frst-class roads would require an annual
appropriation of about $.5OO.Ooo. or 5000
per mile.
The District Bridges.
t,.<
trict under the supervision Of the Com
missioners," the report says. rs 6: their
aggregate length Is about 10 IL miles.
Nearly all Of these bridges have been
constructed with special reference to econ
omy: as result they compare very unfa-
vorably with the other public works Of 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 principal work of the year was the
rebuilding OF the NJ street bridge over Rock
creek at total cost Of s.. 21s3o, which was
borne entirely by the Washington and
were made with view Of replacing the
present wooden floor with an asphalt pave
ment whenever Congress sees fit to add this
improvement.
the P street bridge over Rock creek were
prepared by Mr.. Hunt This work will be
completed November /, 1888 A special esti-
mate IS transmitted herewith for widening
the approaches of this bridge from thirty
six feet, their present width. to nifty feet.
This improvement Is urgently demanded.
The regulations relating to the passage CT
vehicles over all bridges have been modified
50 as to allow light vehicles to cross most
of the bridges at q speed Of six miles an
hour instead Of at a walk. as hitherto re-
auired.
eli ~ Of rfp ha Va ri hrt1
with new structure at an estimated cost
of $3.50, 0O0."
Surveys ON Account OF Subdivisions
of Land.
This work has been under the charge of
Mr.. W. P. Richards, assistant engineer,
whose report Is given in the appendix. The
work Of this division has been of great i'm
portance in not only regulating the streets
of suburban subdivisions SO that they con-
form to law, but also In establishing perma-
nent monuments and benches to which they
can always be referred. Until the official
map showing the proposed system OF high
ways is completed no further appropriation
under this head will be required.
MIR. Richards has been transferred to that
work and is now under the personal super
vision Of the Engineer Commissioners.
Parking Commission.
The care Of the trees along the public
streets has, as heretofore, been under the
supervision Of Mr.. VIM. r. Smith OF the
Botanical Gardens, Mr.. John Saul and Mr.
VIM. Saunders of the Agricultural Depart
ment. None Of these gentlemen receive
any compensation for their services The
amount and character Of the work done is
shown in the annual report of the superin-
tendent, Mr.. Trueman Lanham.
THE parking commission has repeatedly
called attention to the necessity for in
creasing the appropriation for the care CT
trees. Notwithstanding the growth Of the
city there has been no increase in the ap-
preparation for the last ten years. 1t is
earnestly recommended that the entire
amount estimated as necessary to carry
out the work OF the commission during the
fiscal year be granted. The care of the
trees should be considered fully as impor-
tant as the care of the roadway, pave
ments and sidewalks. There are also many
small parks and circles In the District,
which are at present under the control Of
the Commissioners, and for which no ap-
preparation Is made.
AN estimate OF the cost of maintaining
these in a presentable condition is given in
the report of the superintendent of park
ing. and 1 would respectfully urge that the
amount be added to the estimates"
The Street Railways.
The Metropolitan Railway Company,
which was required to change its motive
power by July p. 1893, has not compiled
with this requirement, nor has it sub
stituted for the old rail the standard groov-
ed girder rail required by act of Convroas