Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-28
The Grading and Macadamizing Of
All Unimproved Streets.
LIG TIN G THE STREET

there was good attendance. When Presi-
dent Fr.zzell had called the meeting to-
gether. Secretary Hinternesch read the min
utes of the last meeting, which were ap-
proved.
Although Chairman Heard was not pres
ent, some mention was made of railroad
matters, but there was no discussion of the
question. President Frizzell said that in re-
lation to the question of providing watch
men for the crossings, the resolution of the
last meeting had been laid before the Com
missoners. but no action has yet been taken
thereon.
Chairman Walter A. Johnston of the COM
mittee on streets, avenues and alleys SUBJ
mitted the report of the committee on street
improvements, estimates for which are
about to be made by the Commissioners for
the year ending June 30 1896
The report reads: I'm reports heretofore
submitted by this committee they recon-
mended that. inasmuch as there are many
streets in the northeastern section of the
city that have not been graded, many tina,
nave been graded, but not regulated, AMI
many that have no sidewalks of any kind
leaving many houses without reasonable or
convenient means of approach especially
In the fall and spring, and mild weather in
winter, TO ask for appropriations for paw
ing any street was inadvisable. In this
opinion we most fully concur for the follow
Ing, among other reasons:
Streets Needing Attention,
Delaware avenue and LIST, I'd and Cd
streets are practically useless and lmpas-
sable north Of II street, but these streets.
or course, cannot be brought to grade or
improved. on account of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad tracks. Several SQUARES on
4th and 9th streets, south If III stree. IRE
nearly destitute of improvement. and often
Impassabie Or the east and west streets
l. street is the most neglected. that port;on
NEg between LIST and 4th streets being
ABOUT as nature made it, extremely dancer
Gus, II not totally impossible. for vehicles
OF any KIND q street has sidewalks aud
small trees. but the roadway is dusty In
ory and muddy in wet weather. All these
streets are within a radius of from on.
I Wa 70 one mile from the Capitol building.
we respectfully recommend that the at
tention of the Commissioners be caIiad 70
.ne condltion OF the aforesaid streets. aud
mat tney be requested to estimate for their
iinRroVement In a substantial manner
To this proposition we nav he .nsr,oo,
ldt rule exists whereby ell streets NOT
Isa-ned ty appropriations must be kent on
.ne schedIIe until provided for This being
SO, the same power that made the r,,la w.,
mango 1t. as several other similar rules
nave been made and changed. For instance
svI"e years ago there was a general sched-
u,e, Wnicn embraced the improvement of
avenues, regardless of the four divisions NJ
the city. This rule was observed until
Maryland and Massachusetts avenues NORTH
east were reached in their order when the
SEE eduie and these avenues were paved and
Paid for out OF the small appropriations for
the northeast. At another time a rule was
MADE that the Capitol building should be
taken as center anu :he streets improved
coextensively radiating therefrom. This
rule was not satisfactory and was rescind-
ed, with the result that al streets south Of
z street are paved as far east az Lincoln
Park, while street and those north of II
excepting H streeO are unproyided for: and
Of the numbered streets I'd and Sd were
paved to H street. and then a Jump was
Tade to 9th street in one year and to 10th
street In another, leaving the intervening
streets with dirt roadvays, although very
generally built upon with a good class of
dwellings. eHs
1T is admitted on all hands that the
Of beauty. This being so. we think that
trees should be planted with some regular
ity, so that an evenness Of growth would
obtain and material value be added to each
lot Of ground. This end can be reached
only by systematic process, and the plan
Of radiating from the Capitol was the prop
er one; but this having been abandoned.
there are now great barren places through
out this section that can only be remedied
in patchwork by the parking commission,
which, In our opinion, should be done at
once.
Disposition of Surplus Funds.
This committee has heretofore recon-
mended that the macadam in the roadway
Of Florida avenue be continued westward
frcm 9th to the intersection with NJ street.
so as to afford a short route to the north
ern part of the city, and at the same time
relieve H street Of much of its traffic. Now
that a cable street car line on H street is
the more forcible.
From the best information that your
committee has been able to procure, it APP
pears that on July 1, 1894 there was an
excess Of District receipts over appropria-
tons of more than 100000, of which
amount Congress has since appropriated
100000, to be transferred to the water
fund, to be applied on the debt created in
the construction of the abandoned tunnel.
This action is unprecedented, as under the
organic act the water department was to
be self-supporting. and has always been
made so by water main assessments and
water rents.
lin view Of this fact, we venture to sug-
gest that the best use to which this or any
future surplus can be put is to pave our
city roadways, and In this respect no part
of the city has been so much neglected as
Northeast Washington. The latest official
report at hand QS93) shows that Of all the
streets in this section only $50 per cent are
improved, leaving GAL unimproved. while
all the other sections show a much larger
percentage in their favor. The standing
official answer to this complaint is that
expenditures are made according to as
sessed valuations and population. This
would seem at first blush proper appOr-
tionment. but when We come to work 1t out
automatically We meet irreconcilable con-
dtions. For example, the northwest sec
ton covers a larger area than any two
other sections combined, and has a larger
share of wealth ana population. In that
section 1913 per cent of its roadways are
unpaved, yet 1t receives an appropriation
twice as large any other section. Now,
If il is entitled to this money on the basis
assigned, it will continue to be entitled
thereto after this 1878 per cent shall have
been paved, and all its street work COM
pleted.
The RecOmme ndatiOns.
We are of opinion, considering all the
facts known to us, that a just and more
condition would obtain IL a
rule were adopted whereby percentage of
street milage were taken as a basis for
Improvement in each section, predicating
the estimate upon the mileage of unimproved
streets existing at the time of adopting
such rule. 1t being we'll established fact
that improved streets give value to the
abutting on them, and attract
population, liberal expenditure of money
upon our streets would enhance values and
lead to such increase in population that
we would very soon compare favorably in
assessment values with the portions of
tha Oft hot ho,- oil h..av, Co.