The evening times., 1896-02-14
STREETS vs.. SUBURBS
Unimprorsd ThOrOushfaras in
Evary Ssciipn Of the City.
IMMENSE AREA AFFECTED
Strong Argument Against Street Ex-
tension TaIk-More Than One and
Il Half Million Square Yards Are
NegIected-M and Dust Alter
nat.ly Cover Them.

One of the very strongest reasons why
there should he no attempt made now to
bond the District for the benefit OF thor
oa.aTiires in existence only upon PAPER is
furnished in The last annual report made
by The District Commissioners 10 Congress,
from which il is ascertained that there is
a total OF 1,59i,S5 square yards OF un-
improved streets within the limits of tue
present city or Washington.
These uumproved streets are confined TO
no particular section, but are found in
every quarter of the city, the northeast
having ny far the largest proportion.
Stated in square yards OF surface the
no 'tnwest has 237,a.s; line southwest,
23i S61; the southeast, 195. .lOS; the
no:tnc.,st. 57O,551 and what was once
known as Georgetown has 57,OSO. More
than one-courth of the total area of street
surface within the city boundary is with
out sidewalks or paving.
Many of these uniniproved thoroughfares
are IN residence sections where handsome
Residences adorn the way, anu where large
sums have been invested ny individuals Tor
the upbuiidinE OF the city, in the expectation
tiiit pubic roNeniChtS would keep pace
with private progress.
IL was but Recently that a committee Of
the Southwest Citizens Association made
Il statement sho wing an area OF 100 squares
where there Is scarcely a block paved; and,
where improvements had been made at
all. they were in patches. and therefore or
but little calue-
DISTRICT LACKED MONEY.
These neglected streets were doubtless
omitted from the schedules for good rea5ons,
the principal being the lack of funds % cover
the entire territory, the paving being doue
at points which at the time seeniedto jsmost
III need, and Hiat explains the fra%nicnttry
condition of things.
But what was true ten or twelve years
ago is 10 longer reality, these Interested
citizens say, nor can tie cause be said 10
continue Ior the perpetual Skipping OF sec
tions. HaHf
on such streets as Fifteenth. in the
northwest, where, from V street to Florida
avenue. 1.260 square yards or paving are
wanting. there is no longer The excuse
that there is a lack OF buildings. and at the
street Eamcd, where intersects, there
is a large church cdifice recently built at
great expense.
Parts OF Seventeenth, Nineteenth, V and
" streets are without paving, and there are
many residents on each WHO i've i'll brick
rows that would reflect credit upon any
section.
Nncrc there are Indifferent structures
Tie cause can he, in many INSTANCES, traced
back TO Indifferent street improvements.
the nGd prevails i'll winter 10 give way
III the spring and summer 10 ciouds OF
dgSt tEat ECod the dwellings and render
the expenditure Of money for Costly con
struci ions most unpfoiiIabe investment.
The aggregate OF mud driyewayS and
clay sidewalks on portions OF all the streets
from Eighteenth Ia Twcnty-fourth north
west. with many interSec'ing cross-streets,
ana so..ie Of thcavcnurs. is enormous, rang
ms; IN extent from 093 to =, 500 square
yards i'll eXtcnt.
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
Passing to the other quarter Of the north
west, II is found th3i street. from North
Capitol to New Jersey avenue, requires
GIG square wards of paviug to put it i'll
pISsahle condition. Franklin street. be-
TIVE cn L, Q and Fifth StrcrtSlnd New Jersey
avenue, is short sc. square yards, which
means that it is 10; paved in any part.
BITES. ,OthcT cross street. Is in a similar
condition: q street, from Florida avenue
To Third street. needs q. 81 square yards
OF modern roadway.
The class of buildings in some of the
squares. "a may be supposed. is not of the
higrcSt type hut the argument is advanced
that on no one of the paper streets is there
any present dcBand that equals that OF Il
single city thorOughfarc, whatever The
grade or the dwellings. and there are very
many of the short streets and places, all
improved with residences. where there is
an utter absence OF asphalt or block road
ways.
On Florida avenue from First street
to North Capitol, New Hampshire avenue
from street to Florida avenue. and New
York avenue from Nineteenth to Twenty
third street : the story is the same. the latter
having an area of IL 1888 square yards Of
mud road: Rhode Island avenue from New
jersey avenue to Florida avenue has 2,3l3
square yards bare OF paving, while the Total
on Virginia avenue from street 10 ROCK
Creek is OPT square yards, and Vermont
avenue from I stree; TO Florida avenue
shows Il total deficiency of 6,524 square