The times., 1899-08-16

Considerable complaint is being made by
the farmers in the neighborhood of Ben
ming over the condition of Benning Road
from the bridge to this city. The trouble
has arisen over the work started by the
District Commissioners on the road some
time ago. The steep hill short distance
from the Washington end Of the road has
been graded down about ten and half
feet The work has been done by the
cbaingang from the District Jail. The im
proyement which it was understood was
to be made on the road is regarded as
great necessity by the farmers, who use
this entrance to Washington constantly.
In the present condition of the Benning
Road transportation over it is said to be
almost impossible. There has been no at
tempt made to fashion the roadbed into
any semblance Of highway, it is claimed
and it is said that large holes have been
left by the workmen, which makes hauling
almost impossible The clay has been
worked up into soft, sticky mass, through
which the wheels of wagons and the feet
of horses are almost unable to move.
Speaking to Times reporter at his farm
yesterday, a short distance beyond Ben
ming Bridge, NJ. E. Cook, one or the largest
truck farmers in that section, said that the
present condition OF the road had existed
since the Sth of last December. Mr.. Cook
thought that the force OF men employed on
the work was inadequate. squad from
the chain gang was employed and had been
for some time, but they did not work every
day, he said. All the best they did not
labor hard When the Times reporter re-
marked that the road was in a bad condi-
ton Mr.. Cook said that it was much bet
ter now than it has been. He had seen as
many as six teams lined up in the road
unable 10 move. Frequently the horses
fell in the slippery mud, and the drivers
were obliged to wade in the soft clay and
endeavor TO raise them. The result,
said Mr. Cook, lis that the farmers who de-
pend on the Washington markets in which
to earn their livings have suffered. | am
contemplating using a one-horse wagon
with two animals. If ] do that l may be
! able to get half load of produce into mar
ket Otherwise, with the road in the pres
ent condition, it is impossible. Benning
road Is the nearest route from this section
to Washington, and there is more traffic
over il than over any other in the Dis
trict. There has certainly been neglect
somewhere. Many of the farmers have used
the river road which enters Washington
over the new bridge at Pennsylvania Ave
nue. With a heavily loaded wagon this
means two hours additional time in reach
ing Washington. Benning road IS now I'M
passable even for light wagons. The strain
on the horses would ruin them and a man
cannot afford 10 permit that TO be done
Mr. Cook said he believed that the dirt
being removed from the new Government
Printing Office could be used on the road
to advantage, if the contractor, who was
willing to place ii there, could get the
teams He thought that the Commission
ers should order the dirt removed from
the sewer through the Capitol grounds
and used on the road. The road could be
made fairly good in two weeks If energetic
steps were taken to push the work. As 1t
was. the present condition had existed for
months Mr. Cook spoke of the ample ap-
preparation of Congress for the work and
said that when completed as provided for
in the appropriation the residents would
have an excellent highway. . If the road
continues as it is now said Mr.. Cook,
"and is not in condition for travel by the
first of October, l can safely say that the
farmers in this vicinity will lose ct least
s100. .O00 This is a low estimate, as the
1O0 farmers of this district will each lose
about 81, ,000.''
Mr.. Cock thought that Washington
would suffer, since prices would be higher
if the supplies from that part OF the coun-
try were cut of. While Mr.. Cook would
not say that the District Commissioners
were responsible for the delay in the work
| on the road and the consequent bad con-
dition he thought the Improvements ought
to be hurried. The impression around
Benning is that the road ought to be i'm
proved by vigorous action being taken.
and the employment of larger force OF
men, which would put the highway IN
proper condition for use before the fall
rains set in.