The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
A Demand for Ceman. Sidewalks
to Replace Brick.
Opinion of the Commissioners Re
rarding the Matter-Thc Property
Holders Usually COnsultcd-Arrcst
of Italian Fruit Nensiers-better
Electric Street Lighting Promised.

Within the past month the Engineer
Department of the District Government
has received many applications FIR the
laying of cement sidewalks in. various
parts of the city. 1t is achnowledg d by
the department that the brick sidewalks
are in bad condition, and the necessity Of
repairing them in some way has made
large demands upon the authorities our
ing the current fiscal year.
The Commissioners do not favor the
laying of any more brick sidewalks where
It can be avoided. and the cheaDneSs of
the granolithic forms, of pavement has
now reached a point where the choice IS
in favor of the latter. 1t is more perma-
nent. and while the first cost is little
more the greater desirability of the ce-
ment is everywhere recognized.
The laying of cement Sidewalk in any
given locality is usually determined by
the application of representative prop
erty holders interested in the improve
ment. and it is always desirable on the
part Of the Commissioners that ma
jority Of the property owners be reple.
scented in the application. though this S
not necessary. 1t nearly always happens
that some of the owners whose property
abuts on the sidewalk to be relaid obje,t
to the improvement. and while the Com
missioners have authority in law to force
the matter. they prefer that 1t shall be
desired by the persons most interested.
The laying of the sidewalk may be done
by the District, and is usually SO done.
The cost is assessed, one-half against the
abutting property, and the other half is
paid by the District. In the fiscal year
ended June go 1899. sidewalks to the
s.-.c.,nt of 1888 square yards were laid
nc
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1909,
somewhat larger amount was construct
ed. and for the present fiscal year Con-
gross appropriated $4,000 for the pur-
pose. and it is thought that this amount
will be used up before the next appro-
priation becomes available.
Permits are also issued allowing pri
vate parties to lay sidewalks in front of
their premises. but this is generally done
when one person in block desires the
improved pavement and others do not.
In all such cases. however, the permit
- granted only upon the condition that
tho sidewalk laid shall conform to the
raies adopted by the Engineer Depart
ment concerning grade, material. thick
ness. and expansion joints. In this way
conformity of cement sidewalk is secured,
and if. at a later time, it becomes de.
sirable to improve adjoining premises
tNe lClneu pdScIueuiS CoITtSpouu IL LID.
terial and thickness.
II sometimes happens that the Commits
sioners decide to lay a cement sidewalk
along a given street without consulting
the property owners in regard to the
matter. This was done a few years ago
in the improvement Of Connecticut Ave-
nue.. Such action is taken when the facts
warrant, and when it becomes necessary
to improve a certain section for reasons
which are obvious. A few years ago
considerable pavement was laid in this
way in the southeast section to enable
people living there to have walks to the
cars and to the paved streets at all
seasons of the year. The Improvement
was thought necessary, and was carried
out, though the walks laid were, in many
cases, in front of empty lots which have
not even yet become profitable to their
owners.
The Commissioners are impressed with
the fact that the old brick sidewalks
should be superseded by the granolithic
walks as soon as it can be brought about.
Therefore, by means of liberal appro-
priation each year for the purp-se they
hope within four or five years to see a
very large portion of the brick give way
to better sidewalk.
The Commissioners have recently acted
upon the application of Gilbert Meyers
and others for a brick sidewalk to be
laid on the west side of Second Street
between X and l. Streets northeast.
This application has been through several
stages of consideration estimates ha, ing
been made both for brick and cement,
and the same having been advertised for
objections by adjacent property holders.
The protests received after advertise
men. were such that the matter was
again referred to the computing depart
ment for consideration and report. C. b.
Hunt, the Computing Engineer, now says
that as the amount of sidewalk required is
In excess of the appropriation available
therefor, he sees no reason why any DIFF
ferent rule should be applied for the
selection of work to be done than that of
allowing the majority Of the property
holders to decide. He informs the COM
nlissioners that every one of the owners
OF property interested has been heard
from and that a majority of them do not
wish the work to proceed. He accord
ingly recommends that the appl cation be
not complied with at present and that
the petitioners be SO informed.
The Commissioners have replied 10 the
communication Of Mrs. Margaret CRUSH
northwest. who complained TO them of al
legged unjust arrests Of Italian fruit vend-
ers. The reply consisted chiefly OF a re-
port made upon the subject Of the COM
plant by Richard Sylvester Superintend-
ent of Police.
Major Sylvester informed the Commits
sIoners that there is no disposition on the
part of the department to be harsh toward
the fruit vendors, but the Law he says re-
quires that they keep moving except at
such times as they may be making sales,
and the policemen are charged with the |
OF this law. Members of the |
force he says, have repeatedly advised |
vendors against taking up stands in and /,
abou; the main thoroughfares of the city |
where street cars are being operated and |
crowds are going aud coming. especially |
on Saturday evenings. but the Major de- |
clares that the warnings have gone I'M |
needed. and that IL has become strictly |
matter OF duty on the part Of the officers |
10 see that the law is enforced.
Major Sylvester tells the Commissioners |
that the main difficulty OF arranging loca- |
tions for these people is tina, they will not |
accept of such privileges as have been |
heretofore offered them, but persist in get |
ting near the market houses and in con- |
gested localities. all Of which is against the |
common welfare. Furthermore, complains |
the Major, when they stand in the vi |
entity OF Pennsylvania Avenue people buy |
fruit OF them and throw the peels into
tree boxes and into the cutters, all in vi |
olat:on of the police regulations. He also |
states that with the limited force at his |
disposal drastic measures are sometimes |
to prevent undue advantage be- |
Ing taken of the municipal regulations
Commissioner Macfarlsnd yesterday re- |
ceiyed a letter from Gen. George H. |
Hairless Vice President OF the United |
States Electric Lighting Company, rela- |
tive to the recent failure OF the current |
Supnlying the street lights of the city