Evening star., 1900-12-03

=
Potomac river bluestone o. 730 1922 950O 2OOiO 1853
Halpine Cd.l dorite 102 100 102. 800 .200l .198
Goose creek tVal trap. 112. 750l112 S5O .1OOt OS0
Larbardsville (NJ trap 30. 2OOl 80 3O0 .1OOl 100
Potomac river graystone S9.675l S9.75O .O75l .Os4
Palisades Hudson river
Bound Brook NJj trap ios 800 los zoo W..
Dickerson Md trap. 1876. $50 166 $50 .....
These tests demonstrated that the Dick
erson (Md) stone possesses. first. remark
able resistance to physical force. hence
great wearing quality; second, great dens-
ity or specific gravity: third, little or no
absorption, consequently great resistance
to frost. and for these reasons was select ed
by the District Commissioners for road
metal for the city of Washington and vicin-
ity. A large crushing plant has been erect
ed al Erckerson, Md, and first-class trap
rock is now being prepared and used for
road building in the District.
Owing to the situation of the quarry upon
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and the
manner n which the road runs through the
District minimum wagon haul Is involved
in delivering the stone at the necessary
points on the county roads. SO that greater
economy results from the use of this stone
than from the ordinary local stone: the
gain is therefore, not only in quality, but
also in a greatly reduced price.
The difference in the wear was very dis
tnctly shown during the past year upon the
road along the line of Rock creek. A por-
ton of the road was covered with broken
limestone and a portion with trap rock
from the District quarry. Owing to the
failure If the appropriation 1t was impos-
sible to cover the broken stone (Which was
two inches in size) for distance Of about
half q mile. AS there were no points At
v hich vehicles could turn off from :he
road, both classes of stone received exactly
tie same amount of wear. The limestone
was worn quite smooth and rounded. The
trap rock failed to show even the whes.
arka lN,6 he gS rr
several months wear as when the stone
was first lad.
In making roads with this material stone
from one-half inch to two inches in size is
first placed on the road. generally to
depth of about eight inches: upon this layer
a finer material. half an inch and smaller
in diameter. including dust. is deposited. 1t
has been found that the grinding action OF
vehicles passing over the road Is practically
so little that account can be taken OF
this wear with the trap rock. and a larger
quantity of finer material has to be use d
than Is necessary with other local stones,
which wear down and make a binding ma
ter;al. Although larger portion Of the
finer stone is required. the result is most
excellent. and the stone binds exceedingly
we'll without the addition Of any binder.
Sidewalks.
During the year So 5O5 square yards Of ce-
ment sidewalks were laid The price for
this work was 06 cents per square yard.
The cement walk costs but little more than
brick, and it's life and advantages are so
much greater that but comparatively
small amount of brick walk is now laid,
only $500 square yards being constructed
during the year.
The highly desirable work of replacing the
defective brick walks Of the city with ce-
ment is being pushed as fast as the appro-
priations for the purpose will permit The
superiority Of the cement walk Is fully rec
ognized by the people. as 1t Is exceptional
now to receive request for brick walk
from any portion Of the District. The ad-
vantages Of cement over brick in this cl.-
mate are very great. during the long
summer with brick walks there is certain
to be more or less vegetation springing up
between the bricks This. of course, does
not occur with the cement walk and IN the
outlying sections it is actually cheaper t.,
construct a cement walk at the contract
price than to haul brick from the lower
portion OF the city to these localities and
then lay it
1t has been found necessary to lay expan-
sion joints in the cement walks as expe-
rience showed number of the walks in
tured by expansion due to heat.
Railways.
At last there seems to be good grounds
for hope that steps will be soon iuaugu-
rated to improve the steam railroad situa-
tion In Washington. Plans for the aboi-
ton of grade crossings in the city of
Washington along the lines Of the Balti-
more and Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads
were submitted to Congress at it's last ses-
sion, and bills to authorize the proposed
changes Were introduced in the Senate and
the plans proposed are the most practica-
BILE for the purpose and 1t Is earnestly
hoped that these highly important improve
ments may ne authorized by Congress at
its next session.
During the year the suburban street rail-
ways of the city were rebuilt and re-eQuip-
ped and are now giving a better service
than at any other period in their history.
Sewers.
Details OF the work done by the sewer
division are shown by the report of Mr.
d. f. McComb. superintendent Of sewers.
1t is believed that the most vital ques-
ton now before the Commissioners Is that
of proper sewage disposal The sewage
which is now deposited in the Potomac and
on the fats OF the Anacostia river cen
stitutes a noisome nuisance and q constant
menace to the health of the city which
should be abolished at the earliest possible
date. Congress at its last session appro-
priated $4,000 for the preparation Of detail
plans and specifications for the sewage dis
posal system. Work upon these plans is
being pushed to completion, and as soon
as they are finished the matter will be
presented to Congress with recommenda
tion for their immediate execution
Water Department.
Details Of the work of this department
are given in the report Of Mr.. w A. Nc
Farland, superintendent Of the department,
on page 81.
During the year several material improve
ments have been made in the water service
Of the District One OF the two basins of
yyaA Lot cd
and put in service, which resulted in an
increase in pressures on Capitol Hill and
relieved to a considerable extent the In
adequateness of the supply in that locality.
Work upon the second basin of this reser-
voir Is now in progress, and 1t IL expected
that 1t will he completed during the fiscal
year.
A pumping station has been recently es.
! tablished in Anacostia. which has greatly