Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-27
COST OF A SID EWAlK
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN CITI-
zen AND THE COMMISSIONERS.
Question Over Increase in Width OF
Cement PaviuE-Rccommen dHtioh
by Captain Bench.

Mr. Thomas w. Gilmer of 545 Florida
avenue several weeks ago complained to
the District Commissioners of the manner
of LAYING cement sidewalk on Florida
avenue between 9Th and 9th streets and
asked to be informed as to the cost OF lay
ing such sidewalks. Mr.. Gilmer complained
that during his absence in Europe a side
walk of that character was laid in front of
his property, and on his return he was sur
prised to see that it had been left in what
he alleged was a dangerous and insight
ly condition.
Instead of a complete walk, he explained,
a strip was left unpaVed before the steps
in front of his bay window. Bricks We're
loose or removed entirely. he declared, and
scattered about, the part not newly paved
not being on the same level with the other
portion of the walk. He stated that he
signed petition for a complete sidewalk, one
half the expense to be borne by him, and
charged that he found the result dangerous,
unsightly and a bOtch. and this, he said, viz
tualy forced him to have the balance of the
walk properly paved, which expense, he had
been informed, is to be borne wholly by him.
Instead, said Mr.. Gimer, of one-half,
it seems that the District viii really pay
only about one-fourth of the total cost of a
satisfactory sidewalk. We already had
good smooth brick sidewalk. which was far
better than the walk as the District con-
trict should have done, l have had COM
pleted. Now, matter of JUS
tice, l ask that the District pay for one
half of this additional work, made neces-
Sary by the act of your agents in leaving
the sidewalk in dangerous and unsightly
condition. The work was done by the same
contractor. Also please inform me to
the rates paid by the District for laying
cement sidewalks, and whether the con-
tractor agrees to do the work for individ-
uals at the same rate as for the District
Subsequent Requests.
The 18th of this month Mr.. Gilmer wrote
the Commissioners that his inquiries had
not been answered, and requested a deci-
sior on them by the full board. A week
later he wrote them again, asking a post
poEement of the matter until Commissioner
Ross returns to the city, UNLESS he add
ed, ''Of course, Commissioners Macfarland
and Beach will graciously agree to allow
M claim as made While awaiting the re-
turn of Commissioner Ross, perhaps you
might like to get an opinion from the at
tOrney for the District to the legal ques
tons involved
er, who has immediate supervision of such
matters, today forwarded the papers in the
case to his associates with the following
Endorsement of his thereon:
THE public walk in this case is ten feet
wide, and that width of walk is built from
the appropriation for assessment and per-
nit work Where a greater width than
the established width of walk is permitted
the extra width is invariably at the expense
of the property owners. This principle has
been followed throughout the city in in
Vulnerable cases. On 18th street between
f and G. streets where the property owners
desired to have the cement walk extended
II the buildings, it was done a their eX
pcnse. the District paying for one-half of
only the established width of walk.
THE additional width in this case was
made at Mr.. Gilmer's request, and the price
paid for it was different from the contract
price which would, in itself, operate as a
bar to its payment at the Treasury Depart
ment, Mr. Gilmer well knows. To re-
quire the District to pay one-half the cost
of this additional width would also amount
to requiring all the property owners on the
frontage who are assessed for the half cost
OF the walk to pay for the additional walk
Immediately in front Of Mr. Gilmer's prem
ises, for which they receive no benefit. 1t
might be added that Mrs. Gimer has paid
the contractor for the additional portion of
the walk laid in front of her premises
1t is expected that this view of the case
will be taken by Captain Beach's associates.