Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-15
MR.. BAYNE AGAIN.
To tho Editor of the Alsxandria Gazette

To the Editor Of tho Aker0ndria Gazette
Dear Sir:-Several OF our citizens
have expressed to me views similar tc
those OF T. v. B., printed in Tuesdays
Gazette. AS an answer to such objec-
tions please grant space for the follow
ing extract taken from City Engineer
Dunn's report for the fiscal year 1898
II consider the matter of the reduc-
tion OF the width of roadway of our res
idence streets as OF the utmost import
ance, and trust that some action will
be taken on this matter at an early
date. 10 the report OF 1856 this sub
jeot was entered into fully, and tables
of the practice, and correspondence
from the City Eogineers OF other cities
given, showing that it was the almost
invariable practice to reduce the width
of roadway in residence streets, and
that Alexandria was alone in main
tanning residence streets as wide as AZ
feet between curb lin.s."
In the condition of the finances OF
our city any saving whatever should be
carefully considered, and when saving
OF from 25 to 80 per cent. 10 construc-
tion, maintenance and repairs can be
ultimately made, it does seem that the
lines upon which this saving can be
made are worthy OF being considered.
With this end In visw | repeat the
recommendations made 10 the last an
nual report that whenever qasre of
a residence street is paved or repavtd,
or the curb set on any square not DOW
curbed or guttered. the width Of road
way be made 80 feet 10 the 66 feet
streets, and AZ feet on the 100 feet
stree g, etc.
Should Council adopt plan OF i'm
provement drawn upon the lines sue-
gestsd by our former engineer, much
IL tss than 500 600 ,qusre yards Of pave
ment would be required.
Ia letter dated April IL, 1898. and
addressed to the City Council. Mr..
Dunn says: ieEi
"Sheet asphalt, laid on concrete
base, If cost is not considered, has prob
ably fewer defects and more good points
than any other kind. , 1t is smoother,
less noisy, and cleaner than tue Others.
When sheet asphalt psvements were
first laid 10 this country I.
the first cost was prohibitiye
10 town in the financial condition we
are, but In the last few years the cost
has been greatly reduced by the COM
petition OF new asphalts; from IS per
per square yard, the price has come
down to $1.58 per square yard In the
larger cities, both carrying q guarantee
OF years."
Iu the same letter he also gives the
following:
"Estimate of cost OF repaving King
street from Royal to Fayette sire. t.,
with vitrified brick, and new 6-inch
curb: 1000 square yards OF vitrified
brick at $3.50, s., $50; 4,300 linear feet
of 6-inch curb at 66 cents, $2,838
Total, $22 818. OF this smouDt the w
A. & Mt. V. Ry. should pay 1896.
Total. 81, ,423"
To repsve with the same material 20
streets having the same length aud
breadth as King between Royal and
Fayette, would, according to the esti-
mate of our former engineer, cost iu
round numbers $50, 900.
Question: What will it cost to sewer
anu pave 25 streets IL "the width OF
road way be made 80 feet In the Sc fett
streets, and 40 feet on the 100 feet
streets?"
But admitting, for the sake Of srgu.
mept, that under no possible plan can
we hope to repave and sewer each
and every street, doee 1t necessarily
follow that our only alternative Is to
make no improvements ?
Yours truly,
JAMES BAYNB.