The times., 1901-05-06
STREETS OF THE DISTRICT
A System of Highway Improve
ment Giving Good Results.
The Engineer Department Taking
Care of 279 Miles Of Roads-Hosy
the Paving and Repairs Are Done
The Appropriations Insufficient.

One of the chief points of attractive
ness in the city OF Washington is its
well-paved streets. From small begin
nings under the rule of Ex-Governor Shep-
herd, has grown an intricate network of
asphalt pavements which now practically
cover the city. That is to say. there are
main thoroughfares running into all sec
tions of the city, and from these cross
streets and extensions radiate until it is
possible for almost anyone in any part of
Washington to reach the Capitol on well
paved streets without making any long
detour
Together with the evolution of the
Z streets has been evolved system of ex-
/ tension and improvement which allows
the Engineer Department to extend the
/ pavements in regular order. AS a result
/ of this policy and method there is no
patchwork of paving so common in other
cities. There are no detached pieces of
paving but all is united into regular
system connected with the centre of the
city The money available for some years
p.st- has not been sufficient for the
growth of the streets and the city, but
with the means at it's disposal the En-
gineer Department has gone on gradually
extending the pavements without being
tempted to place improvements on subur-
ban streets until the regular system
should reach there.
AT the time of the last annual report
there were in the District under the care
of the Engineer Department 2'9-5l miles
of streets OF these Jos 3S miles We're
covered with asphalt, 1926 miles were
improved with a covering Of coal tar ana
concrete, II. 80 miles were asphalt block
O.52 mile was vitrified block and 2'6s
miles were of granite block. There We're
IL OF miles of cobble pavement, 3A.4O miles
of macadam, and 81 81 miles OF graVei
and unimproved roads. The problem,
therefore, confronting the Engineer De-
partment is to take care of 219 miles OF
streets, 113 miles of which are yet 10 pe
improved with modern paving.
The work on the streets naturally dl-
yides itself into two classes, that OF re-
pairs and of new paving, and Congress
makes appropriations each year for each
of these. The appropriations for the cur
rent fiscal year for Improvement and re-
pairs was $500 900, while special appropria-
tions for the paving of new streets ag-
gregated s650 900. After the various items
of repairs are looked after, the depart
ment is enabled to use part OF each
annual appropriation in extending the
mileage of paved streets. This latter work
is done according to schedule OF I'M
movement submitted TO Congress with |
each book OF estimates. According TO the |
schedule submitted for the present fiscal |
year improvements to the amount OF |
1868 700 We're estimated upon and recon- |
mended In Georgetown there We're I'M |
provements proposed aggregaung s'4oo0' |
in the northwest section S2S3,sW, IN the |
southwest section sl04, 200, in the south |
east section S105, LOG, and in the northeast |
section s142.600. Congress appropriated |
$500, 600 to be apportioned among the sec
tions named at the discretion of the Com
The policy pursued is to ap-
portion the amount of the appropriation
pro rata among the sections named and
then to improve the streets In their or
der upon the schedule as far as the money
goes.
Under this arrangement the northwest
section will receive 100000 yards of new
paving the southwest section G95, 900 yards,
the southeast section $500 yards, the
northeast section $4,000 yards, George
own 290 goo yards, and the suburban por-
ions of the District $4,000 yards. in this
way the improvement OF streets goes on |
as rapidly as possible under the appro-
)riations granted. The present schedule |
If streets upon which improvements are
made from year 10 year rs about four
lew streets have been ADDED TO it. The
decided three years ago
hat il would be more business-Hke 70
laYe the date upon which a street is rec
,mmended for Improvement and the ac-
uai Improvement upon the same more
learly together. So that when the pres
mt schedule is exhausted less number
# streets VIII be recommended for i'm
,roVement each year with q view to keep
ng the schedule clear.
! ne trst paVements were laid IN wash
ngton under what was termed the permit
iyStem, That Is, the owners OF property
tSked for the Improvement and were |
to have II done, the abutting
property being assessed for the cost. This
vas found to work slowly, as the major |
ty of property holders would not take
he initiative. The next step was what
vas termed in law a compulsory permit, !
which amounted TO the il provement of
treetS by the assessment Sy stem, as the |
district authorities decided upon the inn
rovement, made it. and assessed the
ost Hpon the adjoining property. Later
change was effected to the present SyS- |
EN-, under which the municipality makes
he Improvement and pays for 1t out of
he appropriation made specifically for
he purpose.
In the practical work of improving a
treet it may be assumed that the water
mains, sewers, electric conduits, etc, |
ave been laid. Preparatory TO the lay 8
ng of the pavement the street curbs are
elaid, and If necessary replaced with |
etter material. Brick cutters are laid,
nd If the property owners desire 1t new
ement sidewalks are constructed at the | ,
anne time. The sidewalk and the relay
ng of the curb is assessed against the
butting property. All this work. includ-
az the paving, is done according to
pecifications carefully worked out in the |
,ngineer Department, and no part of the
York is entrusted to incompetent hands. !
his ensures uniformity in curbs, cutters, \
avements, and sidewalks in all parts of |
he city. The general rule for paving {
as been asphalt for all common streets, 7
sphalt block for certain avenues, granite | .
lock for streets where the grade re- \
uires il, and where there is heavy haul
lg, and macadam where the other kinds
( paving are not at present available.
he present policy of the department is :
} use only sheet asphalt and asphalt !
lock for the paving OF streets, and dur I
lg the past two years, including the !
resent fiscal year. this has been adhered !
}. The plan of the department is to :
Ipersede all other kinds Of pavement \
18th asphalt and to use the discarded =
treets in the manner of the Benning
oad pavement, and to use the cobble and
Id curbing for macadam or the concrete
ase Of the asphalt streets.
Sheet asphalt, as well as the asphalt | {
lock- is laid by contract at a cost of
7g a square yard for sheet asphalt and
II for asphalt block. The contracts for {
wing this pavement are made at so ! y
luch a square yard in any part of the .
", and in practice the work is divided | :.
stWeen two local contractors. They are y
Ut given the several streets as specific :
lbs. but are under contract 10 pave | u
herever they may be called upon, at l
le price named per yard. This form Of
Jntract enables the department to lay e
aving anywhere at will without any J
ay they have free hand to extend the
stem of paved streets by adding a lit