Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-10

vided for rebuilding the Anacostia bridge.
This bridge is too narrow to accommodate
traffic and Is structurally weak An item OF
500 600 is included in the estimates to begin
the reconstruction of the bridge.
The Commissioners have also included in
the estimates an item OF $4,000 for con-
structing a bridge across Piney branch on
the line of 18th street extended. This bridge
Is necessary on account of 1.-The grade OF
10th street, which will cross Piney branch
at an elevation Of about sixty feet which
Will require the construction of a viaduct
about 300 feet in length. 1t Is intended that
one or two streets and one of the avenues
of the highway extension plans shall be
carried under this viaduct, the grade of
10Th street making this necessary.
Present appropriations provide for the
Improvement of 10th street to within q
short distance Of Piney branch. and in
order to carry improvements farther north
ward II Will be necessary to provide for
crossing the Piney branch valley.
Owing to the activity in building opera
lions and real estate transactions, the work
or the surveyors office showed a large in
crease over the preceding year.
During the year 465 new subdivisions were
prepared and recorded. OF these nine were
OF or large tracts in the county. In order to
keep up this work under present conditions
an increase of force is necessary
Inc rees collected by the office during
the fiscal year amounted to $S,S65, which
we're deposited in the treasury of the United
OF Columbia are deposited The amount
appropriated for the support of the office
curing the year was SIT, 800.
Numbering Squares in the County.
1t Is believed that the question of secur-
ing Uniform system of squares through
out the District of Columbia should be
taken up. The present parcels of subdi-
dlved property in the county are now des-
lgnated by the name of the subdivision in
ADDITION to the number of the square and
lot, requiring the writing of the name Of
the SUBDIVISION on all tax bills and public
records whenever 1t becomes necessary to
describe such piece of property. By hav-
Ing system of square numbers the neces-
sity Tor writing the name of the subdivi-
sion would be avoided. The adopted high
Way-extension plans, which cover the en-
tire District of Columbia, have already di-
vided the District into squares, so that it
Is now possible to devise a system Of mum.
bering which would be regular and consec-
utive for the entire District. By the adop.
ton of such system the proper numbers
Of the squares in agricultural tracts could
be determined and applied whenever a SUBJ
division Is made, even though it be distant
or detached from other subdivided proper
ty. 1t is believed that it is entirely practi-
cable to make the change. In the first
transfer of piece of property after the
new numbers have been applied both the
old and the new number would be given.
after that it would be known by the new
number
The trees upon streets in the District Of
Columbia now number S7,407. For several
years the annual appropriation for the
parking commission has been the same
namely, $4,000. although the number Of
trees to be cared for has been increasing
at the rate of about $500 a year. In the
estimates for the coming year an addition
al amount is asked for to provide better
care for the trees already planted, and also
to permit needed planting on streets not
now supplied. Details of the work of the
parking commission are given in the re-
port of Mr.. Trueman Lanham, Superintend-
ent of parking.
Rock Creek Park.
The appropriation for the care and i'm
provement of the park for the year was
only 81 500. This was one of the smallest
yearly appropriations in the history of the
park, and consequently very little could be
accomplished. The money was used to make
needed repairs at various points on the
roads The chain gang has been utilized as
far a. possible and has been of considerable
service. During the year Ross road was
graded by them for distance of 5000 feet
and yiaduct constructed to carry the road
over deep ravine This viaduct was con-
structed entirely by the chain gang The
temporary bridges which have been thrown
across the stream are becoming dilapidated
and dangerous, and the roads are getting in
such condition that they will have to be
closed unless means are provided to I'M
prove them.
The creek banks need protection all roads
need repairs and constant watering dur
ing dry weather, so that the cost of keep
Ing the park in it's present condition is
quite considerable.
Buildings and Building Inspection.
The past year has been marked by great
activity in building operations. The esti-
mated value of buildings constructed dur
ing the fiscal year is Sill .5S4 Co.'S an increase
of 1924, 1858 over the preceding year. One
thousand one hundred and ten new dwell
ing houses and forty apartments have been
added to the buildings of the city. The city
has steadily pushed out beyond Its original
boundaries. The value of buildings erected
in the county during the past year Is about
1850, 900, as against $2,50OOOO for the year
previous.
The growth of building operations and the
increase in the territory to be covered has
placed a heavy burden upon the office of
the inspector Of buildings. Congress has
from year to year realized the necessity
of increasing the force of this office and
has provided more men for 1t, but the in
crease in the work, has been larger than
was anticipated, and 1t is necessary that
still further additions to the personnel be
made. The permit clerk is unable to Issue
building permits as fast as they are applied
for, causing considerable annoyance and
delay to builders. At least one additional
man Is essential TO nanuie the present
volume of business.
Another branch Of the Office that has
more work to do than it can properly at
tend to Is that having charge of the in
spection of elevators and fire escapes Two
inspectors are supposed to attend to this
branch of the service, but the number of
buildings containing elevators and provided
with fire escapes has so largely increased
in recent years and the territory has ex-
banded to such an extent that 1t is ply
sically impossible for two men to cover the
ground efficiently. In addition to the work
of inspecting elevators and fire escapes
these two inspectors are also required to
look after the inspection of heating appa-
ratus. installation of gasoline tanks, l0ca-
ton of power boilers. etc. The office would
be considerably strengthened by the ap-
pointment of a mechanical engineer, who
should have charge Of the installation of
heating apparatus, gasoline tanks and
power boilers, thus relieving the present
two inspectors of this duty and permitting
them to give more time to the inspection of
elevators and fire escapes
The work of keeping in repair the numer-
Gus buildings owned by the District of CO.
lumbia is growing larger and more impor
tant each year. There are now more than
200 buildings to be looked after, and more