Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-13
Engineer Commissioners Plan.

Your committee is of opinion that the
plan favored by the Engineer Commits
sioner is by far preferable for many rea-
sons. To be brief, the main reason is that
the lower grade would be quite as conye-
nlent as and more ornamental than the
higher grade. and would largely curtail the
cost OF the proposed plaza and the streets
approaching 1t, besides reducing to a mimi
mum the dangers to abutting property. We
are aware, of course. of the fact that the
high level of the Metropolitan branch in
the vicinity of Takoma Park necessitates
a heavy grade from the vicinity of Ecking-
ton, but We are also aware that that sec
ton of the road has been used for MANY
years and that the managers of the Balti-
more and Ohio Company have never been
anxious to change 1t.
while We do not dare to put our judg-
ment in competition with that of the many
civil engineers who have gone over the
ground many times in many years we NAV
be justified In assuming that one of their
objects has been to find the way by which
the road could be changed and operated at
the least financial expense. Happily, this
motive is now a thing of the past, and
other considerations are rapidly taking its
place. and We take this occasion to reiter-
ate our former declaration that We think
thefe Is sufcient ability among our army
and railroad engineers to give to Wash
mSton the very best results obtainable
even II change of route from Delaware
avenue to the lower natural levels little
to the westward should be necessary
We do not, however deem il wise 70
antagonize the bill or 10 put it in Jeopardy.
but We deem it due to the interests Of ali
the people of Washington, and especially
to the members of this association who
have long and so diligently advocated
the elimination of grade crossings. to get
the best plan We can for the removal of
the menace to our lives. the deulment to
our buSint SIS. and the tax upon our time in
The report was adopted.
Asphalt Block Paving.
Mr.. Sowerbutts called attention to the
action of the East Washington Association
at it's last meeting In recommending the
use of asphalt blocks in preference to the
sheet asphalt
President Tucker said he hoped the asso-
citation would go slow in the Endorsement of
such a proposition. He said his experience
showed him that on narrow streets the
sheet pavements are better than the blocks.
while on wide thoroughfares the blocks
seem to do better. The block asphalt he
said. wear well when the traffic is distrib-
uted over the surface
Mr.. Sowerbutts said he knew Of instances
where the sheet asphalt has to be repaired
every few days, and the patches not only
show. but they make the street rough with
the asphalt blocks It Is different These
paEemehtS can pe repaired ana made as
good as new without the patches showing
President Tucker referred to the proposed
taxation Of church property, and called at
tention to the statement made by a Baptist
minister In Baltimore favoring such taxa
ton. Mr. Foster said he thought it was a
mistake to presume that most of the min
listers favor exemption.
The street car question came up because
of a remark made by member about the
open cars in cold weather
MT. SowerbuttS said that some Denple
prefer the open cars, am ne thought The