Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-03
CEMENT SIDEWALKS
afi
The Present Policy Under
Which They Are Laid.
NOT ENOUGH FUNDS
% "a
THE NEW WALKS ARE MAINLY
AT REQUEST OF OWNERS
A Protest by q Citizen Against the
Existing System Of I'M
provements.

NOW that the Commissioners have decreed
that after the expiration Of thirty days 1t
shall be unlawful for anyone to spit upon
the paved sidewalks OF the District add
| tiona1 interest has been lent to the vast
amount Of work being performed each year
for the betterment OF the sidewalk facilities
In Washington city and the prosperous sub
| urbs of the capital. 1t Is estimated at the
District building that no less than $780, 600
Is being expended annually In the laying
of cement sidewalk. the most approved type
OF municipal walkways. OF this sum the
abutting property owners who receive the
benefits Of the improvement pay $4,000.
There is demand for the laying Of side
walks on the part OF the property owners
far In excess of the amount appropriated by
Congress to meet the Districts share Of the
expense. The property owners are anxious
for the walks. Practically all Of the work
now being done Is at the request Of the
majority of the owners. II Congress would
increase the appropriation for assessment
and permit work it is believed that the
sidewalk Improvement would go ahead at
the rate of $4,000 year until practically
the entire community would be equipped
with the fine footpaths.
Questions and Protests.
Questions are continually being asked as
to the methods Of the District authorities
In laying sidewalks. Occasionally there
is a protest from an abutting property
owner in cases where old walk is to
be replaced by a modern one. In such in
stances the majority of the property own
ers affected have requested the improve
ment. or the Commissioners have acted
upon their lawful authority to require the
laying of sidewalks wherever in their judg
ment the public health, safety comfort
demands. Because of these protests. which
became quite numerous few years ago.
resulting in many cases in suits at law be-
fore the local courts the Commissioners
adopted a policy of requiring the property
owners to take the initiative in securing new
walks. Since that time the Commissioners
have acted upon their own initiative in but
very few instances. These have been cases
in the downtown or older resident sections
Of the city. where the condition of the
cient brick walks had become unsightly and
dangerous. The conditions must be very
aggravated to induce the Commissioners to
take the first steps. because the authorities
are anxious first of all to comply with the
requests of the property owners who de-
sire the walks, giving them precedence over
localities where walks are in fairly good
shape.
Non-Taxable Property.
There has been considerable complaint
because of the poor condition of sidewalks
in front of some Jchurches and educa .ional
institutions. These properties were, until
two years ago. exempt from special
sessments and the Commissioners hands
were tied as to any improvements in their
locality. The churches and schools and
charitable institutions are now liable for
all special assessment work, and the Com
mssioners are preparing to improve side
walk conditions in front of many of these
places.
AS a result of the Commissioners policy
to lay sidewalks only in localities where Il
lOrltV of the DrODertV owners the
same, there are now very few protests re-
~ceived. The law requires that before side
walks shall be laid the Commissioners must
advertise the fact twice a week for two
weeks in one of the local daily papers The
Commissioners advertise Monday and Tues
day of one week and Friday and Saturday
of the second week. They announce that a
hearing Will be granted Wednesday morn
in" of the third week to any one desiring to
make a complaint. These hearings prior
to the administration of Captain Lansing
II. Beach as Engineer Commissioner, were
largely attended. 1t was during CAPTAIN
Beach's incumbency. however, that the
new system was adopted. Although the
board room is formally opened each We'd
nesday morning there is seldom a protest
ant present to make complaint
Commissioners Authority Absolute
In case there is.a protest the Commission
ers give every practicable consideration to
it. IT, in their judgment. the protest is not
well founded and the sidewalk is needed,
they override the protest and there is no
appeal from their decision, as the law gives
them discretion which cannot be uues-
toned. The law on the subject was con-
tanned in one of the appropriation bills for
the District. and has been in force for MANY
years. The law does not require the ma
jority petition for sidewalk that being
simply IN Office practice
The sidewalks laid nowadays are said
to be the most durable and comfortable
to pedestrians of any heretofore designed.
The walks commonly called s.prano
lithic." although they are not eranolithic
There was a time when granolithfc side
walks were laid. but not in recent wears
The walks nowadays are cement sidewalks
the top treatment of almost pure cement
being laid unon a fine foundation of con-
crete. The granolithic walks consisted OF
fine stone mixed in with the cent, and
quite as satisfactory the cement walks
The contractors engaged in putting down
the walks give the District guarantees for
five years and during that time they must
make any needed repairs. After the first
cost to the property owners there is no
more until an entirely new sidewalk is de-.
manded.
The Process Of Getting Good Walk.
II single property owner should de-
sire a cement walk laid in front of his
property the Commissioners first furnish
him with an estimate Of the total cost. Of
which he is expected to pay one-half. If
he desires the. work to proceed he de-
posits the one-half cost with the collector
Of taxes and the walk is laid as soon "a
1t can be reached by the contractors In
cases whereba walk is desired along tho
front Of an entire square. then the Com.
missioners require that a majority Of the
property OWNERS shall join in a petition for
the Improvement. In such cases the prop
erty owners are. not required to deposit
the one-half cost The law allows them to
pay one-thira ofotheir half of the total
expense down. one-third in twelve NOR ths
and the remaining one-third in twenty.
four months. Those who take ADVANTAGE
Of the installment system. however. have
to pay interest Ola the deferred navmants
to the extent of 8lper cent a year.
I The Cost.
The estimated Cost of the modern side
walk, twelve feet In width, this being the
standard width In the central sections of
the CITY,. is about 80 cents a front foot. In
case a new curb is needed the cost ia N
cents front foot additional In the ont
lying sections where a continuous tree