Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-24

DISCRIMINATION Alleged.
The charge has been made against the
District authorities that they have dis
eliminated against Brightwood avenue.
The accusation is of course, strenuously
denied, and the amount Of money spent on
the thoroughfares in recent years is point
ed to in attempted refutation. This refer
ence has not proved effectual in. allaying
the feelings of the residents, who, in sup
port Of their contentious, point to other
thoroughfares in the District, some of
them equalng perhaps, but none surpass-
ing. Brightwood avenue In the matter OF
extensive traffic, which have been improved
to the queens taste and kept in condi-
ton of repair that Is practically irreproach-
able
Bladersburg road. leading northeasterly
from 18th and H streets northeast, has not
only q fine covering Of macadam, but was
recently asphalted for a long distance from
its city terminus. Benning road, leading
due east from 18th and H streets north
east, is a thoroughfare Of asphalt and
macadam a fine specimen of what a road
should be. Residents of Brtghtwood 90
not object to the Improvement or such
roads as the BladenSburg and Benning.
but merely point to them to show that
Brightwood avenue has not received the
same consideration. Blagden avenue. lead
ing through an unsettled part OF the DIS
trict has been macadamiZed by the COM
missoners from end to end, and 1t IS sald
to be doubtful If three teams use the
thoroughfare during the course OF twenty.
four hours The money ,r was sn ap an.
preparation which this year amounts 10
$50 900. - ro.a
and the Benning road, the District authoIi-
Ties saw that these thoroughfares were I'M
proved fro appropriations secured specln-
cally for that purpose. ASKED why spt
cial appropriatio is not secured TOT Bright
wood the reply is made that II can eVehlu
al1v,' he taken care of from the general
fund. When the authorities are asked 10
set apart a portion of the general iuhu lor
completing the macadam surface, tne lep1y
Ia given that the aliotmentS already maoe
from the total will not permit the undec-
taking of a work 80 extensive. 1t IS now
announced at the District building thdt !.
the Forthcoming winter should prove iliiiu
che and the demands for immediate repairs
to the road system should not be too heaVy'
there may be surplus from Wmch the
work on Brightwood avenue can be carried
forward. ,
department as they now stand before the
board of Commissioners for adoption' IN
clude recommendations for special appro-
priations for the improvement OF aoSoiutsly
every prominent roadway in the District
but Brightwood avenue. The latter tnor-
oughfare is the sole exception of the trunk
roadways. The estimates as they stand TO-
day recommend:
For Benning road ............... 5000
For Bladensburg road. .... o'ooo
For Wisconsin avenue CTenley-
For Massa chuSettS ave. eXtd. lOOoo
For Connecticut ave. eXtd.... Zoooo
IT NAV be added that for several years
past the sum of $4,000 has been spent an
nually in the improvement OF Connecucut
avenue extended. Great rolling hills have
been cut through and valleys filled, reduc-
ing what was once a roller coaster effect
into modern thCroughfare. Ihese ex-
penditures are pointed out by residents or
BrightwoOd, and have been urged bY the
Brentwood Citizens Association to snow
that the District is by no means bankrupt
and that money is available for roadway
improvements. Connecticut avenue, by the
way is the only roadway that mas peen
opened due north through the county IN
the last one hundred years. This thorough
fare was cut through and made passdble
by a private syndicate of land owners, and
presented without consideration 10 the LIS
trict of Columbia.
Remarkable Condition.
1t is estimated by the District engineers
that 5000 is needed to macadamlze the
eastern half of the roadway of Brlghtwood
avenue from Richmond street to Bright
wood and to repair the macadam over the
remainder of the surface. 1t is principally
this stretch of unimproved roadway, eX-
tending as stated, for a distance OF one
and one-third miles, that has aroused the
indignat on of all tax payers VINO nave seen
it and who are familiar with the Importance
of this thoroughfare. On either side of the
railroad tracks in the center of the avenue,
there is a roadway width of perhaps TWEEN
ty feet This should give a total vehlcular
space of forty feet. Along certain por-
tons of the road it does, but from Rich
mond street to Brightwood- there Is and
! can be no driving on the eastern half OF
| the street. 1t is out of the quest on Con-
I seouently the traffic that oftentimes is
| heavy enough to tax to the utmost
forty foot roadway space. is shifted to and
| forced to ply along a narrow strip to the
| west of the tracks. Add to this condition
the close proximity Of whirring, rap dly
moving trolley cars and the daily danger
can be partly realized. A wide berth must
| be given to the cars, especially with a
| horse that is inclined to take fright. The
| hazard at night is increased many fold
The traffic being confined to one side of
| the thoroughfare makes collisions and seri-
Gus accidents imminent at any time. There
| have been many collisions and narrow es-
capes, but none serious enough. fortunate
| ly, to call for a cOroner's jury.
| The condition from Richmond street to
| Brightwood is simply this: The travel on
4l HI