Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
The District Bill in the Senate.

Now that the District Appropriation bill is
before the Senate committee consideration
will begin of the various items which were
not included by the House, although en-
braced in the Commissioners estimates or
bearing the stamp of their approval There
are several of these which bear upon mat
ters of considerable Importance, some to
the whole District. some to certain sections.
Despite the unusual size of the budget as
framed by the House, there is room for
some of these additional features especial
ly those wh.ch provide for betterments OF
a permanent character. 1t is to be hoped
that the Senate will deal with the bill,
therefore. in the spirit of judic.ous enlarge
ment which has governed it in the past in
bringing the work of the House more near
Iy up to the mark of the Districts neces-
sites.
One Of these ITEMS or particular public in
terest is that for the asphalt paving of
18th street between Pennsylvania and New
York avenues 1t has been on the waiting
list of urgent propositions for some years.
The Commissioners have repeatedly recon-
mended the item and were this year pre-
vented from INCLUDING it in their estimates
only because the current law confined them
to the recommendation of streets for i'm
provement not already paved with asphalt
Belgian block. They did, however. ur-
gently present the claims of this important
thoroughfare to the House committee dur
ing the hearings The claim for the as
phalting of eth street is peculiarly impress
sive inasmuch as it is one of she most inn
portant business streets in the city anu one
of the very few remaining granite paved
streets, Now that the car line there is
40 nj
age, in tfiessinterest of which the block
pavement was for some years preserved.
generally avoids the street. L; is given up
to light traffic of a strictly local character.
and the retention of the old-styie rough
pavement is a serious handicap upon the
Improvement of the street along a very i'm
portant part of it's course and detriment
to the merchants whose business places
are situated upon it. Furthermore, the es-
tablishment of the Public Library at the
head of the stretch proposed for this i'm
provement adds materially to the reasons
for the asphalting,
Another item of general importance TO the
whole community. through it's effect upon
the business district, is the proposition to
provide high-pressure fire service for the
downtown section. Although the project
involves the expenditure of approximately
100000, 1t is a measure of economy, for
the installation of this service would in a
large degree obviate the necessity of the
rapid additions to the steamer equipment
1t would put the city in the best possible
state of defense against general confiagra-
ton In the business district su III as that
which ravagedaBahimere a short time ago.
Had Baltimore been thus provided with an
unlimited supply of water at high pres
sure it would haye been possible to check
the great blaze The lack ofawater was a
serious disadvantage. which is today repre-
sented by the loss of many millions This
item has had the approval of the Commits
sloners as measure of wise orecautfon.
Its emphatic Endorsement by the board of
trade. reiterated by the directors of the
board within the past few days, empha SECS
the demand of the community for thls item
OF defense against calamity. 1t should so
into the bill now and stay there