Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-17
P UDLIC NO R Ks
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CONTINUED from Twelfth Page)
sets avenue bridge over Rock creek. the
widening of Aqueduct bridge over the Po-
tomac, which is substantially finished. and
the progress of work on the new Connecticut
avenue bridge over Rock creek. With ref
erenee to the Anacostia bridge he says:
In the fstrict of Coiumnas appropriation
act for 1905 the reconstruction of the Ana
costa bridge was authorized at a cost not
to exceed $3.50 900. Since the estimate upon
which this appropriation was based was
made the Secretary of war has changed
the bulkhead lines, making an additional
length of 100 feet of bridge required draw
of 100 feet and increased the harbor depth
at the bridge, making necessary deeper
foundat lions for the piers. None of these
changes was anticipated when the appro-
priatfon for the construction of the bridge
was asked for and on account of them the
Commissioners have requested in their esti-
mates for the next fiscal year an increase IN
the limit of cost for the bridge of $125,OOO,
making the authorized amount $4,000
Concerning the laying of cement side
walks Col. Biddle says:
1T Is the practice of the Commissioners
not to lay walks under the assessment sys-
tenn unless usually majority of the prop
erty owners to be assessed petition for the
walk. the only exception being where the
condition of the Tx to be replaced is such
that it is a source of danger to pedestrians.
This accounts for the fact that there are
still many rough and uneven brick walks in
the older portions of the city. the property
owners not desiring to share the expense
of a new walk"
Tree Planting.
With reference to other matters coming
within the jurisdiction of the engineer de-
partment Colonel Biddle makes the follow
ing comments:
1.-Two thousand four hundred and seven
teen trees were planted on the streets dur
ing the year, and /, 759 trees were removed.
leaving the total number of trees now on
the streets of the District of Columbia
about SS,Od5. an increase of only 64S over
last year.
Twenty reservations formed at the in
tersection of various streets and avenues
by street improvement, were transferred
from the jurisdiction of the Commissioners
to the jurisdiction of the chief of engineers
under an act of Congress authorizing such
transfer.
The appropriation for the parking COM
mission, which is practically all expended
in the planting and care of trees, was $50
900. For the present fiscal year $50, 900 was
appropriated. While the Commissioners
Were much gratifed at the increase, they
believe that larger amount should be ap-
propriated for this purpose.
Sewer Construction.
During the year S24 miles of sewers were
constructed. of which 2S miles were main
sewers The total length of the existing
sewers is about 457 miles. and the total cost
OF the system is about s12,5O0,OOO. Work
on the sewage-disposal project has pro-
crossed at a satisfactory rate. The SUBJ
structure of the sewage pumping station
is in an advanced stage toward completion.
THE superintendent of sewers suggests
that the provision of the organic act which
in effect limits the expenditure by day
labor to Jobs, the estimated cost of which
he
limit be raised to 5000 5000. An in
stance which would show the economy of
such course is that In the repair of a
section of the Rock creek sewer near I'D
street where bids were invited for work
which seemed to be not exceptionally diff
cult and where the lowest bid was 5000.
This bid being, in the opinion of the office,
excessive. all bids We're rejected and the
work was done by day labor at a cost of
81 112. about one-third of the lowest price
bid.
Value of Improvements.
''The estimated value of, the buildings
constructed during the year Is $13 OF. SO
(this includes the union railroad station,
which is estimated to cost 5000 900. which
is an increase of 81 .432. 372 over the preced-
ing year and 81. 707. $50 oyer the fiscal year
1902. The number ofespermits issued Tor
buildings and building appartenances was
6,2o3 being a decrease over the preceding
year of 155. The number of dwelling houses
constructed during the year twas, l. Ia and
of apartment houses -, being an increase
of "a dwellings over last year and of 81
apartment houses.
THE distribution of these improvements
is as follows: Northeast section fincluding
So 000.O09 for the union stationJ, So, 666, 800;
northwest section. 81, 134, CPS; southeast sec
ton. S33S 345; southwest section, $13066S;
county, 81, 763,915
Ten school buildings and additions, two
police stations. truck house and morgue
were constructed for the District of Column
bia under the supervision of the building
office during the year.
There are at present in the District of
Columbia 46.46S brick buildings, 20,961
frame buildings and 1861 sheds.
1.-The building inspector recommends leg
islation toward providing a board of ex-
amners to examine and license builders
and architects. He also recommends that
the present fire escape law be amended.
1t is the intention of the Commissioners to
recommend this latter legislation to Con-
gress.
1.-THE cost of erecting buildings for the
District of Columbia has increased from
cents per cubic foot in 1897 to about Il
cents per cubic foot during the present
year-i.e., nearly twice as much. This in
crease is accounted for by the advance in
building materials, increased cost of labor,
use of more complete plumbing and heating
systems and better architectural treatment
of exteriors An eight-room school build
ing as designed in 1898 cost about $4,000,
While at present IL cOStSS S40,00U This
greater cost is due partly to increase in
the price of labor and materials, and moro
especially in the improved heating, VEN
tilating and plumbing facilities now pro-
vided for. The cost per capita of an eight
room school building with a capacity of
800 pupils is SIPS.
Street Extension Measures.
Mine street-extension measures were
enacted during the last session of Con-
gress, and legal proceedings now in
progress to accomplish these extensions.
The Commissioners. while they were in
favor of the extension Of these streets,
recommended in each instance that one
half of the cost should be borne by the
United States. AS the laws were passed,
however, the entire cost was charged to
the District of Columbia, one-half being
assessed against the abutting property, the
assessment being payable in five equal
annual ilst4llmentS.
"'The commissioners ware authorfxed nv