Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-17
P UBLIC W0 RKS
Report Of the District Engi-
neer Department.
TILE TERMINAL PROJECT
PROGRESS IN MATTER OF sECCP.-
ING MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
Street Extension Measures and Cost of
Asphalt Paving - The
Anacostia Flats.
THE TERMINAL PROJECT

Anacostia Flats.
The annual report of Col. John Biddle,
District Engineer Commissioner, cover
ing the operations of the engineer de-
partment of the municipality during the
past year. was made public today. This
report is made part Of the District Com
| missioners' annual report to Congress,
and it embraces the important doings of
the department up to November 10.
Among other matters mentioned in the
report which are regarded as of particu-
lar interest to the people of the District
is Col. Biddle's reference to the progress
of work on the new railroad terminal
project, the municipal building
for the use of the District government,
on bridges within the District, trees and
parking and various other subjects COM
ing under the supervision of the Engineer
Commissioner.
Terminal Project.
With reference to the work on the
terminal project, Col. Biddle says that
from the District line to Montana avenue
the Philadelphia Baltimore and Wash
ington Railroad Companys northern pas
senger connection has about been COM
pleted, and the bridge carrying the Bal
timore and Ohio road over it's tracks near
Magruder station has been finished. The
foundations and substructure of the rail-
road bridge over the Anacostia river near
the reform school are completed, and the
bridge can be made ready for use in a
short time. From Montana avenue south
ward to Florida avenue the work of grad
ing along the line is being rapidly ac-
complished. In that part of lexington to
be used for railroad purposes the grad
ing has practically been completed and
substantial brick warehouse for the Bal
timore and Ohio freight depot has been
erected at Florida and New York ave-
nueS.
Within the city limits" says Col. Bid
die, between Florida and Massachusetts
avenues, work on the viaduct has pro-
ceeded rather slowly, but a considerable
portion of 1t is now in progress. None of
the foundations for the several structures
within the terminal area has been begun
except those for the union station. The
grading and reconstruction Of K and L
streets between list and Sd streets, where
they are to pass under the viaduct, are
nearly completed The work of bringing
the surface of H street to the new grade
has been begun. but will not be completed
until next year. The street will, how
ever, be open to uninterrupted traffic dur
Ing the winter"
Work on Tunnels.
Col. Biddle mentions that the work on the
ASI oticel OH the virginia avenue tun-
nels is progressing, and that the latter
tunnel will probably be completed in the
early part of 1905. He states that no
construction work has been done in the
southwest section, west of South Capitol
street, as the railroad company does not
believe 1t advisable to disturb present
trackage arrangements prior to the in
auguration ceremonies next March,
The citizens of the District will doubtless
be interested In Col. Biddle's statement
that in his opinion the new station will not
be ready for occupancy for two years al
though about thirty per cent of the foun-
dation work on the building has been COM
pleted. The character of the work, he says
is good. The filling of the plaza has been
commenced, and will be gradually con-
stinued.
The Municipal Building.
With reference to the work on the new
municipal building Col. Biddle mentions
that the contract Cor the excavation and
foundations requires this work to be fin
ished by the 31st of December next. He
also refers to the&decision to ask for an
increase in the total cost Of the structure
in the following language:
Proposals for furnishing stone for this
building were recently opened, and it was
found, as was anticipated, that the cost of
erecting this building of marble or granite
will be greater than the amount available
under the present authorization by Con-
gress, and it was decided by the commits
sion to again ask that the limit of cost of
the building be increased from So, 600, 600 to
s., 500, 600, which was the amount requested
of Congress when the design of the build
ing was accepted, and to withhold action
on the bids for stone until Congress shall
have acted on this request.
Under the present limitation of cost 1t
would be possible to erect building of
brick with stone trimmings, with the in
terror facing of brick, but as the building
is U-shaped and the interior Of the u
foo t1,n ,an hn INN nrto t,on nf f1,n
pearance of the rear of the building is
equal to that of the front. Nor is it be-
lived that building, monumental in char
acter, as the offices of the District of CO.
Of any material other than granite or mar
BILE. 1t is desired that the erection of the
superstructure should be begun as soon as
possible after the foundations shall have
been completed, and 1t is hoped that Con-
gress will take early action to increase the
limit of cost as recommended, so that no
time will be lost in the construction of the
building"
Cost Of Paving.
Continuing, Col. Biddle. in his report.
says:
1.-The prices paid for sheet asphalt pave
ment during the year were S151 and SLIT
per square yard, according to the char
acter Of the base, and for asphalt block
pavement $1,S0 per square yard on Port
land cement concrete base. For the next
fiscal year the price OF sheet asphalt pave
ment is $1.57 and of asphalt block Placement
SLIT per square yard, on gravel base. An
innovation In laying asphalt block pavement
was put in practice during the year, that is,
the laying of about 1900 square yards of
asphalt block on a 5-inch concrete base.
the vertical dimension of the block being
inches. This pavement costs but a few
cents more per square yard than the stand
ard asphalt block inches deep, which IS
laid on a gravel base. The former pave
ment is expected to give superior results.
1.-The former practice of the Commission
ers of gradually replacing the noisy granite
block pavement with the smoother sheet
phalt and asphalt block pavement was
abandoned by direction Of Congress In the
appropriation act for the fiscal year 1904.
That, however, the removal of these noisy
pavements and their replacement with
smoother pavements is desired by the citi-
gems of Washington is evidenced by the
public demand made for the replacement
Of the granite block pavement on 7th street
northwest. between Pennsylvania and New
York avenues. which was authorized by the
District appropriation bill for the present
fiscal year, and which has now been COM
pleted.
Attention is invited to the report of Capt
Jay ]. Morrow, assistant in charge Of the
cnrfa division. Captain Morrow reoono-