Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-31
WIDTH OF ROADWAYs
ENGINEER COMMISSIONERS PLAN
IN NORTHEAST WASHINGTON.

here to it's policy inaugurated last winter OF
regulating the roadways of streets in North
east Washington to accommodate the vol
ume Of traffic thereon, and such regulation
will require the narrowing of g. 9TH and
9Th streets northeast. This decision was
announced by Commissioner Biddie yes
terday afternoon after having considered
the subject for several months
According to Col. Biddle's Recommended
ton the roadways of G and 7th streets will
be narrowed to the widths recommended by
the department last winter, but 9Th street
will be narrowed only one foot instead of
five feet as was first proposed. Under the
Plan just adopted the G street roadway
between 4th and 14th streets will be thirty
feet wide; and It'll street from Maryland
avenue to Florida avenue will be thirty
feet wide and 9Th street from Maryland
avenue to Florida avenue will be thirty mine
feet wide,
The proposed narrowing of streets in
Northeast Washington was the subject of
q vigorous protest from the Citizens Asso-
citation in that section last winter and sew
eral hearings before the Commissioners
were given representatives of the associa-
ton. No action was taken by the munich
pal authorities, however, until yesterday,
when Col. Biddle approved the recommends
ton of Capt. Jay ]. Morrow that the streets
be narrowed as stated.
Policy of Department.
In approving Capt. Morrow's recommended
ton Col. Biddle makes a statement setting
forth the policy of the District Engineer
department, as follows:
Il have given these streets very care
full consideration and have made a per-
sonal examination of each. G street has
now several different widths-30, 80 and
30 feet, respectively. The part that has
been recently paved with asphalt block.
from list to 4th streets northeast is 80
feet in width, and it was the intention of
the office at the time that it was laid to
make the whole street 80 feet. This width
has been found by experience to be amply
sufficient for all purposes in the residential
sections, and 1t has been adopted through
out the city as a standard. G street swill
probably always be a residence street, but
should 1t at any time be changed, or street
car line placed thereon. which is not prob
able, width of 35 feet would be insufficient
with street cars and heavy traffic.
The beauty of city lies greatly in
regularity of widths of streets, and a street
with various widths within short distance
is certainly not laid out to the best adj
vantage.
The same remarks apply to 7th street,
which has now a width of thirty-two feet
In places and thirty feet in others; the part
newly asphalted being thirty feet and the
crossings at other points having been re-
duced to thirty feet. Thirty-two feet has
no material advantage over thirty feet for
residence street, while the result of econ
omy is worthy of being taken into consid-
Grafton.
18th street is different, for the reason
that 1T will probably be an important north
and south street, and there is a strong pros
pect that there will be a street car line
upon this street. No material reduction in
its width is recommended. The original
trees planted along this street were so close
to the curb that to put in new curb at the
exact location of the existing one which
curb would have to be larger and heavier
than the existing one, would result in the
destruction of the trees 1t is, therefore,
proposed to move the new curb six inches
out on either side, simply for the sake of
preserving these trees and not for any re-
duction of the roadway.
Making Roadways Proportionate.
Attention is again invited to the policy
of this office-that it is not to reduce the
widths of Ioadways, but simply to make
roadways proportionate to the traffic which
they are likely to carry. Certain streets
such H street northeast, being very i'm
portant thoroughfares, should be made as
wide as it is practicable. Other streets,
such as G street. which is not a through
street, being stopped at the railroad sta
ton, and which will probably never become
an important street for traffic, a width of
thirty feet is believed sufficient.
1.-The cost of laying pavements, keeping
them in repair and cleaning is in direct
proportion to the amount of pavement. The
amount available for keeping pavements in
repair is inadequate to protect them prop
cry, the Commissioners having asked for
$500 900 for that purpose and only having
received about $4,000.
ANY proper economy that does not in
jure the interests of the community must
evidently be sought, and these recommended
lions are in the interest of economy, while
preserving the necessary facilities for
traffic.
1T should be stated also that all the
residential streets in the northwest which
have been laid out in recent years have
been made about thirty feet wide. and there
is no difference in any part of the city as
to the rules applied.