Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

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let for the building within that sum. The
requires that It be completed By November
made s r.. snSor Ssns Ds
under the supsrvtSion Of Capt. Chester
Harding. Corps Of Ensineers, U. g. Army,
who was appointed By the President for
that duty In accordance with the terms OF
the act providing for the building.
Roadway PavemsntA
The price paid for sheet asphalt pave
ment during the fiscal year 1905 was t1.67
per square yard. and for asphalt block
pavement SLIT per square yard on gravel
base For the fiscal year 1908 the price Of
sheet asphalt pavement Is $1.4A. and for
asphalt block n.64 per square yard. the lat
arc speoincations for laying sheet asphalt
and asphalt block pavemsnts in the
District OF Columbia will be found
be seen BY these specifcations. the
Ostrlct does not require the use OF
any particular brand of asphalt, but
specines the qualities which such asphalt
must have. and any asphalt which con-
forms to these specifications is acceptable
- eSe Two classes Of pavements are prac-
ticaIiy the only types OF modern pavements
wnicn are used In the District Of Column
oia. There Is a small amount Of vitrified
brick pavement laid, but being noisier than
either the asphalt or the asphalt block
pavement the latter are preferred. Cutters
on sheet asphalt pavements are laid Of
vitrifed brick, as 1t has been found that
the fluids which reach the gutter are apt
70 rot the asphalt pavements but not to
anect the brick. While some granite block
pavements still exist in the business por-
ton OF the city, 1t Is the belief of the Com
missioners that they should be removed
and replaced by asphalt pavement. 1t has
been the policy Of the Commissioners to do
this In former years. but the practice was
abandoned by direction of Congress.
Other classes of pavement laid are mac
adam and gravel. These are only used,
however, generally. in the suburban sec
tions or In the less improved portions Of
the city. The District gets a very excel
lent quality of macadam from quarry
owned by 1t at Dickerson, Nd, and this is
used exclusively in macadam roads in the
District.
Attention is invited to the necessity for
larger appropriations for the resurfacing OF
paved streets. The pavements in large
portion of the city are from Is to 80 years
old. and are in such condition that it is not
only not economical to keep them patched,
but 1T Is impossible to keep them in fair
shape. AS a consequence many of the most
important thoroughfares are at present
rough and uneven, holding much water in
the depressions, and are disagreeable to
drive or haul over. They are moreover
hard to clean except by unsatisfactory and
expensive methods.
FROM 1888 TO 1877 ABOUT a year
was spent on new asphalt pavementS. Most
Of this Is worn out, and should be replaced.
The pavement was originally good, but Is
to Is years is the average extreme life OF
asphalt. and in most cities 1t Is less than
this. These pavements are generally in the
most travelled and conspicuous parts of the
city.
Pennsylvania avenue between Seventh and
Fifteenth streets is an example. This most
conspicuous thoroughfare in the District
needs resurfacing and regarding, as there is
so little crown on 1t that 1t Is not prac-
ttcable to properly drain it.
Attention is especially invited to the de-
tailed appended report of Capt. J. j. Nor
row. Corps of Engineers, L. s. Army, as
sistant to the Engineer Commissioner. on
the subject.
County Roads.
An increase in the appropriation for the
repair of county roads from $S5, 500 to $780,
600 is requested. The number of miles of
improved county roads and suburban
streets is increasing yearly, resulting in an
increased cost of maintenance The appro-
priations have not kept up with this an
nual increase. There are In the District of
Columbia 215 miles of these country roads
and suburban streets. The old boundary
of the city of Washington, Florida avenue,
is now boundary In name only, as the
city extends north Of this to a considerable
extent. Under the method of making ap-
prOprlaIlOnS, however, the only luna avail
able for maintaining and keeping in repair
all roads and streets north of Florida ave-
nue., as we'll as the entire District outside
Of the city Of Washington proper is the
appropriation known repairs to county
roads" This must be used in keeping In
repair all county roads and suburban
streets. including such important thorough
fares as Connecticut avenue extended,
Brightwood avenue. Bladensburg road
Benning road, Pennsylvania avenue extend
ed, and Nichols avenue. the travel upon
which is increasing greatly, which also in
creases the cost of maintenance. With the
current yearly appropriations it is difficult
to keep In repair these main thoroughfares
and as consequence the Commissioners
are compelled TO refuse the reasonable re-
quests of owners Of property in this section
for repairs to roads and streets.
Bridges.
Under the contract for the construction
of the Connecticut avenue bridge across
Rock creek about s275, 900 has been ex-
pended, and the balance of the appropria-
ton available for this work, amounting to
about 100000. will be expended within the
fiscal year 1905. The work Is well under
way, and it Is believed the bridge can be
completed within the time fixed by law,
July ]. 1907.
Contract has been let for the reconstruct
ton of the Anacostia bridge. The con-
tractor is the Penn Bridge Company, and
proaches, Is 1925, 800.
Contract has also been let for the bridge
across Piney branch. on the line of Six
teeuth street authorized in the last an
preparation act. This bridge will be of
concrete and will consist Of a parabolic
arch. The amount Of the contract Is $42,-
731.
Plans have been drawn for the construc-
ton OF concrete steel bridges to replace
timber stringer bridges In the county and
the cost of these will be paid from the ap-
preparation for the construction and repair
of bridges, 1905 and 1906.
This office has co-operated with the rail-
road companies in designing the railroad
bridges being built in connection with the
terminal improvements in the city of Wash
ington.
The Commissioners invite attention to the
report of the engineer OF bridges as to the
desirability of rebuilding the K Street
Bridge across Rock Creek, which was built
in 1853, and which Is structuraly weak
The travel on this bridge Is very heavy
and the vibration on it is much greater
than in other bridges in the District. To
rebuild the bridge will cost, 1t Is estimated
S3S, coo, and the Commissioners recommend
that an appropriation for this purpose be
made.
Cement Sidewalks.
During the year the prices paid for lay
ing cement sidewalks were 90 cents and
s1O6 per square yard. the former price be-
ing for large jobs and the latter for small
ones. For the fiscal year 1906 the contract
e