Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04

The cost Of laying cement sidewalks has
increased from about 90 cents per square
yard during the fiscal year 1905 to Sll3
per square for the present fiscal year. This
increase of cost is due to the higher price
of cement, higher wages of workmen and
more general enforcement of the eight
hour law 1t Is believed to be more eco
nomical however, to do this work by con-
tract than for the District to do it by day
labor. There Is also another reason why 1t
Is preferable to do II by contract. and that
is that in connection with the laying OF the
pubic sidewalks ii Is generally necessary
for the property owners to have leads con-
structed to their houses and other concrete
work done which they are required to do
by the District contractor at the same time
that he is doing work for the District and
at less cost to the property owner.
Surveyors Office.
The work Of this Office is continually in
creasing in volume. 1t is divided into two
classes-that done for the District of Co
lumbfa and that done for private parties
The last-named work is covered by fees
the schedule Of fees being so arranged that
all survey work Of the office done for pri-
vate parties is paid for by such parties.
leaving the municipal survey work to be
covered by appropriations. The fees re-
ceived for the year amounted to 1T.7O8. 40
being an increase of s.. 336 over the amount
received during the previous fiscal year.
An important work inaugurated by this
office during the year was the preparation
OF maps for designating parcels of land for
the purpose Of assessment and taxation
This work required the examination Of
titles OF about $4,000 lots and parcels Of
land. The work has now been completed.
Another important work in progress Is
the marking of the District line at con-
spicuous points where this line is crossed
by public roads or highways. Within the
year more than sixty such points have
been marked with granite monuments
weighing about 200 pounds each. and with
three-fourths of their length buried in the
ground. The ancient monuments showing
the District line, which were few in num-
Der, are fairly well preserved and were
found to be nearly all upon true lines. Two
or them, however, have been moved from
their original location-one a distance of
six feet and the other fifteen feet.
Trees and Parking.
The number of trees set out during the
year was 1922. being an increase of AT
over the number planted in the previous
year. The number of trees removed was
1,326. The total number of trees on the
streets OF the District of Columbia at the
close of the fiscal year was 91,243. being
net increase of 1905 over last year. Nine
varieties of trees were planted, namely.
American elm, ginko, American linden,
Norway maple, soft maple, sugar maple,
European sycamore pin oak. and red oak.
tention to the destruction that will be
caused to trees by reason Of the enforce
ment Of the decision of the Court of APP
peals that the width Of roadways must not
be changed. The reason of this Is that in
years gone by, before the use of the pres
ent improved system of curbs and side
walks great many trees were planted
closer to the curbs than Is now the prac-
tfce. The trenches then made for the re-
ception of the curbs offered soft earth for
the development of the roots and in this
way they were encouraged to grow toward
the curb and roadway, and often the roots
In this soft earth made such vigorous
growth that the curbing was forced out
of line and the tree roots occupied the
space of the curbng. In improving some
of these streets. the curb. which is several
inches wider than the old style curb, must
be set In concrete, and in order that it
may be set so as not to narrow the road
way width, the tree roots must be cut
back, which means the destruction of the
tree. In some instances a portion of the
main stem of the tree must be cut to make
way for the curb. The superintendent of
parking states that in his daily inspection
he observes such trees destroyed, or in
course of destruction, and that they owe
their condition to no other cause than the
resetting of the new curb on the old line.
The duty is placed on the parking COM
mission to NOW the grass and other vege-
table growth on the continuous parking
strips between sidewalks and curbs, which
involves quite a charge on the small APP
preparation made for the care of trees. AS
there is no other appropriation available.
and as 1t Is necessary to keep down the
growth on these spaces, a considerable
sum has to be used for this purpose
The appropriation for the care of trees
during the year was $4,000, and. together
with certain other work done. chargeable
to various appropriations, the total amount
expended was SIG, 529.5S
The total length of main and pipe sew
ers constructed during the year was about
15A miles. The total length of sewers I'm
the District existing on June 80, 1906. was
4S4.35 miles. and the total cost of the sewer
system at the close of the fiscal year was
1887, 24S.34.
Sewage Disposal Project.
The sewage disposal project is nearing
completion. The substructure of the sew
age pumping station has been completed
and the supeTstructure has been completed
with the exception of the coal tower. which
will be constructed shortly. 1t is probable
that portion Of the machinery at this
station will be in operation by next spring,
after which time the work of connecting
the older sewers with the trunk sewers of
the sewage disposal system will be actively
prosecuted. When this Is done the system
will be in service. This will practically
co.aplete the question of the disposal of the
sewage, but the matter of the disposal of
drainage water can not be completed until
provision is made by Congress for the con-
struction of bikes along the low portions of
the southern part of the city, for which an
estimate has been included this year. This
system of sewage disposal is based upon
the discharge of sewage from a population
of 100000, the discharge to be made - the
bottom of the channel of the Potomac
river opposite Magazine Point. The flow of
the Potomac is sufficient to dilute all such
sewage discharge and render it inoffenSive
With present growth of the city and Dis
trict, 1T is believed that this population of
SOC, 900 will be reached within a ~compara-
lively short period, and 1t will be necessary
to make an investigation as to future re-
quirements.
An important feature noted in the work
of the sewer division during the year was
it's increased cost, which is due to the in
creased cost of materials and labor
The appropriation of 100000 made in the
District appropriation act for the present
fiscal year has permitted of the extension
of a number of service sewers into the out
lying districts. but in order to adequately
provide sewage facilities for these rapidly
growing sections the construction of sew
eral trunk sewers is necessary to provide
outlets for service sewers Among these
is a sewer In the valley of Broad branch,
estimated cost, $2S.S00; a sewer along the
west side of Rock creek estimated cost,
$29S, COO; an extension of the east side in