Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-18
PATCHING Up STREETS
Local Officials Hampered by
Lack of Funds.
PAvEMENTs WEARING OUT
No Bidders for Laying of Sheet
Asphalt.
CONTRACTORS CAN'T AFFORD IT
Area Covered Compared With That in
Other Cities-Wider Roadways
Than Elsewhere.
CONTRACTORS CAN'T AFFORD IT

although this city is the home, of the
asphalt pavement, and the last appropri-
alton bill carried with 1t an item Of $4,000
for new asphalt streets in the District"
said a member Of the street department
force to a Star reporter 1.-The peculiar fact
remains that there are no bidders on the
part Of contractors for a job which would
look like q lucrative one to an outsider. T.
This presents an anomalous situation
here, and 1t Is one which may cause the
city fathers considerable embarrassment. 1t
is desired to begin the laying OF the new
pavement without unnecessary delay. out
If the contractors will not bio the WORK
cannot be commenced. A decade OF SO ago
the contract price per square YARD Tor
new asphalt pavement in this city was
about 81. % to 81. so Congress later reduced
1t to $1.85, and now the maximum allowances
per yard under the act Is fixed at $i.po:
The contractors say they cannot lay II at
this figure so there you are. one contrac-
tor offered to lay the asphalt at the statu
tory figure but as he charged an additlonai
sum for the cutters, his bid could not De
considered.
'tOf course, If we can't get any bids we
will have to put up the shutters ngurasive ,s
loophole which may let us out, ana tIat
Is that the act simply specifics that the new
streets may be laid In asphalt, ana per
haps under this clause 1t may be determlh-
ed to lay the new streets in, asphalt BLOCKS
instead of in sheet asphalt, AFTER the stylS
in which a great many streets on Capltoi
Hill are paved. This will be later conslo-
cred.
Other Improvements Advancing.
Though we are blocked for the present
upon the new asphalt street proposition
we are going ahead on other street I'M
provements in a very gratifying manner.
We have 100000 appropriated this year. or
100000 more than last year. and we VIII
need every cent Of it. In fact the street
problem in this city is becoming acute.
Our streets are wearing out very rapioiy.
If we. are to maintain our reputation ior
being the best paved city IN TINS sr ruuny
ing for this purpose under the next APP
propriation bill, and 1t Is just as Wen tnat
our citizens should clearly understand the
matter. =.
"Out of the 100000 square yards OF
asphalt pavement laid in this city during
the past thirty-three years SOO,Ooo square
yards of 1t are over eighteen years OLD.
The largest areas of asphalt pavements
were laid from thirteen to sixteen years
ago. Much of this large area Is almost
worn out. and though some OF II mas al
ready been resurfaced much OF 1t during
the next few years will require complete
renewal, and all of 1t will require Increased
attention by patching We have not been
able to properly resurface the streets or
this city on account Of lack of funds for
that purpose.
You see, with the great increase Of mile
age surface in new streets and the oid
surfaces wearing out, we have Two nara
problems to meet on limited appropriations
There are two great classes of asphalt
streets in Washington-the old coal tar no
mogeneous kind which was first laid, and
the new with hydraulic cement base. When
we strike these old streets for resurfaclng
NO
practically making new street or 1t IN re-
adjusting the crowns and the grades Inen
we have to replace the old cuT5ing with
new stone. The resurfacing or this class
of streets is an expensive job. With the
new cement base we are enabled to peel
off the worn-out asphalt surface and lay
a new one at less cost.
Resurfacing and Patching.
'oThen we put down new cutters. and we
make a fine piece of work in this class of
resurfacing But unfortunately we don't
have enough money to adequately resur-
face, and this is the reason you will see so
many of our patching gangs at work on
the old surfaced streets patching them up
as best we can to make them last, but,
like the old woman's shoe, won't last for
ever patched.
observing citizens interested in civic i'm
proyement have no doubt noticed the many
instances of resurfacing now going on in
various parts of town, and we are max
ing the additional money go as far as 1t
can, and are distributing it as equitably as
possible. Last year. we spent $4,000 In
street repairs SIS, 900 in new cutters and
$4,000 in new curbs. and made a good show
ing but this year we will do much better.
'sThere Is one fact about asphalt streets
which is misleading, and that is the ques-
ton of mileage. 1t Is my understanding
that Buffalo. n. Y, has claimed that that
city has more mileage Of asphalt streets
tiers from at home and abroad inquiring as
to the asphalt mileage In this city. 1t Is
the area of square yards and not mileage
that counts and 1t Is the only comparative
test.
Thus the total square yard area of as
phalt and coal tar streets IN this city Is,
In round numbers, 2.744.OOO CT 1876 miles;
Of asphalt block, $4,000 square yards or
granite pavement, or % miles. A single
Illustration will be found interesting. as
Washington is the queen of cities when
1t comes to her asphalt streets. Pennsyl-
vania avenue Is 80 feet wide from curb to
curb. or twice the surface pavement area
Of the average wide avenue In many
cities. Our wider avenues, such as Mas
sachusetts avenue are 100 feet wide from
building lines, or so feet from curb to
curb. while the side streets will range
from 81 to 80 and 40 feet from curb TO
curb. The principal railroad streets are
about sc feet from curb to curb. az.
: when it Is considered that 30-foot
roadway is considered good width In
many cities. some idea of what we have
in this city in the way of asphalt surfaces
will the better be understood
An Answer to Inquiries.
1--WE often receive letters from our citi-
gems asking for the character and extent
of our street .pavements by the different
city sections. and here is a brief epitome
which have prepared for The Star which
will be found of value to citizens and
non-residents alike:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pavements, square
yards 1859 900: miles, 81 asphalt blocks
square yards, $4,000, about two miles
Northeast-Asphalt, square yards, $780,
600: miles, 10; asphalt blocks, square
yards, $4,000, about seven and a half
900, about eight and half miles; as
phalt blocks. square yards, O7.00o; miles,