Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
NEW SURFACE NEEDED
Dilapidated Condition of Penn
syIvania Avenue.
PAVEMENT FULL OF HOLES
Sixty Eight Worn Places in One
Block.
CONCRETE BASE IS GOOD
Asphalt Covering Could be Put on at
Comparatively Small Cost-Other
Streets Want Attention.
CONCRETE BASE Is GOOD

large property owner on Pennsylvania
avenue between 18th and 18th streets
northwest CALLED attention to the present
condition OF the street surface Of his
thoroughfare, and in commenting thereon
to Star reporter he said:
ut is now about time when the asphalt
patching workmen will put in an appear
ance upon the city's widest and most prom.
inent thoroughfare, but I for one property
owner along it's lines desire to see them
absented entirely and the street newly re-
surfaced.
'The-esphalt surface upon Pennsylvania
street is entirely worn out; 1t should, In
fact, have been resurfaced long ago. 1t
may at first blush seem an exaggeration
to assert that there are thousands of
holes in the surface in the area named. but
this assertion Is doubted there Is the
street, and continued the gentleman.
pointing with his cane to the hills and
valleys in the asphalt. there are some OF
the holes. Their aggregate number may
be easily counted by any doubter of inquir-
Ing mind If he is willing to take the trouble
10 go over the distance on foot and make
the necessary notes.
New Surface Necessary.
However, as it Is cold and windy day
and the distance Is considerable. let us
take the single block from 18th to 18th
streets on the upper side only, from the
street car tracks to the curbstone. l have
just counted sixty-eight places worn
through and broken in all of these cases.
and in great many of them. especially in
the larger, the asphalt surface is worn of
entirely, exposing the concrete.
You will note that these vary in Size
from a few inches to several square feet;
that the upper crust of the asphalt is worn
in a great many of them, especially in the
larger. the asphalt Is worn of entirely, ex-
posing the concrete.
1T Is not even necessary to cross the
Department, but it will be found that the
proportionate number OF worn places exist
there as well as on this side OF the street.
Indeed. in front Of The Star premises
there are about twenty-six holes In the
surface. one Of which Is comparatively
large, exposing considerable area OF the
concrete bed. On my way downtown this
morning I counted thirtytwo holes in the
asphalt ON the south side OF this avenue
opposite the premises Of the Southern rail-
way. The indentations at this point are
even more conspicuous and are larger and
deeper than those to which am now call
Ing your attention.
These things are ofttimeS overlooked
until attention is directed to them. and an
other thing which Is overlooked as regards
the surface OF the avenue In question Is the
age Of the asphalt surface thereon.
Sixteen Years Old.
elm 1876 the first sheet asphalt pavement
upon concrete base was laid upon Penn
sylvania avenue from the Capitol to 18th
street. This pavement wore out during the
ensuing fourteen years, and in 1880 spe-
cial appropriation was made for the resur-
facing of this thoroughfare extending to
18th street.
ut Is this latter resurfacing which Is in
use today. More properly speaking. 1t is
what is left Of this original surface, for 1t
has been repaired and patched and re-
patched until 1t is doubtful If much If any.
Of the original surface could be recognized
Even to the most casual observer Its pres
ent condition Is shown as entirely unfit
for a side street.
1T costs about 1900 q year to patch up
Pennsylvania avenue from the Peace monu-
ment to 18th street. The patching gang
no sooner gets through with one section
than the section just patched up Is again
worn out and full Of holes, and thus the
operation Is repeated over and over again.
The result naturally Is that the streets
surface is constantly being repaired. yet In
constantly out OF repair.
Cost Of Repairs by Sections.
II had occasion to look into this i'm
portant matter some time ago and found
that during the preceding fiscal year the
Peace monument to 7th street cost 1855:
from 7th street to 18th street. s.. 1872. and
from 18th street to 18th street, $7O4. Dur
ing the just closed fiscal year these expen-
ditures cannot have been lessened, but by
reason Of the aging Of the surface and
the general deterioration Of the pavement
they have in all probability been somewhat
increased.
About $92, 600 was spent in street re-
pairs in this city during the fiscal year In
question. and If, as was the case, 1854 OF
this sum went toward keeping the surface
of about one mile of one thoroughfare in q
semblance of smoothness, no additional ar
gument would seem to be required that the
surface upon that particular street was
thoroughly worn out and in urgent need OF
a complete resurfacing.
while I am not an expert in concrete
work." continued the gentleman, pokine
with his cane the dfsintegrated particles
of the WORKOUT asphalt surrounding a large
break In the pavement, yet it would seem
to me that the concrete bed is still in good
condition. Where the concrete bed Of a
street is In good condition, as this appears
to be, the cost Of a new surface is not par
attained, for practically a new pavement
Is made in such cases.
Streets Wearing Out.
"Now that Congress is in session this
important matter Of the surfaces Of our
streets should be given immediate consid-
Grafton.
1.-The District authorities were given $500.
600 last year for street repairs, or 100000
more than in the previous year. While
this increase was welcomed. yet If we are
to maintain our reputation among cities
and keep up our standard Of streets we
should have still greater appropriations for
this specific purpose.
'In fact. it will be found that the street
paving problem in this city will shortly
become acute Our streets are wearing
out very rapidly. and Pennsylvania avenue
may be taken an Illustration, for 1t is
open to the inspection and the observation
Of all citizens and legislators alike.
"Out of the approximate 200 600 SQUARE