Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30
Bad Pavements.

In searching for a remedy for the wretched
payements of Washington Congress Will
make a serious mistake If 1t thinks that
existing evils will be cured by requiring
broadening of the local wagon tires Inc
pending bill to that effect, which passed the
House on Monday, might become a law
and might be generally enforced 10 the
serious handicap of the business interests OF
Washington, without improving In any de-
gree the bad condition of the streets. For
the root of the evil lies deeper, lies. in fact,
at the bottom of the asphalt surface ITSELF
and the real cure consists, not in a change
in the width of wagon tires, but In larger
appropriation for pavements, more lib
eral fund for repairs, and, above ALL d
more thorough and systematic and intelli-
gent system of pavement inspection.
The weight of all the testimony In this
matter is that the asphalt rots at the base
and that the character of the wheels pass
ing over it has virtually nothing to do with
its longevity. 1t needs but a brief inspec-
ton of the streets to demonstrate this fact.
The holes in the pavements are not parallel
to the line of traffic, as would surely be
the case if the wheels were the chief cause
of disintegration. They are rather at
right angle to that line, following IN most
cases the plane of cracking, which runs
from crown to curb. Furthermore, streets
which are used almost exclusively for light
traffic. which would not be affected by the
broad-tire requirements go to pieces as
quickly do other streets.
With better materials and workmanship
the pavements would be more durable.
With a more thorough inspection they
would be kept in better repair. No laws
that regulate the width of tires will reach
the seat of the trouble If these elements
are lacking. And the requirement to adopt
a broad tire. involving a heavy expense,
will under a proper system of pavement
laying and repair maintenance be soon
found to be wholly unnecessary as we'll as
unreasonable.
The business men of Washington and the
rural visitors to this city are menaced by
this proposed law without the least war
rant. The Commissioners have refused
their assent to the bill. 1t is declared I'M
necessary and unjust by practically all
who have been heard on it. Yet it passes
the House and goes to the Senate where 1t
is to be hoped it will be suffered to die.
Whatever the fate of the broad-tire bill
something must be done to remedy the I'M
bearable condition of the city's streets.
The Commissioners have it in their power
now to do a great deal more than they
have been doing. They have the right to
compel the street railway companies to
pay for the repair of the pavements
adjacent to their tracks. Yet the as
phalt along the rails is almost uni
formiIy In bad shape. In many streets
these places are the worst of all. For the
effective maintenance of these spaces In
good condition the Commissioners need no
funds from Congress. being now authorized
to have the work done and charged against
the corporations. \ sharper scrutiny of
the car track spaces would relieve the stu
alton in a material degree and greatly
lessen the apparent weight of the false
argument for the imposition of the broad
tire requirement upon the business men OF
the District.