The Washington herald., 1907-01-19


avenues of Washington and the District
of Columbia is due not to the ineffi-
cheney of the Commissioners. but to the
neglect Of Congress in making a sufficient
appropriation for repair work. is the
opinion of Acting Engineer Commissioner
Capt. Jay J. Morrow.
On Thursday Mr.. Hepburn, Of Iowa, it
is said, declared that many of the streets
were in a deplorable condition, the re-
sponsibility for which rested on the Com
missioners. The question under consid-
GRAFTON. by the Committee Of the Whole
in the House was an appropriation of
$3O0,00O for resurfacing and repairing con-
crete pavements. Mr.. Hepburn moved
that the appropriation be increased by
S2O0.e0o.
In the discussion that followed, Gen.
Grosvenor. of Ohio. is reported to have
said that he would like to see the Board
Of Commissioners composed of men ex-
perienced in the handling Of money. Mr.
Cooper. of Wisconsin, also is accredited
with having raised the point that the
conditions were due to want Of properly
auditing the accounts Of the District
government.
Appropriation Too Small.
'The present condition Of the streets
and avenues said Capt Morrow yester-
day, was anticipated by the Commits
sjoners four years-ago, at which time they
cndeavored to secure an appropriation
sufficient for the repairs. Congress. how
ever. appropriated but S2OO,OOO for the pur-
pose. the same appropriation being made
each year, until 1906. when IL was in
creased to 100000. Since 1852 practically
a constant sum has been provided for this
work. while the area of the pavements to
be maintained has increased very largely.
In his report Of the operation of the
engineer department OF the District of Co
lumbia for the year ended June 30. 1905.
Capt MORROW says:
'The appropriation for repairs 90 streets,
alleys. and roads, besides being available
for the repair and replacement OF asphalt
pavements. has TO take care Of repairs TO.
and renewals OF. macadam pavements
within the city limits, repairs TO asphalt
block pavements. scme of which have now
reached a condition demanding definite
expenditure Of repairs. repairs 10 side
walks. and repairs 10 alley pavements.
Generally from two-thiTds 10 thTee-quaT-
ters Of the appropriation is used for re-
pairs TO sheet asphalt, the ratio increasing
in recent years
Laid Many Years Ago.
1T is desired to call attention TO the
fact that the largest areas of asphalt
pavements laid in any fiscal year were
those laid thirteen, fourteen. fifteen. and
sixteen years ago under the appropria-
tions for the fiscal years 1SSS-1S92 inclus-
i've during which years the appropria-
tiOns for work on streets and avenues
increased from approximately $250.000 a
year to $950,O00 in 1883. S615.O00 in 1889
$4,000 in 1890, 1862 200 in 1881, and 100000
in 1892
THE yardage Of asphalt pavement laid
during these years varied from 130 eco to
10000 square yards per year. All Of this
great yardage is almost worn out, some
of it has already been resurfaced. and
during the next few years much Of # will
require complete renewal and all of Il
viii require increased attention by the
patching gang
Commissioners Not DeFeIict.
1T may be seen from this report" said
Capt. Morrow. that the Commissioners
have not been dereIct in the discharge
of their duties, having made effort to Sc
cure a sufficient appropriation. Last year
/ they succeeded in securing $900.OO), and it
is hoped the same amount will be OBJ
tanned this year
In many cities the life OF an asphalt
pavement is found 20 be from ten TO
twelve years. In Washington the pave
ments-are expected TO last from fifteen to
twenty years, with an average of prob
ably eighteen years before they have to
be replaced For several years it has
been necessary to maintain by expensive
repairs considerable areas that should
have been resurfaced but which could
not be 50 treated on account Of lack Of
funds"