Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

progress There were 1O3 claims for dam
ages heard involving DOT pieces of realty
In 66 of these cases damages were award
ed aggregating $S4. OPS. while in 81 cases
the commission awarded no damages. as
they considered that whatever damages
had been suffered were offset by benefits
due to the location of the station and the
elimination OF grade crossings Forty
nine cases were appealed from the awards
Of the commission either by the Com
missioners of the District Of Columbia or
the property owners. and juries asked for
number of cases were compromised
and in this way the District saved $3.50
this sum representing the aggregate diff
ference between the awards of the COM
mission and the amounts for which the
claims were compromised. The number
Of claims filed before the commission was
739
Up to the present time the claims con-
sidered have been confined to the changes
in grade along the line of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad in the northeast sec
ton of the city. The law provides that
the commission shall also consider claims
of damages along the line of the Philadel-
phia. Baltimore and Washington railroad
in southeast and southwest sections of the
city.
Roadway Pavements.
The total amount of funds appropriated
ice corporations and others in connection
with the paving of roadways. sidewalks
and alleys aggregated about $1.oS5.OOO
OF this amount s4s5.OO0 was appropriated
for paving the roadways OF new streets
and for repairing and replacing existing
roadways on streets already paved within
the city limits. About S21S.OOO was appro-
priated for the construction and repair OF
streets and roads outside the city limits.
In, iney o6nyo no
were sheet asphalt and asphalt block. The
work of paving roadways with sheet
asphalt was divided between two con
tractors and the contract prices were 81 6S
paving with asphalt block was awarded
at the price of S1.sO per square yard on
edge and at S1.S5 per square yard paved
fiat. For the fiscal year 1909 but one con-
tract was awarded for sheet asphalt paw
ing at the following prices:
Per square yard
For laying asphalt pavements. ....-...... 81. As
For laying vtriied block cutters. LII
The contract price for laying asphalt
block paving for the same period is as
Per square yard
Laying ssphait block pavement in old city 6, g.,
Laying asphalt block pavement outside Of
old city limits. i.so
The Commissioners again call attention
to the question Of replacing granite block
pavement with sheet asphalt. a number
of these granite block pavements exist
in the residential portions of the city
which should be replaced, and We're it
not for a provision contained in the Dis
trct appropriation acts that the Com
missioners shall not estimate for replac-
ing such pavementS with smooth pave
ments these streets would be included in
the schedule Of streets submitted by the
Commissioners with their estimates to
Congress. In order to bring the matter
to the attention of Congress. however,
the Commissioners have submitted in one
or two cases a special item providing for
such work. The Commissioners are in
favor of smooth pavements, especially in
the residential sections and such pave
ments should also be constructed in the
business sections where the traffic is not
heavy. So long as such replacement is
undertaken gradually there is in addi-
ton an economic advantage. as the ma
terials removed can always be replaced
on street having heavy traffic. where
it's character is more suitable, the two
paving jobs costing but a trifle more than
would the one job If constructed of new
granite block.
The work Of resurfacing old, worn-out
asphalt and coal-tar pavements with new
pavements is progressing under appro-
priations made for the purpose. In order
to properly take care of this branch of
the work an annual appropriation of
500 900 should be made for a number Of
years. lHiS Se sum Is necessary. rs
these pavements. which were laid about
eighteen years ago. are failing. From
eighteen to twenty Years ago very great
quantity Of asphalt roadway was laid.
and as the average life OF an asphalt
pavement is hardly twenty years these
pavements are demanding renewal faster
than the funds appropriated therefor will
permit, unless there is substantial in
crease in this fund.
Sidewalks and Alleys.
About 500, 900 was expended for paving
sidewalks and alleys. Practically all side
walks laid are constructed of cement. and
alleys are paved with vitrified or asphalt
blocks. The prices paid during the year
for laying cement sidewalks, which work
was done under contract. We're S1cJ III
city limits and $1.1S outside Of city limits
and for the next fiscal year the prices
are 95 cents and LIS. respectively. The
alleys are paved by day labor
The demand for laying cement side
walks and paving alleys is very constant.
as the District Of Columbia is growing
rapidly. AS private property is developed
requests are made for paving sidewalks
and alleys which are necessary in order
to place the property on the market. The
cost of doing this work is divided between
the property owner and the District OF
Columbia. each paying one-half cost.
The Connecticut Avenue bridge was
ia
the year. The total appropriation for
this brid &c was $50 Oo0, which was prac-
tically all expended in its construction.
In order to prevent the encroachment OF
private building too close to the bridge
structure the Commissioners recommend
that a small piece OF land Immediately
adjacent to the south approach be pur-
chased and converted into q public mark.
4 bill for this purpose was introduced at
the last session of Congress- but failed
nf no
Commissioners to recommend its passage
at the next session. Unless this land is
obtained the entire esthctic value of this
bridge will be lost.
The Monroe Street bridge across the
tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company at Brookand, D. c., was
completed at a cost of Si4.0O0.
The new Anacostia bridge has been
completed and will be opened for travel
as soon as the approaches are finished.
which, it is believed. will be about Janu-
airy I, 1903.
When this bridge is completed 1t will be
necessary to remove the old bridge which
1t is estimated will cost $4,000,
A bridge has been constructed over the
railroad tracks on the line of New York
avenue. but owing to the fact that New
York avenue does not extend to the east
OF 1.-THE bridge it will be necessary to con-
denim land for the extension before the
bridge can be used. 4 bill for this pur-
pose was Introduced at the last session of
Congress. but failed to become a law.
4 new bridge has been conStruc- ed over
the railroad tracks on the line of r street