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

public-convenience stations, one located
above ground at 7th street and Penn
sylvana avenue northwest. and the
other below ground at 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue northwest. An ap-
preparation was made by the last Con-
gress for the construction of another
station at eth and X streets n rsh-
west. below ground, on a public reserva-
ton at that point. and steps are Se ne
taken toward the erection OF this sta ion.
The total number OF patrons rep rted for
the two existing stations during the year
1.QOO.OOO for each station. The mum er
of daily patrons was about 3.2s2 and
this daily amount OF use amply demcn-
strates the necessity for such conven-
fences OF the total patronage OF tie
stations 12ls per cent were women. \
portion Of the conveniences provided for
in the stations is free to the public and
the other conveniences are paid for by
small fees. The money received from
this source amounted during the year
to $7467J. The cost Of operating the
stations. including all expenses. amounted
to 3 $40 mills per person. and sTotract'ng
the receipts from fees II amounted !"
about %. mills per person.
The Commissioners believe that durihE
the next fiscal year one new pubhc-coh
venience station should be constructed az
at some point in the city which Will al
ford facilities to the greatest number Of
persons.
Public Baths.
Hand in hand with the matter of public
convenience stations should be considered
the construction of public baths The
Commissioners asked an item for the
construction OF a public bath In their
last estimates to Congress. and It Is their
intention to make similar request III
their estimates for the fiscal year 1910
These establishments exist I'm number
of cities where the demand for such mod
ern conveniences has been supplied and
the same reasons for constructing them
apply i'm the city of Washington. There
is a large class of people who have no
facilities for bathing at their homes. and
1t Is this class which the public baths
would reach. Their construction would
promote cleanliness among the poorer
population and aid In civic Improvement.
Street Railways.
On May -. 1908. an act was passed au-
thorizing certain extensions to be made
in the street railway lines in order to
reach the new Union station. The bill
authorized temporary tracks in Delaware
avenue northeast from G street TO the
station. which tracks We're required TO
be laid and cars operated within thirty
days from the passage of the act. An
overhead line, on which were operated
the time named in the act. and as a tenn
porary measure was of great ADVANTAGE
to those using the station. The law re-
CURED that the permanent construction
should be completed on or before MAJ 1.
1902 and work OF installing; this construe-
tion is progressing rapidly. In addit:o1
to the lines necessary TO reach the Union
station the act also authorized an extern
sion of the lines of the Capital Traction
Company from Florida and New Jersey
avenues northwest to r and Sth streets
northeast. by the way OF Florida avenue
and Sth street. This measure had long
been demanded by the citizens in the
eastern section of the city. who for years
have felt the necessity of a cross-town
line and the Commissioners were much
gratified when the line was authorized.
In this legislation the obligations for
merly placed by law on the Commission
ers to require the street railway compa-
MES to provide sufficient cars and to OPP
crate them with sufficient frequency and
at proper rate Of speed was taken from
the Commissioners and transferred to the
interstate commerce commission. This
commission was given ample power tn
enforce such regulations as it might
make on the subject in order to compel
obedience to such regulations Prior To
the passage of this law the charters OF
the railroad companies required them TO
furnish a sufficient number OF cars and to
operate the same on schedules to be ap-
proved by the Commissioners, but In the
charters there were no penalty provisions.
SO that the regulations OF the Commits
sioners could not be enforced. The Com
missioners submitted bill to Congress
authorizing them to regulate the opera
ton of street railway ears and to enforce
such regulations as they might make by
adequate penalties, but this bill was
never passed. and instead the power was
granted to the interstate commerce COM
mission.
While the Commissioners welcomed
legislation upon the matter they believed
that they, as executive authorities of the
District of Columbia should be clothed
with this power rather than it should he
granted to the interstate commerce COM
mission. a body whose duties are more
applicable to interstate railways than to
local affairs
Rock Creek Park.
The appropriation for the care and
maintenance of the park during the year
was $4,000. This was spent in the general
care and maintenance of roads. bride
paths. and open spaces; also in the COM
pletion of the bridge on the line Of Ross
road. For the ensuing fiscal year
appropriation of $1,000 should be made
for the park. This will provide for care
and maintenance of the park and also for
constructing an approach to the park
in Biddle parkway from 18th street along
the valley of Piney branch for which
ground was acquired during the year
The Commissioners would also invite
attention to two bills which are pending
in Congress for the purchase of land
for additions to Rock Greek Park along
the line of 10th street and along Mass
achusetts avenue extended This land
should be acquired at once, as il is neces-
sary to round out the park and can be
purchased now at reasonable figure.
The Commissioners made and submitted
to Congress report upon the improve
ment of the valley of Rock creek from
Massachusetts avenue TO the Potomac
river This was printed Senate docJ-
ment No 45S Sixtieth Congress. first
session. The Commissioners recommend
ed that the open-valley method OF nm
provemant be adopted at a cost CT
81 100000, of which they ask an appro-
priation of 500. 600 during the next fiscal
year. this appropriation to be expended
toward acquiring the necessary land.
making surveys and starting the project.
which should be completed within six
years
This Improvement should be exc ';it,d
as early as possible. the existing CON
iit;ons are unsuitable and insaHitary and
retard the proper development of this
section OF the city.
Water Mains.
About fifteen miles of water mains
were laid during the year. making tie
total length of water mains in Use al the