Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07

year 1909 were:
square
yard
Laying sheet asphalt. ........:. .N4s
Laying vitrifed brick cutters in connection
Laying asphalt block pavement:
In old city limits
si Inch , block Lao SO
Outside Of old city limits and west Of
ROCK Greek. i.So
The prices for laying sheet asphalt pave
ment and vitrif1ed brick cutters for the
current fiscal year are as follows:
square
yard.
Laying sheet asphalt p.vem.nts. :. ;. 81 4sa
Laying vitriaed brick cutters. .......... LII
The prices for laying asphalt block
pavements for the current fiscal year are
| as follows:
square
yard.
Laying 4-inch asphalt block pavements:
Outside city limits 1.SO
Laying 5-lnch asphalt block pavement -
Laying sineh ' asphalt block pavement on
4-inch concrete base ..........--..-.. 2.U
Resurfacing Worn-out Pavements.
The sum Of 100000 was appropriated
for the fiscal year 1909 for resurfacfng
and repairs to asphalt pavements. and a
similar amount has been appropriated
for the current fiscal year. This sum is
inadequate to properly carry on this work.
Many of the asphalt pavements now laid
on the streets have been laid down for
from twenty to thirty seven years, and as
about twenty years represent the effective
and economical life Of such pavements,
about 80 per cent of all our sheet asphalt
pavements may be classed as worn-out
1t is the policy Of the Commissioners to
repair the pavements by patching until
time comes when the pavement becomes
so worn out 1t Is no longer economical to
make such minor repairs: 1t is then neces-
sary to lay complete new surface
sive on long stretches of streets. and with
the appropriations heretofore made 1t has
been impossible to keep the streets in
good shape. The Commissioners in their
estimates for the ensuing fiscal year have
asked for an appropriation OF $4,000 for
this purpose. Unless at least 100000 Is
appropriated annually, the average age OF
all the pavements will continue to in
crease; that is to say, there will be pro-
gressive deterioration of the street sur
faces
new method of repairing and resur-
facing asphalt pavements has been given
test during the current year. This is by
means Of what is known as the heater
method" BY the use of a large patented
heating machine the old surface is heated
through and the upper crust taken OF;
new asphalt material is then placed on
the surface and rolled. Good results are
being obtained and It Is believed that this
method of resurfacing will prove more
economical than the old method of remov-
ing the top surface by cutting out.
Sidewalks and Alleys.
About 100000 was expended in paving
sidewalks and alleys. Sidewalks are con-
structed OF cement and alleys are paved
with vitri1ed or asphalt blocks. The
prices paid under contract for laying
cement sidewalks during the fiscal year
were as follows:
Per square y E, 3;
Outside the city limits. ...-.......... I.le
For the present fiscal year the prices
are as follows:
Within the city limits. ................ $oS4A
Outside the city limits. .............. Ii"
The alleys are paved by day labor.
There is q constant demand for laying
cement sidewalks, both for laying sucn
VANS III .roat o. nouses w,ieie no
sidewalks exist and In replacing old
brick walks One-half of the cost Of
laying sidewalks and OF paving alleys
Ia assessed against the abutting prop
erty.
6Tldge0.
The bridge over the Anacostia river Al
the foot of 18th street east was COM
uleted and opened to traffic In Decem-
Der, 1908.
The old bridge at this point 10 being
removed under an appropriation made IN
the last District appropriation act. 1t
ls expected the work will be completed
december l. 1909.
Contract has been made LOT widening
the bridge across Piney branch on the
line Of 10th street extended, and work Is
In progress.
Attention is invited to the necessity
for acquiring land Immediately adjacent
to the approaches to the Connecticut
Avenue bridge. This is necessary In
order to prevent private building 30
close to the bridge as to destroy the
aesthetic effect. Building operations al
ready seriously detract from the APP
pearance of the bridge.
Surveyors Office.
The work of the Office of the surveyor
shows a very decided increase over that
of the previous year. The fees received
for work done for private parties
amounted to $2O,544.76 while those of
the previous year amounted to $13,04O.sO.
This increase of 81 per cent in the
amount of fees received Indicates a pros
porous condition in the development of
the District, as the work of the sur
veyor, which is intimately connected
with that of building operations Is an in
dex to the rapid increase of these opera
lions.
The last District appropriation act pro-
vided for the purchase Of an automobile
field wagon for the use Of field parties
in the office of the surveyor. This mod
ern mode Of transportation has greatly
increased the efficiency of the Office and
the rapidity with which the work is
done. The total OF the appropriations
for the surveyors Office for t. fiscal
year was $26,934. The amount of fees
received for private work, above
indicated. was $2O,544.16. Besides the
work done for private parties this Of
fee makes surveys for the District of
Columbia. which constitute a considera-
BILE portion of the total work done. These
figures indicate that the Office is self
supporting so far as concerns work done
for private parties.
The surveyor recommends legislation
authorizing him to record in his Office
the new square and parcel numbers
given to all land within the limits o.
the District Of Columbia. under the pro-
visions of an act OF Congress approved
February %. 1905. The act directed the
Commissioners to divide the District into
squares apd parcels. SO that when agri-
cultural land was subdivided it could be
designated by new square numbers, and
thereby prevent duplication and cause
the elimination of local names of SUBJ
divisions.
The act stated. however that this
should be done only for the purposes Of
assessment and taxation, and did not
provide for changing the records of the