Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-06

5000 was for resurfacing and repair.
In this paving work sheet asphalt an
asphalt block were used. The prices pal
for constructing new sheet asphalt an
asphalt block pavements were as follows
LAYING sheet ,,,,,,t ,,,em.,t Per So Ii y .sa
Laying vitrined brick cutters ........ 12l
Laying ss asphalt asphalt. BLOCK a9slI n..,.,.
Within city limits .......-......... LES
Outside city limits. 1.so
s-inch asphalt block pavement on f.
I inch concrete base ................ 200
The prices for the current fiscal yea
Q91D are as follows:
For laying sheet asphalt pavement. 80. SLIT
For laying vitrifed block cutters. ....... 40
For laying asphalt block pavements. 1.65
For resurfacing and repair work tn
prices are as follows:
For laying standard asphalt pavement. SIS!
and 81 per square yard. the price dependin,
upon the character of the base.
For so laying standard asphalt surface 60 cent cent
per cubic foot measured in cart.
| There are a number of streets in the
! city, paved with granite or Belgian
! blocks, which should be replaced with
were laid many years ago under con-
ditionS differing from those existing to-
| day. and on account of their noisiness
they are entirely unsuited to the streets
on which they are laid. There is a pro-
vision contained in the District ap-
preparation acts prohibiting the replac-
ing of these block pavements with
smoother pavements under the ap.
preparation for paving streets and
! avenues, so that when they are recon-
mended it is necessary to make spe-
cial item of them. In the estimates for
the fiscal year 1912. the Commissioners
| have included items for replacing two
/ such streets, namely, 9TH street, be-
tween X and p streets northwest, and
| E street, between 18th and 18th streets
northwest. The Commissioners be-
I lieve that the replacing of the rough
stone pavements on these streets with
smooth asphalt pavement is in the in
terest of good administration. The
| blocks which would thereby be removed
can be used economically in paving
| roadways in other portions of the Dis
| trict where this would be a proper
pavement.
The roadways Of School street north
| west, between Irving and Lamont
streets. 18th street between Euclid
of 14th street, from Florida avenue to
Clifton street, were paved with a ma
terial known as asphaltic macadam.
This is practically a combination Of an
is a pavement whose use is economical
for appropriate street conditions. 1t Is
contemplated to continue the use of this
type of pavement on other streets.
Grade Damages.
The work of the grade-damage claims
commission in ascertaining the damages
to private property caused by changes
in the grade of streets and alleys, due
to the location of the Union railroad
station, and the location of grade cross
ings. is still in progress.
There were 1873 claims for damages
heard and determined, involving ITO
pieces of real estate. In ninety-two
of these cases damages were awarded
land owners aggregating $1O4,S10. In
forty-One cases the commission award
ed no damages. The Commissioners ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with awards in
them aside and directed the marshal to
impanel jury. In thirty-twO of these
cases compromises were effected with
out jury trials, and the cases settled
for $11, 1850 less than the total awards
Of the commission.
During the year sixty-seven petitions
for damages were filed, making a total
of $50 filed since the commission was
organized.
The total amount paid out by the Dis
trict in settlement of these grade dam
ages. up to the close of the fiscal year,
was $403,243.10.
New Street Railways.
Two new street railway lines were con-
structed during the year. one by the
Baltimore and Washington Transit Com
pany and the other by the Washington.
Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Com
pany.
The first-named road runs from
Takoma Park via Sd street, Kennedy
street. and Colorado avenue to the inter
section of 14th street northwest. While
the tracks of this company have been
laid, the road was not in operation within
the time required in the charter.
The Washington. Spa Spring and Gretta
Railroad Company built line of track
along the Bladensburg road from the Dis
triet line to 18th and H streets northeast.
This road has recently been placed in
operation. though all the work Of track
construction and the Improvement Of the
ter, has not been entirely completed.
The cars of the Washington. Baltimore
and Annapolis Company enter the Dis
trict of Columbia over the lines of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany to 18th street and New York ave-
nue., giving a through service between the
center of the city and the cities of Balti-
more and Annapolis. This company has
no charter in the District Of Columbia.
but enters the District under lease with
the WdShiuStou odh"ay ohu OA0~SA'S
Company.
The Commissioners again invite atten-
ton to the necessity of central passen-
ger station for interurban and other cleo
trio cars. 1t is believed that the con-
struction of such a station should be re-
quired of the street railway companies
as a matter Of public convenience. A
station similar to that at Indianapolis,
Ind, is a sample Of what is needed here.
The structure should be located some
where in the vicinity of New York avenue
and 18th street. and should be Of dignified
character, so as to constitute an orna-
ment to the city.
Resurfacing Pavements.
The sum of $3OO,O was appropriated
for resurfacing and repairs to asphalt
pavements. These pavements aggregate
nearly 100000 square yards, with an
average age Of fourteen years and an
extreme age of thirty years. The ap-
preparations for their maintenance for
the past and preceding years have been
insufficient to prevent the average age
from increasing. About twenty years
represents the effective and economical
life of such pavements This matter was
called to the attention of Congress at Its
last session, and the appropriation for
this work during the fiscal year 1911 in
creased from $4,000 to 100000 Four
hundred and fifty thousand dollars has
been requested for the next fiscal year.
Unless at least 100000 is appropriated
annually, the average age Of all the
pavements will continue to increase; that
| Is to say. there will be a progressive
deterioration Of street surfaces In the