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

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Il paid under contract for laying cemen
sidewalks during the fiscal year are al
Per squar'
For large jobs adjoining paved streets. $O94A
For large Jobs adjoining unpaved streets , ~
and for all small jobs. .....A...'. I'1o
For the present fiscal year us1D the
prices are as follows:
For large jobs adjoining paved streets streets. $o'S'h
For large Jobs adjoining ,a nnpaved streets 1.1s
There is constant demand Tor the
laying of cement sidewalks and the paw.
ing of alleys. In this work one-n nam OF
the cost Is assessed against the abuttlne
property.
County Roads and Suburban Streets
About $4,000 was expended for the
construction and repair of county ROADS
and suburban streets. of which $lOo'OS
was for repairs and the balance for grad
ing and macadamizing.
| Experiments made during the year in the
use of Oil In connection with dust laying
on county roads instead of sprinkling have
been attended generally with good re-
suits. the most important of which is that
| the dust is kept down at all periods OF
the day instead of drying out at intervals
as is apt to happen when the roads are
sprinkled. The expense for oiling Is
| somewhat greater than that for the or
binary amount of watering, but 1t is be-
| lieved the additional advantage named
compensates for the increased expense.
Furthermore. if the dust is held on the
road, in combination with Oil. wear is
prevented to some extent and the life
! OF the road increased. Experiments have
been made in the use of emulsion oils,
heavy oils, and granulated calcium chic
ride dust layers, and heavy tar and
asphaltic binders have also been en-
ployed. Good results in some cases have
been obtained from the use of calcium
chloride. which by absorption of atmos-
pheric moisture in ordinary weather keeps
the streets in a proper state of dampneSS
without creating mud or permitting dust
This treatment is especially adapted to
macadamized residential streets, and is
well adapted for climates where the aver
age amount of moisture in the air is con-
siderable. The emulsion oil has been
found we'll adapted to residential streets
heavy travel. The heavy oils. such as
| those containing 40 to 80 per cent asphalt.
which are applied directly without emul-
styling seem better iaped to- subur-
ban roads. and particularly to those
where there Is little If any foot travel
1t will be necessary to provide in future
road construction for oiling or tar or as
phaltic binders wherever heavy auto
mobile traffic Is to be expected, on &C
count of the destructive effect Of fast
travel on ordinary macadam roads.
The additional cost of bituminous binder
will add about % per cent to the present
cost of the construction of macadam
roads. Oiling will cost from 3 to Z cents
per square yard per annum. WORKOUT or
rutty roads must be thoroughly repaired
before oiling. When our roads are once
in first-class condition and thoroughly OIL
ed or otherwise treated they can be main
tanned at high standard at compare
lively small expense. For a number of
years the expense of getting the roads in
order will be considerable The streets and
roads of the District of Columbia which
have not been paved are In very wretch
ed state. due to the automobile and to
insufficient expenditures for maintenance.
Bridges.
The old Navy Yard bridge across the
Anacostia river on the line of 18th street
was removed. This bridge was replaced
by the new Anacostia bridge.
The bridge over Piney branch on the line
of 18th street extended was completed,
with the exception of the placing Of four
bronze castings in the form of tigers,
which are to be placed at each side of
the two entrances to the bridge. Contract
has been Let for this work.
An appropriation was made in the last
District appropriation act for strengthen
ing and stiffening the bridge across Rock
creek on the line of Calvert street, and
plans are now being prepared to carry out
bridge shows that in general 1t is Of suf-
fiic:ent strength to carry all traffic over
1t, but with the expenditure Of the above
named appropriation it's strength will be
-
been the cause of complaint will be
greatly decreased.
The Commissioners have included in
their estimates for the fiscal year 1912
an appropriation Of $4,000 toward con-
structing. bridge across Rock creek on
the line Of @ street, including the con-
demnation of the necessary land ap-
proaches thereto The total cost of this
bridge, including approaches. is estimated
at $4,000, and the appropriation asked
There are 100 bridges under the con-
troll Of the District of Columbia, the ap-
proximate cost of which has been
Surveyors Office.
shows a decided increase over that of the
previous year, as indicated by the follow
Ing table:
Surveys for private parties: 5o7o 5 5'sss
Lots surveyed 221I 2,S5t
Locating walls for buildings. 1,94S 2.422
New lots created ........ o,8OS 1,IO6
The fees received for work done for
private parties amounted to 918O,
while those Of the previous year amounted
to $50, SAG, an increase Of $2,347.04.
This was due to increased activity in
building operations and development of
suburban property.
Twenty-Five miles Of new streets were
created In connection with subdivisions.
condo mnations, and dedications.
In addition to the ordinary work of the
surveyors Office. special survey was
made of the sites for the workhouse at
Occoquan. Va, which contains LISA
acres, and for the reformatory at Acco-
tink Va, which contains 1.5OO acres. A
| Typographical survey was also made OF
the former site.
There is pending in Congress bill to
authorize the surveyor to designate old
subdivisions, such as Meridian Hill,
Mount Pleasant, Takoma Park, ETC., by
square numbers such as exist in the city
limits. and 1t Is desirable that this legis-
lation be enacted, so that transfers can
be made more easily of this property
] and 1t can be better identified for taxa
ton purposes.
Legislation is also recommended for the
| condemnation of all streets in the subdi-
vision known as Barry Farm. The stree Is
| in this subdivision are owned by the ad.
| jacent property. and for that reason no