Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-05

payementS IN the District OF Columbia Is
nearly 100000 square yards. which is
probably greater area than that In any
other city in the world with the popula-
ton OF the District of Columbia.
During the fiscal year 1910 about $4,000
square yards of old pavement were re-
placed. During the fiscal year just closed
about $4,000 square yards were relaid,
At the beginning of the year the average
age of the older pavements was IA years
and the extreme age 80 years. BY rea-
son or the work done during the year this
average was decreased, and under the
appropriation OF $425.0O0 made for the fis-
cal year 1912 this average age will be
further decreased. so that for the fiscal
year 1913 the Commissioners in their esti-
mates have asked but $39O.O0O. a decrease
OF $4,000 over the amount appropriated
for the present fiscal year.
Municipal Asphalt Plant.
The Commissioners have included in
their estimates for the fiscal year 1918
an item asking for authority to establish
and operate a municipal asphalt plant
In the District Of Columbia there are
over 100000 square yards, or 145 miles.
OF asphalt pavement The average life
OF an asphalt pavement Is from 20 to -
years. and some of the older pavements
have been laid 30 years. Two years ago
the average age (Which is to be distin-
guished. of course, from the average life)
| OF our asphalt pavements was ABOUT Il
years. and this average age was consid-
erably increasing.
Now 1t Is actually cheaper to MAIN
tain pavements at an average age Of
eleven years, resurfacing when the cost
OF patching becomes excessive, than 1t
! Is to maintain them on a lower standard
ana OF greater average age. In order
! to bring the average age down to eleven
| years. Congress has lately increased
the appropriation, and in another year
| or two we shall have arrived at the
point where the pavements can be main
For 1913 we ask for $390,0O0. in lieu
of the appropriation of $425, 900 for the
current year. Very soon, when the
average age of our pavements has been
reduced to eleven years. we can COM
| pute by simple formula the amount
that will be required for asphalt pave
ment maintenance. A most careful
study shows that we shall then need
10k cents each year for each square
yard OF pavement in existence If we
system, or approximately az cents per
| square yard paid per annum if we procure
municipal plant, following the ex
| ample of many of the more carefully
In doing the work there is saving
OF the contractors profit. The same
force which is now used in inspecting
contractors work can be used in
ducing the number Of those employed
and paid either directly or indirectly
by the public. There being no adverse
interest between the agency doing the
ter results can be obtained. A plant
owned and operated by the District
would have continuous and regular en-
ployment. while a contractor in making
when his plant is working on
the contract for limited time.
but also the period when the plant is
idle. These considerations indicate the
economies that would result from the
ownership Of plant by the District.
Municipal asphalt plants are now in
operation in Detroit, Columbus, Dayton.
Indianapolis. Kansas City. Denver.
Seattle and elsewhere
A site is available along the water
front, and this site also has railroad
facilities.
Sidewalks and Alleys.
Two hundred thousand dollars were APP
propriated for paving sidewalks and al
leys in all parts of the District Of Column
bia- Sidewalks are constructed Of CO.
ment, and the work is done under con-
tract. Alleys are paved with vitrified or,
asphalt block, and the work is done by
day labor. The prices paid under con-
tract for laying cement sidewalks dur
ing the fiscal year were as follows:
For ,. .,o,n,nv nave. .tI Per square ys7a
For large jobs adjoining unpaved streets
and for all small jobs ............. 1.l9
For the present fiscal year (191O the
prices are as follows:
Per square ya yard.
For large jobs adjoining unpaved streets
and for all small jobs ................ 1.20
During the year sidewalks aggregating
6, 945 square yards were laid. The great
er part of these walks were construct
ed in the rapidly improving suburbs.
There still remain considerable num-
Der Of inferior brick walks in the central
part of the city, which are badly worn
and should be replaced.
One-half the cost Of laying sidewalks
is assessed against the abutting property.
and ordinarily the Commissioners, await
q petition from the owners Of more than
half of the frontage along block be-
fore ordering new walk laid. An excep-
ton Is, however. made where walk
becomes dangerous; in such cases the
Commissioners order the work done with
out waiting for petition. The demand
for laying sidewalks and paving alleys is
quite constant. In the alley work one
half the cost is also assessed against
abutting property. This work is done by
day labor, and during the year 81. 1872
square yards Of alley surface was paved.
County Roads and Suburban Streets.
The sum Of $221, 100 was expended for
the construction and repair Of county
roads and suburban streets, Of which
$4,000 was for repair and the balance
for grading and macadamizing.
The use of Oil for dust laying and road
preservation was considerably extended
Oils Of several kinds were used. including
considerable amount Of emulsified oil
this latter oil was found to be better
adapted to residence streets where there
is much pedestrian traffic on account Of
being less adhesive to the feet when first
applied; 1t is also less expensive. The
heavier oils were found to be best adapt
bile .-avel and the lighter oils to roads
having heavy hauling and where the sur
face Is loose. These oils are used instead
Of sprinkling with water, with the result
that the dust is kept down at all periods
of the day instead Of drying out at in
tervals. The cost OF laying varied from
about cents to a little over 9, cents per
square yard: the cost of watering was
about 2h cents per square yard. While
the expense of oiling is greater than Of
watering the additional advantage Of
creased expense, for the life Of the road
way Is considerably increased.
The use Of bituminous binders In the
repair and construction of macadam
roads. which was begun last year, was
continued as far as funds permitted. By
the use of good binder carefully APP
piled the life of the roadway may be
considerably extended, the cost of re-
pair lessened, and the dust nuisance re-
additional decrease Of cost. The cost of
the application of a heavy bituminouS