Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-18

the lighting Of certain unimportant coun-
try roads which would have been lighted
nowhere else and which there was no ex-
cuse for lighting here.
Another function in which an improve
ment has been sought and obtained Is In
street cleaning.
we were able to show to Congress
last year that this function could be
performed better by the municipality
directly than through the agency of a
contractor. This is true for several
reasons.
First the municipality saves the con
tractors profit. In the second place
the large inspection force that was re-
auired to see that the contractor did his
duty can be employed to replace most
of those whom the contractor was re-
uuired to employ to superintend his own
work. The third reason is that the
contractor when he bids upon work to
be carried on during a limited period oil
time, was obliged to write on his plant
and organize ton cost against the WORK
Of q few years. which might be all that
he would have.
we have now accumulated proper
plant for street cleaning and have been
cleaning the streets for several months
on a standard somewhat higher than
that obtaining under the contract system.
The economies already are OBVIOUS. Next
year we shall ask for nearly $4,000 less
than we received for tpis year and less
than received the year before, and 1t Is
standard during the next year even above
the improved standard now obtaining
Thus it appears that We have sue
ceeded in introducing permanent improve
ment In the carrying on of each or the
three functions enumerated. having raised
the standard of each and diminished the
cost
Water Meters Held Essential
THE next function to be taken up and
put upon a busiresslike basis will be
that of the water department.
LAS a result of the slight increase IN
rates proposed We will be able to install
meters. a proceeding which is essential
to a businesslike administration of the
department. The installation of the me-
tiers will mean a gain for water users
and. moreover through resulting econo-
mics in con assumption. we shall postpone
for many years the construction Of a new
aqueduct at a cost OF millions of dollars
THE Commissioners regard as an I'M
portant function committed to their care
the acquisition in the near future. De-
fore building operations and advancing
values have made the task difficult, II
not impossible to accomplish, of LANDS
needed for park purposes as determined
by the Mcmillan park commission
The Commissioners will, therefore.
present each year to Congress number
of park projects.
eff the community will get behind the
efforts Of the Commissioners to obtain
as funds permit. 1t will be surprising
how soon all of the needed lands will be
obtained. and those people will be pro-
vided with parks who may now resent the
fact that their particular projects are
not included among those of the first
year or two.
''All citizens must know that all the
parks cannot be obtained the first Year.
nor Yet the second, while some must wait
until the fourth and fifth years.
1ft3 y11t
learn that if they express resentment
because their particular projects are
not to be acquired at once they will
simply prevent the acquisition of any
lands, and this will make more remote
or finally prevent altogether the exc
cution of their own projects
IF there is any matter in which the
citizens should be united it is this
matter of the acquisition OF parks which
must necessarily be progressive"