davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

a thin bituminous covering. was about
~ cents per square yard.
The use of road oils and various sur
race treatments was continued for dust
laying and road preservation. The cost
or treatments with oil or tarvia Il, in
Guiding the cleaning and sand cover
ing. varied from 1k to 3 cents per
proposed that some Of the most heavily
travelled macadam roads leading out Of
the city. and in the built-up section. ad-
jacent to the city limits. upon which
work of additional repair has become
expensive and burdensome. be resur-
faced with asphaltic macadam.
The work Of stiffening and strength
ening the Calvert street bridge over
Rock ere k
Work Performed was complet-
on District Bridges. 1911 s" This -,
work not only rendered this bridge
much safer. but reduced the vibrations
by a marked degree. In connection
with the work, the roadway width of
thirtv-nine feet with two six-foot side
walks was reduced to q roadway width
of twenty-siX feet with two six-foot
ten-inch sidewalks, SO as to bring the
vehicular travel inside OF the truss
line. and a new flooring of dressed
lumber was laid. 1t is believed that
the bridge is now safe for use. and no
new bridge will be needed until the
growth Of the city beyond Rock creek
shall require a bridge with a wider
roadway.
Plans have been completed for the con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

struction of bridge over Rock creek on
the line OF . street. but owing to the
delay in acquiring the land necessary for
approaches the work of construction has
not Yet been begun. This bridge Is csti-
mated to cost S2Io.ooo. and an approprfa-
ton for its complete construction has
been included in the estimates for the
next fiscal year Contract was made for
four bronze buffaloes. to he placed two on
either side of the bridge approach.
The Commissioners have again included
in Their estimates for the next fiscal year
an item for constructing bridge across
Rock creek on the line OF Pennsylvania
avenue, in connection with which IL Is
proposed 10 widen Pennsylvania avenue
on both sides of the creek so as to pro-
vide better means OF communication
with that part OF the city formerly known
as Georgetown.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

on February j. 1912 the Senate adopt
ed the following resolution:
Resolved. That the
Street commissioners of the Dis
p.:l trict of Columbia are
"oJS' hereby directed to COM
municate to the Senate, at as early q
date as practicable. their views to the
necessity OF establishing additional street
car lines in the District. the routes over
which they should be built. and whether
they should be extensions of the existing
lines or Independent companies. with
blue prints accompanying
In response to this resolution the Com
missioners submitted a report to the
Senate. under date of March ~. 1912. in
which they recommended that Congress:
First. Facilitate the consolidation of all
street railway lines within the District.
SO that they shall he under one manage
ment and control
Second. Refuse charters to new COM
panes which propose 10 build extensions
within the District.
Third. Give consideration to the passage
or law providing that street railway
lines constructed in the outlying sections
shall be covered wholly or in part by as
sessments levied on abutting property
benefited.
Fourth. Authorize and require the build
ing OF certain street railway extensions,
which they believe to be Immediately de-
sirabie. as follows: ta) ON 18th street west
from G. street southwark to and into
Potomac Park: tbD on 18th street west.
from Pennsylvania avenue to L street.
tc) on Kennedy street northwest from
18th street to and into Rock Creek Park:
I'D on l. street south. from Az street west
to llth street east. teD from the north
end OF the Connecticut Avenue bridge hy
meanderfng line to the western end OF
Massachusetts avenue; 10 from the pres
ent terminus of the Mount Pleasant line
to Argyle terrace. mostly via 18th street
northwest tgD on 18th and 18th streets
northeast. from " street to East Capitol
street. and on and II streets northeast
from 18th to 18th street: lh) on NJ street
northwest. from 26th street to New Jer-
Sev avenue
street railways was contained i'm the Dis
trict appropriation act, approved June IS
1912:
Hereafter every street railway company
in the District of Columbia shall keep its
| tracks and the spaces between and for a
distance Of two feet outside thereof at the
crossings of the several streets which in
tersect their railroads, at all times free
from snow and ice, and shall not spill
or derosit the same i'm such location and
quantity as to impede or hinder traffic
And i'm the event of any street railway
company failing and refusing to comply
with this act, the necessary work NAV he
done by the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia, in their discretion. after
notice to said company, the cost TO be
paid from the appropriation available for
cleaning snow and ice from streets. side
| walks, crosswalks and cutters, and col
lected from such street railway company
in the manner provided for I'm section
five Of an act providing a permanent form
of government for the District of Column
bia, approved June eleventh. eighteen
hundred and seventy-eight, and shall he
deposited to the credit of the appropria-
| ton for the fiscal year in which il was
collected"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
FIRE Department..

According to the report of the chief
engineer Of the fire department, 642 bell
alarms and 491 local alarms of fire were
received during the year, a decrease OF
1872 as compared with the preceding
year. The total estimated fire loss for
the year was $3.50, 436. covered by insur-
ance amounting to $7.459. s97 This loss is
an increase of 1884. 4O6 over the preceding
year and such increase is undoubtedly
due to the number OF extra alarm fires,
twenty-eight such fires resulting in a
loss Of $4,000.
The fire prevention branch of the de-
partment has done excellent work. and
to this work is due the comparative free
dom of the business section of the city
from serious fires.
During the year a new company was
installed, No. "a engine company, located
at the intersection of Rock Creek
Church road and Georgia avenue north
west. This company is equipped with a
motor-propelled. gasoline pumping en-
CINE and motor-propelled combination
chemical engine and hose wagon. Since
this company has been in service the
efficiency of the motor fire apparatus in
stalled therein has been most amply
demonstrated and the Commissioners find
that such apparatus Is more economical
than horse-drawn apparatus.
The discipline OF the fire department
has been kept up to q high standard and
there were but few cases during the
year in which stringent action was re.
quired.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

pairing sheet asphalt pavements was a
two-year contract. which expires July l.
1918. 1t has been the policy for a num-
Der of years to do all this work by con-
act for the fiscal year 1913 the Commits
sioners were authorized to purchase a
portable asphalt plant, at cost of not
to exceed $500. and to operate the plant
under their immediate direction in doing
such work OF repairs to asphalt pave
ments as in their judgment might be
economically performed by the use Of the
plant.
This plant has been purchased and Will
be operated during the present fiscal year
in doing all work OF repairs. leaving only
the resurfacing work to be done under
contract. When the permanent munich
pal asphalt plant hereinafter referred to.
is authorized by Congress. and estab-
lished. the Commissioners believe that it
will be unnecessary to do any of the re-
Surfacing or repair work by contract. as
they believe 1t can be more economically
performed by operating these asphalt
plants under their immediate direction.
The portable plant above referred to is
eXcellently adapted to the production of
one-course asphaltic macadam surface
for streets already macadamized. Legis-
lation Is earnestly desired which will re-
move any limitation from the useful oper-
alton of this plant.
A large proportion of the older asphalt
block pavements laid on gravel base are
In bad condition. due to local settlements
of the foundation On many of these
pavementS practically nothing has been
expended for maintenance for a period of
ten or fifteen years. A systematic repair
of these pavements was commenced dur.
ing this year and the sum of S24 600 has
been spent on this work. An eXpendi-
ture of like amount for the next two
years will put these pavements in first
class condition.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
Asphalt
Pavements

D.4. during the year are as
1a"eMeAts. follows:
Laying sheet asphalt pavement (2h
inches asphalt surface, 2 inches binder.
before compensatory with 6-inch concrete
base. per square yard. S1.6S.
Laying sheet asphalt surface (2l1a inches
before compression, per square yard, 81
cents.
Laying sheet asphalt surface (resurfac-
ing by heater method). per cubic foot 66
cents.
Laying asphalt binder Tin connection
with resurfacing work., per cubic foot, IS
cents.
Laying sheet asphalt surface (for re-
pairs and miscellaneous work. cuts, etc.,
per cubic foot. 81 cents.
Laying asphalt binder (for repairs and
miscellaneous work, cuts, etc.,, per cubic
foot. 43 cents.
Laying sheet asphalt surface for re-
pairs etc, within the space required by
law to be kept in repair by street rail-
way companies, per cubic foot, 63 cents.
within the space required by law to be
kept in repair by street railway COM
panies, per cubic foot. 4S cents.
The types of roadway pavements laid
years, sheet asphalt and asphalt block.
with limited amount of asphaltic ma
cadam. About $50, 900 was spent on this
last-named class Of work.
The repair of sheet asphalt pavements
by use Of the heater method was con-
tinued, about 5000 square yards being
thus repaired during the year.
New types of pavements were used dur
ing the year as follows: A two-inch as
phalt block pavement was laid on a con-
crete base on Maine avenue between Sd
and AZ streets. instead OF the usual B.
inch asphalt block pavement laid on a
gravel base. and a six-inch concrete road
way, coated with bitumen, was laid on
Michigan avenue between list street east
and the Washington city reservoir
While these pavements have been down
but a short time. good results are antici-
pated from them.
Table showing square yards and mile
age of roadway pavements to June 30.
1912:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
ENGINEER Department.

The Commissioners also submitted for the
information of Congress, pursuant to the
requirements of section II of an act pro-
viding a permanent form of government
for the District Of Columbia, approved
June II. 1878 co Stat. L.. 1909, re-
port of the engineer department of the
District. The first item refers to the
merit system in the engineer department.
1t is recognized, the report says, that
the character of the service rendered by
the organized branches of the engineer
department can not rise superior to the
personnel of those branches. If the laws
relating to public work be conceived with
perfect wisdom and if the general direc-
ton Of the service be on the highest pos
Sible plane, nevertheless inefficiency and
extravaganza will result if there Is any
departure from the merit system in deal
ing with the personnel. The raising of
the pay of some individual in the Serv-
ice. for example, through the exercise of
political influence and by means OF an
item in an appropriation bill, tends to
lower the tone Of the whole District serv-
ice, exciting personal animosities, and
being regarded as born Of injustice and
unfairness.
In very large public service. like that
Of the United States. it seems to be true
that the merit system can not be Sc
cured more effectively than through such
system as is provided by law and adj
ministered by the civil service commits
sion The defects in this system are well
described in recent expression of the
views of President Taft, which include
the following:
Even in the selection of the compare
lively small number Of employees in the
government service it has been found
necessary to eliminate that personal
equation which contributes so greatly to
efficiency in private business.
This system, while vastly preferable to
the former, is still woefully deficient as
compared with the methods employed in
private business. That faculty of judging
human nature and selecting just the
right man for a particular type of work
which is the most valuable asset of the
business man, and which contributes
more than aught else to his success, is
wholly lost to the government. The man
who passes with most credit the formal
civil examination may be, often is, wholly
lacking in initiative. push and executive
ability. and yet no better method Of Sc
lecting government employees has ever
been devised
Congress has not extended to the Dis
trict of Columbia the operation of the
civil-service law. although for many
years the Commissioners sought such
legislation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
and Aphalt Granite vuned
altar block block
y



S
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
County Roads,
Suburban Streets.

600 was for repairs and the balance for
road construction. Approximately s15,-
900 was expended during the year for
oiling and tarring roads.
The use Of asphaltic macadam in the
repair Of old roads and constructing
new roads was one Of the features of
the years work. Asphaltic macadam by
the penetration method in new con-
struction and repair required the use
Of two gallons of material per square
yard. at cost varying from Is to 20
cents per square yard above that of
ordinary macadam. Asphaltic macadam
by the mixing method was used i'm con-
strucing roadways. at cost of 90
cents per square yard for two-inch
layer rolled in place. On one street,
Michigan avenue, west of LIST street a
concrete base was laid which was COW
cred with a coating Of asphaltic oil on
one part and coating of tar on an
other. and the cost of this work, in
Guiding a siX-fnch concrete base with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

Importance to the opinions formed of men
by their department superiors.
The very excellent results following the
Introduction Of this merit system deserve
to be recorded for the benefit of other
cities.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The sum of $425.OOO was appropriated
for resurfacing and repairs to improved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The total receipts Of the department
deposited with the collector Of taxes
amounted to $os.-
Weights, Measures 1928. The total
"a r.,l.4. collections. in
'''A~ GLIDING $4,S375a
received by the inspectors Of lumber and
wood and retained by them for their serv-
ices and expenses amounted to $33. 61O17.
There were 22.292 scales, weights and
measures scaled. for which fees amount
ing to $6.5o&S6 were collected; 42S scales
and measures were condemned and de-
stroyed; $40 scales condemned for re-
pair; 2l9 inspections upon request and
within the time limit. for which no fees
were collected; 800 Inspections for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

library. Tt cost our library IL cents per
volume Tin 1910 to circulate its DOCKS
into Washington homes. In only two
cities was the cost per volume less; the
average cost in the twenty-seven cities
was III. cents per volume.
In addition to their demonstrations of
the need for increased appropriations for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
No Appropriation for
Municipal Plant.

Municipal Plant. co1,mh,a '' "a u
municipal asphalt plant. to be located on
site on the river front between 18th and
14th streets southwest. The Appropriation
was not made. but i'm lieu thereof the
sum of $1,000 was appropriated to enable
the Commissioners to make a thorough
investigation of the desirabiity and cost
Of establishing such a plant. with direc-
lions to report to Congress at the begin
ming of it's next session in December 1913
Immediately after the passage of this act
the Commissioners employed ID. +. Nc
Comb. an expert in such matters to make
the investigation, and 1t is now in prog
ress. The report of the results thereof
Will be made early in the next session of
Congress
Two hundred and fifteen thousand dol
lars was spent for paving sidewalks and
alleys In all parts of the District of CO.
lumbia. Sidewalks are constructed of
cement 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 during
the fiscal year 1872 We're as follows:
For large jobs adjoining paved
streets, per square yard ........... so 967J
For large jobs adjoining unpaved
streets and for all small jobs, per
square yard. %
For the present fiscal year O9I3) the
prices are as follows:
For large jobs adjoining paved
streets. per square yard. so 96
For large jobs adjoining unpaved
streets and for all small jobs,
per square yard. 20
One-half Of the cost of laying side
walks is assessed against the abutting
property. and ordinarily the Commission
erS await a petition from the owners of
more than One-half Of the frontage along
block before ordering the work: an
exception is, however. made where a
walk becomes dangerous: in such cases
the Commissioners order the work done
without waiting for a petition. The law
requires the Commissioners to adver-
tise for two weeks their intention to lay
sidewalks and curb and to pave alleys.
and after hearing to order the work
done when, in their opinion, it is neces-
sary for the public safety health COM
fort and convenience The demand for
laying sidewalks AMI paving alleys is
quite constant. During the year about
$4,000 square yards of sidewalks and
about $500 square yards of alley pave
ment were laid.
Prior to the fiscal year 1912 all moneys
received from assessments for paving
sidewalks and alleys were repaid to the
appropriation for the current year in
which they were collected. and aug
mented the appropriation SO as to permit
a larger amount to be expended than was
actually appropriated for the year. By
provision contained in the District APP
preparation act for the fiscal year 1912,
however. all collections from assess
mentS are required to be paid into the
Treasury.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

barrel, and the com
The Common mon towel is fast
Drinking Cup. ,stto o~"s wa ~, in,ro.
duced in Congress to abolish the common
drinking cup in the District. being bill
entitled "a bin to prohibit the use OF
drinking cups and to prevent the COM
munication Of infectious diseases Oh. r.
7,0OD. In reporting on this bill the Com
missioners stated that they were advised
that the desired end could be accom-
plished by regulations promulgated by
the Commissioners under their general
powers, and stated that as the matter
was pending before Congress the Com
missioners felt that they could not prop
erly act with respect to 1t. The Commits
sioners stated, further, however, that if
duly advised that it was the wish OF
Congress or of the committee of Congress
having the matter in charge that the
Commissioners should act with respect
to the matter, they would promptly take
appropriate action. The matter is still
pending in Congress. and the Commits
si0ners have received no intimation OF
any desire that they should take action
with respect to 1t.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
Tractor Fire
Apparatus.

throughout the country, has convinced
the Commissioners that the day OF
horse-drawn fire apparatus has passed
and that motor equipment should re.
place them.
In the future when apparatus is to BIZ
purchased for the fire department the
Commissioners advocate that such appa
ratus be motor-propelled and also urge
that Congress from time to time make
the necessary appropriations for the pur.
chase Of motor tractors to be installed
service, so that the horses may be dis
pensed with and eventually the fire de-
partment Of the District OF Columbia
have in service nothing but apparatus
propelled by motor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The Commissioners again recommend to
Congress the enactment OF law to regu-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The economy and efficiency of motor
propelled fire apparatus, as demonstrat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The District appropriation act for tn
fiscal year 1911 contained an appropria
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The appropriations made for the con-
struction and repair of county roads
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

In their estimates to Congress for the
fiscal year 1913 the Commissioners asked
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

On February ]. 1912 the Senate adopt
ed the following resolution:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The effectiveness OF the police depart
ment IS impaired by the lack OF suitable
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The current prices for resurfacing a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

late the public util-
ity corporations In
the District of CO.
lumbia. A bill for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The work Of stiffening and strength
ening the Calvert street bridge over
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

The trustees report that during the year
the suburbs of Erookland, Tenleytown
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

There is now in effect in the Distric
engineer public works. branches a meri
The Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 19??-1912, 1912-04-18
A Company That Pays Claims

When you carry an insurance
policy, you like to feel sure that in
the event of loss your indemnity
will be coming promptly and in
full, don't you9 The First National
Life and Accident Insurance Com
pany of Pierre has established a
reputation for paying claims with
out delay or red tape, and one
hundred cents on the dollar. 1t is a
home company, with $3.50, 900 CAP
ital and over 100000 on deposit
with the Treasurer of the State of
South Dakota. The Company wri-
tes very liberal policy protecting
you in case of accident, sickness
and quarantine. The cost is small.
Can you afford to take your own
chancesl" H. B. Fislar is the local
agent for the Company. Ask him
about it.