Evening star., 1915-12-08
Estimated
cost,
18th streets. between Pennsylvania
avenue and G street northwest
Fire Alarm, Telegraph and Tele-

phone Service.
Seven miles of underground cable
were installed during the year, the
amount in service on June 80. 1915, be-
ing about 1877 miles. The aerial cable
in service on June 30. 1915. was 5.826
miles. as compared with 6.21 miles dur
ing the preceding year.
Twenty new fire alarm boxes were
placed in service during the year, max
ing the total on June 80. 1915. 5S1.
The total number of f1re alarms re-
ceived and transmitted during the year
was 1.451. of which SO were false.
The total number of poles connected
with steam and street railroads, tele-
phone, telegraph. electric light, and
District of Columbia telegraph and tel
lumbia on June 80. 1915, was 1851, of
which 16.701 are line poles and S4S guy
poles.
The fees collected for the inspection
of private electric wiring in buildings
amounted to $5.s60.1o.
Permits.
The permits issued by the permit
clerk of the engineer department other
than those for buildings amounted to
1921; of this number 1913 were COW
cred by fees and for 5,0s4 no fees were
paid.
Automobile Board.
The automobile board examined 4,423
applicants for permits to operate mo-
tor vehicles in the District Of Colum-
bia, and recommended permits be is-
sued them, as follows:
Three thousand eight hundred and
ninety for gasoline vehicles. 155 cleo
tric, steam and 33s motor cycles. Lii
censes were refused to thirty-one ap-
plicants.
The revenue received from this source
was $13,530. of which residents of the
District paid $S,642, and non-residents
S4,8Ss.
One hundred and seventy-two licenses
were issued to operate vehicles Of the
United States and the District of CO.
lumbia for use in official business with.
out fee.
Five thousand three hundred and one
enamel metal Identification tags were
also issued, as follows: Four thousand
five hundred and three gasoline, pas
senger; 451 gasoline, truck: lit electric,
passenger; 16 electric trucks, steam
driven vehicles, 621 motor vehicles, 76
District of Columbia. In addition there
were 2.70S tags issued to non-residents.
The revenue received from this source
was $15,S66, of which the residents Of
the District of Columbia paid $10,45o
and non-residents S5,416.
Rock Creek Park.
The jurisdiction and control over
Rock Creek Park is placed by law un-
der the Commi missioners of the District
Of Columbia and the chief of engineers,
United States Army. acting jointly.
The amount appropriated for the care
and maintenance of the park during
the year was $4,000, and. in addition.
there was an appropriation Of $4,000
for the removal Of dead and down tim
Der. The sum of $11.211.95 was spent
In the general care and maintenance Of
the park, including repairs to roads
and paths, moving, etc, of which sum
$1,53743 was spent for oiling roads.
The principal improvement during
the year was the matchmaking of the
road connecting Ridge road with Beach
drive. a distance of about 1000 feet, at
a cost of $403.40. The regarding, widen
ing and macadamiztng OF Ross road for
a width of eighteen feet was started
The road has been opened to automo-
biles, thereby affording a new route,
which will serve to Distribute automo-
bile traffic over a greater territory and
lessen the danger Of Its congestion.
The amount spent on this road was
$3,7S2.65.
Under the appropriation for the re-
moval of dead and down timber $50
cords Of firewood of good quality was
obtained and was sold to public schools
for fuel at the rate of $3.50 per cord,
delivered In addition q large amount
Of fence rails and posts were produced
from dead chestnut trees.
Chestnut blight attacked the chestnut
trees and threatened their total de-
struction. Steps have been taken to
check the spread of this blight by cut
ting as many of the affected trees as
the appropriations will permit during
the fall and winter.
Several fires occurred in the park.
during the season. and steps have been