Evening star., 1915-12-08
Sidewalks and Alleys.

S1QSWdlkS anu AllcyS.
| The sum of 100000 was appropriated
for the paving of sidewalks and alleys
and in addition the sum Of $4,000 for
| laying sidewalks and curbs around
government reservations and buildings.
Sidewalks are paved with cement and
alleys with vitrified brick or asphalt
| block. Thirty-two thousand one hum
dred and six square yards OF vitrined
/ block and 1876 square yards of as
| phalt block pavement were laid in ale
| leys, both on gravel base. Fifty
eight thousand one hundred and forty
| four square yards of cement sidewalk
were laid. One-half the cost of curbs
| and of sidewalk and alley paving is
assessed against the abutting property.
| No assessment is levied for the SIDE
| walks, alleys and curbs laid adjacent
| to public reservations. Cement side
| walks are laid under contract, and al
| leys are paved by day labor.
The contract prices paid for laying
cement sidewalks during the year were
| as follows:
For large jobs adjoining paved streets.
| For large jobs adjoining unpaved streets
and for all small Jobs, per square yard lio
For the fiscal year 1916 the prices are
as follows:
per square yard. -So-SS
| For large jobs adjoining unpared streets :.
The initiative in the matter of paw
| ing sidewalks and alleys is generally
| left with the owners of abutting prop
erty. the Commissioners requiring
| majority petition for such work before
| it is ordered. Exceptions are made,
! however, in cases where, on account
| of public danger or other public reason,
| the paving is demanded. The law re-
| quires the Commissioners to advertise
| for two weeks their intention TO lay
| Sidewa1xS q and cnrhS and TO alleyS
| and to give hearing to the property
| owners affected. The work is ordered
| subsequent to such hearing when, in
| the opinion of the Commissioners, it is
necessary for public safety. health,
| comfort and convenience. The demand
for this class of construction is con.
slant, and increased appropriations for
this work could antageously be ex-
pended.
Bridges.
The total appropriation for the con-
struction and repair of bridges and
| DOCKS was $4,000. The principal work
of this character during the year was
| the construction of the bridge across
Rock creek on the line of Q street, and
the beginning of work on the bridge
across Rock creek on the line of Penn
sylvania avenue.
The @ street bridge was practically
COlnpleIeO, anu lnc 1OuE DToHZe
loes installed at the entrances on either
side
Contract was awarded for the con-
struction of the Pennsylvania Avenue
bridge across the Rock creek. and tAis
will probably be completed during the
present calendar year. This bridge IS
seventy feet in width, having REIN
forced concrete deck. supported by five
concrete arch ribs of 200 feet spaH.-
The facing and trim are to be of North
Carolina granite. After the compile
tion of the bridge, it is required by
law that the Capital Traction Company
shall place its tracks thereon. and re-
move it's present trackage on the pres
ent NJ Street bridge over Rock creek.
The work of constructing the viaducr
across the street railway tracks on
Benning road has been delayed on ac-
count of the necessity for condemning
land for widening the road. The plan
for this structure provides for steel
girders supported by concrete piers
and abutments. 4.
Four small bridges We're erected over
Watts branch, and the floors of a num-
ber of bridges were replaced.
The bracing of the Connecticut Ave-
nue. bridge across klingle road was
strengthened. SO that the bridge is now
of ample strength and capacity for the
traffic passing over it.
The replacement or reconstruction of
the Aqueduct bridge over the Potomac
river, and of the Calvert Street bridge
both being inadequate to properly acL
commodate the traffic passing over
them. =
The Commissioners have Jurisdiction
over all bridges in the District of Co
lumbfa, with the exception of the
Highway bridge across the Potomac
river. which is under the Jurisdiction
of the chief of engineers. United States
Army, and the Aqueduct bridge across
the Potomac river. where jurisdiction
is divided, the Commissioners having,
control of the superstructure. and the
chief Of engineers. United States Army,
having control of the piers. AS the
Commissioners must maintain bridge
department, a divided Jurisdiction over.
bridges located within the limits Of
the District of Columbia is not eco-
nomical The bridges are part of tho
highways of the District of Columbia
which are placed by law under the
Commissioners. and there seems to be
no. reason for excepting the two
bridges above mentioned from such
jurisdiction. Legislation having for its
object the placing of these two bridges
under the control of the Commissioners
has been included in the estimates for
District of Columbia appropriations for
the fiscal year 1917.
Fish Wharves.
Contract was made for the recon
struction of the fish wharves and docks
on Water street southwest between
11th and 18th streets, and the work Is !,
in progress. This work consists in the