Evening star., 1918-12-02
Total

This was q net increase during the
year Of 266 lamps.
The improved incandescent electric
lighting was extended during the
year in New York avenue, E, F, G..
18th and 18th streets northwest in
ernment buildings in this locality;
also in Virginia avenue. c. D. E, 18th.
18th and Goth streets northwest in the
of the new temporary gov
ernment buildings in this locality.
Lights Along Steam Railroads.
The situation with respect to the
several suits brought by the District
OF Columbia against steam railroad
to compel repayment for
the sums expended by the District on
spective rights Of way OF such COM
panies 10 essentially as reported last
year. The litigation has persisted for
many years, and suits in sums ag-
gregating upward Of $4,000 are now
before the courts and grounds for
further suits continue to accumulate.
So far the outcome has been favora-
BILE to the District.
Fire Alarm, Telephone and Te1e-
graph Service.
There were in service on June 80,
1913, 155.1S8 miles of cable, contain
ing 6,203.335 miles of conductor. The
aerial cable service at the end of
the year was about miles. contain
ing 164.77 miles of conductor. There
were 1876 telephones connected to
the District system at the end of the
year. There were 637 f1re-alarm
boxes in service at the end Of the
n NJ
ceding year; 678 box fire alarms and
957 local alarms were received dur
ing the year. Of which S8 box and
% local were false. At the end of
the year there were 1886 line and
94S guy poles Of all kinds In the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
The total number Of electrical in
spections made during the year was
10.05s. The total amount OF fees paid
for permits was $5,203.07.
During the past year the following
small park was acquired under the ap-
available for the purpose,
viz. square 1926. bounded by Nebraska
avenue. Van Ness and 41st streets.
Plans are in preparation to acquire
land in square 1883, west of 1856,
north of 1875 and 3340 for park pur-
poses. but the petitions for their con-
have not yet been filed in
the court.
During the past year tho matter Of
acquiring larger parks has not been
given much attention on account of
pressing governmental activities in
necessary to promote the health and
happiness Of the residents Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia as we'll as to en-
hance the beauty Of Washington.
OF the various larger areas OF de-
sirable acquisition that known as the
Klingle valley tract especially COM
mends itself. Its purchase has been
urged by successive boards Of COM
nissioners for at least seven years In
one form or another. Its natural beau
ty appeals to those going through It.
and it would aid access to Rock Creek
Park. independent Of Geological PARK
control, from Woodley. klingle. and
Reno roads. The area which should be
acquired is not great and will not
interfere with the development OF ad-
jacent areas.
Rock Creek Park.
During the fiscal year Rock Greek
Park was under the jurisdiction Of the
board Of control Of Rock Creek Park
consisting Of the Commissioners OF
the District Of Columbia and chief OF
Engineers. United States Army. acting
Jointly. The appropriation for care
and maintenance was $22 900, Of which
sum approximately $4,000 was ex-
pended for labor and material. and q
balance OF approximately $4,000 re-
mained unexpended. On account of the
difficulty IN obtaining labor and mate
rails no large item of new construc-
By an act of Congress approved
July l, 1918. the jurisdiction and con-
troll Of this park was taken from the
board of control of Rock Creek Park
as above indicated, and given to the
chief of Engineers. United States
Army AS the board will, therefore
have no further control over the park,
II would seem apropos to briefly state
what has been done during the nine
teen years that 1t has been under the
control of the board.
During the time since this park was
created there have been built ABOUT s.1
miles Of macadamixed park roadWays
from Is to "a feet wide. In ADDITION 20
the reconstruction Of lie miles OF county
roads passing through the park: nearly
ali involving heavy grading; ABOUT 20
miles Of bride paths and about miles
Of foot paths; One iarse % pefmsnsns rmd eas
temporary girder bridge. at the north
end Of tho park. have been built across
Rock creek and five masonry bridges
or viaducts have been built across small
er streams. besides numerous ma masonry
culverta The , dam at Pierce MIL was
A considerable area OF the park near
the roads has been cleared. and the
portion opened has been maintained IN
suitable condition for use by constant
attention. This work has all been done
have amounted to S333,333eS in ntf,e-
teen years, or about $4,000 per year.
AS the annual cost Of maintenance
alone has been from $4,000 to $4,000.
1t appears that the work SO Tar accom-
pIished has been done at a low cost
when tho original condition Is taken Into
consideration.
Harbor Front.
Tho total amount received from the
rental Of WhArve0 and river frontage
pixced by law under the direction Of
tho Commissioners was as follows:
Potomac river front. $16.821. go
Total. ........................ s1e.e44.ls
Tho actual water frontage in the
District Of Columbia devoted to COM
merce, with the exception Of canals,
is about miles. The total available
water frontage Is about 1S miles, of
which about 8 miles is set aside for
parks and purposes Of the United
states. The largest amount of wharf
property under the control Of the
Commissioners is along the Washing
ton channel. The total frontage
along this channel is S.275 linear feet.
of which 4,675 linear feet. between
the grounds Of the War College and
the south curb line of N street. are
under the control Of the United States.
OF the remaining $500 linear feet.
4.0zl linear feet are under the 5uris-
diction Of the Commissioners and SIS
linear feet. between 18th and 18th
streets, has been designated BY Con-
1ress As the site Of the federal cen