Evening star., 1918-12-02

ed to cost sIS6.4eo. and the recon-
struction Of the retaining wall on the
south side of Canal road.
Other minor work done was the re-
painting of the Chain bridge across the
Potomac and the Anacostia bridge
across the Eastern branch. the re-
flooring of Connecticut avenue bridge
across Klingle road, which has been
partially completed, and the construc-
ton of a culvert at 41st street south
of Benning road.
The engineer of bridges also pre-
pared plans and specifications for
wharf on the Potomac river on Water
street between M and N streets south
west, and bids were invited for the
work. Due to war activities no pro-
posals were received for the work,
and it is being held in allegiance until
a later date. Plans and specifications
were also prepared for vtaduct III
the line OF South Dakota avenue
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. but no
proposals have yet been asked for
this work. as condemnation proceed
ings are pending for certain land re-
quired for the approach.
The engineer of bridges recommends
an appropriation of s1s3.ooo for wild
ening and strengthening the Calvert
street bridge across Rock creek.
Surveyors Office.
The work done by the surveyor Is of
two classes. viz. that done for pri-
vate parties and that done for the
United States and the District Of Co
lumbia. For the work done for pri-
vate parties, fees are charged in ac-
cordance with schedule approved by
the Commissioners. The total amount
collected for such work during the
year was $9,565.15, as compared with
- al
vious fiscal year. This decrease is due
to the limited building operations Re.
sulting from war conditions and the
high cost of labor and material. The
number of lots surveyed was 2,576, as
compared with 1889 for the previous
year.
For surveys made for the United
States and the District Of Columbia
no fees are charged. but at the rate
charged for private surveys the work
done would have cost $500. Much of
the work done for the federal govern
ment was in connection with war
activities, such as surveys showing
the distances of military camps and
new tracts of land for governmental
departments and new sites adjoining
other government departments to pro-
vide for their extension.
In condemnation cases difficulty has
recently arisen as to the proper
method to pursue after the jury de-
termines damages and benefits
Description of the land condemned
and found benefited must be compiled
and typewriter, and objection has
been made to the jury securing help
for this purpose on the ground that
filed
Such help should be furnished from
the surveyors office. an employe act
ing as confidential clerk to the jury;
without this condemnation cases will
be delayed and some may be set aside
entirely.
a law to relieve this difficulty is
recommended.
Street and Alley Extensions.
From the report of the surveyor of
the District of Columbia it appears
that during the past year eleven cases
of condemnation of streets and alleys
were confirmed by the court, and that
there are now pending in court twenty
such cases. The amount Of damages
awarded for land taken in these cases
was $45,907.54. AS the law requires
that the total cost of condemnation
of streets and alleys shall be assessed
as benefits, this amount was covered
by assessments. Among the important
disposed of by the court, there are in
cluded the opening, widening, and ex-
tension Of Concord avenue, Ingraham
street, Riggs road. Kennedy street,
and Longfellow street: the opening OF
Webster and Allison streets between
arkansas avenue and 14th street, and
Arkansas avenue between 18th and
10th streets, and the extension of
Fessenden street between Reno and
Belt roads.
A table appended to the report of
the surveyor gives the status of all
condemnation cases instituted By the
District of Columbia where the pro-
ceedings have been taken or comnlet ed
during the year.
Trees and Parkings.
The number of trees planted a,on,
the curbs in the streets of the District
of Columbia at the close of the fiscal
year was 104,617, decrease under the
preceding year Of 262. The mileage
Of trees at the close of the year was
594.42, decrease of 1.4S miles under
the preceding year. The mileage of
tree-planted streets, figured on the
basis of 1852 trees to the mile, at the
end of the year was 1921, a decrease
OF seventy-four under the preceding
year. The amount expended for the
planting and care of trees during the
year was $62,746.60.
1t has been the practice to TRANSPLANT
young trees from the nurseries to
rapidly as the surface conditions
justify the undertaking of such work
and also to replace trees in vacant
spaces caused by the removal of trees
for various reasons. Due to the
scarcity of labor this work could not
be undertaken extensively during the
year. and as a result there are MANY
improved streets where trees have not
been planted.
The tree nurseries located on res
ervation No. 13, known as the Wash
ington Asylum grounds, and at the
intersection OF Iowa avenue and Web
ster street northwest. are well stocked
with trees of all varieties considered
best for street planting. No seedlings
were transferred to the nursery rows
in the Washington Asylum grounds
and work of this character was con-
fined to other nurseries. No syste-
matte trimming of trees was under
taken during the year. but Individual
requests for such work were com.
piled with. There is great amount
of trimming necessary at this time
which it is impossible to undertake
extensively on account of the scarcity
of skilled labor. The total number of
trees trimmed during the year was
36,155
Street and Alley Cleaning.
The operations Of the street clean.
ing division involve two distinct func-
tions, viz, the disposal Of waste ma
terial originating on public property
commonly known as street cleaning,
and the disposal of waste materials
originating on private property COM
monty known as city wastes. Street
cleaning is done by the District of