Evening star., 1921-06-17
STREET AND LIGHT
BETTERMENT NEXT
Taxpayers Will Ask Commits
sioners to Recommend I'M
provements to Congress.

Grateful to Congress for taking action
at this session to meet two pressing
needs Of the District safe water sup
ply and more adequate school facilities.
which were advocated by The Star
District taxpayers, 1t was indicated to-
day. will petition the Commissioners to
make the principal recommendations in
the budget to be submitted to Con-
gress next December provisions for ex-
tensive street and light improvements.
1t was revealed today that street re-
pair work in the District rs million
and a half dollars behind normal re-
Quirements and that street extensions
'hxve iasxet behind the capitals devel-
opment to a similar extent.
The need fot better lighting I'm GER
tain sections also has become acute. as
there are dark spots in many parts Of
invite traffic accidents and crime.
Survey Indicated.
Indications today were that an ex-
haustive survey of the street and
light needs Of the District will be
made in September by the various
citizens associations. These bodies
will canvass the situation in the To-
make recommendation to the Com
misioners for consideration in con-
nection with the framing of the next
annual budget.
The Commissioners. of course. are
fully cognizant now Of the situation.
of taxpayers into consideration In
shaping the next street and light es-
Inmates.
1t is expected a schedule of i'm
provements will be worked out which
will go to Congress not only as the
1ots hut
with the solid backing Of the citizens
of the District.
In their last estimate the Commits
sioners asked for approximately $500 :
900 for new streets. Congress sliced
the amount to $4,000: This appro-
which means that the coming fiscal
year will be lean one as far as
new street work is concerned.
Improvenents Lag.
Street Improvements lost step with
the city's growth during the war.
That the appropriation becoming
available July l falls far short Of
meeting average requirements can
be appreciated in the light of arpro-
prfations formerly made. Thirty
years ago appropriations for new
streets averaged around 100000 an
nualIy. And money went much far
ther in those days. District engineer
officials point out, than it does today.
The District gets $575.000 for street
repair work, beginning July l, which
approximates the amount appro-
priated for this purpose during the
current fiscal year. but, according to
enrineers at the municipal building.
the amount will not be sunicient to
cover ali the repairs that should be
made Immediately for the safety and
Comfort Of those using the streets:
Thare are streets which have not
han resurfaced for thirty years that
are in a bad state Of repair, but only
a small portion of them can be I'M
nroved under the appropriation avail
ahIe. It is likely one OF the frst
streets to be given attention during
the coming fiscal year will De Florida
avenue, just west of Connecticut ave-
nue..
Lights Appropriation Short.
Tor street lighting Congress- has
.lioWed $43o,000 in the bill which
hecomes operative July l, and TINS
hareiy will be sufficient TO meet cur
rent demands without allowing Tor
.onversion Of gas into electric lamps
Tha commissioners sought to get an
;t.n, Of $4,000 in the denciency PHI
AtShA make a start on the