Evening star., 1921-10-03
kUTz|NFAREWELL
EXPRESSES HOPES
0RC|TY'SFUTURE
Advocates Building Projects,
Fixed Financial Ratio and
Highway Paving.
ENGINEERS SERVICE HERE
WILL END ON THURSDAY
Makes Record in Length of Term
and Has Definite Ideas as to
Plans of Development.

In a farewell message to the people
of Washington, expressed in an in
aerview given The Star today, Col.
Charles W. Kutz. retiring Engineer
Commissioner, enumerated some of
the principles and outlined some of
the important improvements he hopes
will characterize the Districts de-
relopment in the future.
The principles advocated are use of
District surplus funds now on de-
posit in the United States Treasury
in prosecuting important construction
projects and the maintenance Of a
fixed ratio between the federal and
District governments in meeting the
burden of municipal expense.
AS to needed improvements. the
commissioner puts at the top of the
LIST the urgency of completing as rap
idly as possible the work of paving
the arterial highways Ito the District
line New bridges. branch libraries.
parks and connecting driveways,
lights and other improvements are
mentioned.
Would Have Greatest Capital.
When Col. Kutz terminates his ad-
nIinistration as Engineer Commits
sioner Thursday. he will have
the District five and one-half years,
or longer than any of the sixteen En-
Sineer Commissioners who have held
the post since the organic govern
ment was established in 1873. Natur-
, ally he goes out of Office with definite
ideas concerning the capitals needs
and with those views there is linked
a very positive desire that Washing
ton shall develop along broad. liberal
lines, until it's supremacy as the
greatest of all national capitals shall
not be questioned.
He said today he had not changed
the opinions which he expressed in
an address delivered before the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations al
the beginning of his administration,
advocated use of surplus funds in eX-
pediting important public projects
aud the maintenance of definite
ratio between thsc national and fed
e"a1 governments in meeting the cost
of maintaining the Capital.
New Conduit Advocated.
In that address the Commissioners
mentioned as the Districts most i'm
l,ortant needs new conduit and a
NV aqueduct bridge. He said today
J." would favor surplus funds in the
Treasury, which amount to more than
S,,00O.000. being used in the rushing
% work on the conduit, which he
thinks should be completed in three
years. if possible. This would mean
ar expenditure of about 100000 a
, turally, would tend to reduce
mounts in the District budgets for
ether needed improvements unless
tre reserve fund in the Treasury is
drawn upon.
Half-nnd-Half Principle.
While Col. Kutz does not suggest
-:nat the proportional expense upon
the two governments should be, he
gave ample evidence in the federation
address that he considered the former
Tangement. when he said:
Il feel that even now the people of
the District are paying more than so
FER cent Of the cost of upbuilding and
maintaining this community. When
ever We extend any streets or avenues
or highways of the District, the cost
of acquiring the property must all be
assessed against other property in the
District. When land is acquired for
parks. a percentage of the cost must
be assessed against property. When
we pave alleys. lay curbs or sidewalks,
the property owners in front of whose
property. the work Is done must pay
so per cent of the cost, the United
States pays 25 per cent, so that the
peopie' uliccliy VI iiuITeCtly, pay 10
per cent"
Asked if he would state as a result
of his experience in the commission
ship, whether he considered the for
mer fifty-fifty or the present sixty
forty plan the more equitable, Col.
Kutz said today he had never pro-
posed to Congress what the division
of expense should be, but that q care
full survey of all the facts in the sit
uation would enable Congress to de-
wise a ratio that would be fair. He
thought ratio, once established,
would meet changing conditions sat
isfactorily over ten-year or longer
periods without requiring amend
ment.
AS to important public works, au-
fhorized or in contemplation. the
Commissioner unqualifiedly indorses
completion of paving on arterial
highways as the most important work
to be pushed at this time. Connecti-
cut, Georgia. Rhode Island and Mich
OILS avenues are mentioned specifically
in this connection.
Bridges Urgently Needed.
Bridges believed by the Commits
sioner to be urgently needed would
replace the present Calvert, Klingle
and Pennsylvania avenue structures.
Plans for a new Calvert street bridge
already have been prepared and ap-
proved by the Fine Arts Commits,
sion under an initial appropriation
provided for by Congress and it is
assumed that the forthcoming budget
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