Evening star., 1922-02-25
Streets in Select Residential
Sections Are Next to
impossible.
SOME UNABLE TO DRIVE
MACHINES UP TO HOMES
No Immediate Relief in Sight Un-
less Congress Awakens to Sc
riousness of Situation,

Thousands Of dollars invested in fine
homes on which the owners pay high
taxes line streets out 18th street way
that are muddy and In most instances
impossible. 1t was apparent to The
Star man who is inspecting the streets
Of Washington. In many instances
there is no roadway relief in sight
for these people for at least two
years. it was pointed out, unless the
Senate awakens to the seriousness OF
the situation and the helplessness of
the people.
There are many streets in this gen.
ton for paving or Improvement was
asked. but in the few cases money
was sought. and most of those were
cut out by the bureau OF the budget.
When The Star man stopped at 10th
and Varnum streets to view the con-
dition of the latter street on either
side of 10th street. Maj. Besson. Corps
of Engineers. United States Army.
and assistant engineer commissioner
for the District. came up in an auto
mobile. He. too. was inspecting the
streets and was taking pictures of
many of them.
No Relief In Sight.
He remarked that there was no re-
lief in sight for these people and ex-
pressed regret that better roadways
could not be provided for such fine
homes. Maj. Besson pointed out that
thousands of dollars were invested in
these homes. on which high taxes were
paid. Varnum street east OF 18th is
the scene Of building operation
which Is placing fine homes on both
sides of the street. For an automo-
bile driver to try to negotiate the red
clay Of this street" would be folly.
and people content themselves with
parking cars at the corner This
street borders on the proposed Piney
Branch parkway, the purchase Of
which the Senate has approved. West
Of 18th street this-street has been
graded to come extent. but there 10 NO
firm foundation and traffic already IL
cutting it up. 1t viii be continuous
task to try to keep it in condition until
Congress sees fit to give these people
something III return LOT IHe ldAtS lHcy
pay. 1t was pointed out. The homes
west of 18th street are occupied.
Buchanan street west of 18th street
has fine mixture of red clay as its
roadway. 1t Is marked by deep ruts
and residents there do not even try to
get their automobiles out. 1t would
be useless. One resident Of this street
told The Star man that he had been
unable to get his automobile out Of
his garage for three weeks.
The Commissioners asked for, and
the estimate was approved by the
budget bureau and the House, an
appropriation of $4,000 for the paw
ing of Crittenden street from 15tf
street to Piney Branch road. Inspec-
tion of this street reached by way of
Decatur street and Piney Branch
road from 10th street, showed that
it was Of worn macadam. badly cut
up in places. The section of the
Piney Branch road from Decatur to
Crittenden Ia a cinder roadbed. fast
being cut into deep ruts. Occupied
houses line the east side of this high
way.
Drive Through Alleys.
The next street which apparently
needed attention was Gallatin street
from Piney Branch road to 18th
street, and one has to drive around
through fine. paved alleys in order
to get a view Of 1t. 1t is another
one of those temporary roadbeds of
cinders. and now badly cut up, walt
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