The Washington herald., 1922-07-30

have an unusual appropriation for street work
this year. Because of the lamentably short
sighted policy Of the Budget Bureau and of Con-
gress last year. Washington is far behind in its
program of street improvement The 100000 asked
by the District Commissioners for 1922 was none
too much when the vast amount of work to be done
was taken into consideration. In fact the District
authorities might have asked for more with clear
eonsciences. Yet the estimate underwent slash after
slash, with the eventual result that only $2335o
was asked for, little than one-fourth Of the
amount needed
The most "hard boiled" economist must
realize the mistake. The District government has
been able to get along on S23s,soo simply by leav-
ing work undone The sum was ridiculous when
the need was surveyed. Much of the neglected
improvement must be made good next year.
The District Commissioners propose to ask for
SIzooooo for street work next year. That this sum
is needed not be questioned. Washington
in far from excellent shape Even the best
of them have deteriorated-despite commendable
efforts keep them up in the face of crying neces
siy for economy to stay within the appropriation.
The need grows more alarming every day.
Perhaps Congressman and officials of the
Budget Bureau judge the streets of the Capital from
those in restricted section Of the Northwest which
decent enough for ordinary purposes
Let them take ride some night around the
Northeast, the Southeast or ABOUND Georgetown
and they will have strong object lesson on the
crying need for larger appropriation.
1t must be remembered that many housing
projects have been carried out in Washington dur
ing the past two years. Street after street, both
of and detached houses, has been cut through.
People have Purchased these houses with the rea-
sonable expectation that the streets would be i'm
proved at once. Nothing has been done. The
streets still are mudhoies-ttle better than ploughed
strips of land They are fruitful of broken axles.
In the spring car goes up to the hubs in mud.
Conditions for many taxpayers are almost unendur-
able.
1t is essential that the work of paving these
streets, Of making them fit for human residences,
be started possible. 1t is the duty of the
District of Columbia to give the people who have
invested money in this property fair deal
Yet if the appropriation asked for is
slashed seriously there will be outlook except
for another muddy winter.
Some minds are too small to grasp the rapid
growth of Washington. They visualize still the
city of ten years ago. They wonder why larger
street work appropriations now are necessary. The
District is spreading out rapidly Fields where
cattle grazing peacefully few years ago
contain row after row of homes which would
be happy enough if it were not for the nfudholes
in ront of the doors. Property has been improved
with great rapidty, considering the scanty means
which have been allowed to give the people decent
streets instead of cowpaths 1t would seem some
times that those responsible for the appropriation
slashes do not know that this is age of auto
mobiles and that the day is past when folks used
to drive to town with
The growth of Washington will be retarded
seriously unless some dependable provision for
building streets be had. The to be
asked is none too much. In fact $I,2ooooo is
lar from enough to bring the required work up to
date.
There were many people out of work last win
ter. Most American cities avaied themselves Of
the opportunity help their citizens by public
works-street buildings, ete.-when labor could be
secured at a moderate cost. Washington could not
take advantage of this opportunity because all the
money available was inconsequential compared with
the amount needed. The work must be done
with labor difficult to obtain.
The situation is serious indeed. Are the newer
sections of Washington to be made worthy Of the
Nations Capital! Or they to continue as mud
holes, Work is needed at once. Material is needed
at once. And it all will cost money.