Evening star., 1923-10-12
SEES D. c. STREETS
SIGHTED BY U. S.
Trade Board Writes Con.
gress of Needs, Showing
1920 Burden on City.


, of street improvements is paid by
the federal government is empha-
sized as salient point in a letter
Of appeal sent today to all members
of the Senate and House by the
streets and avenues committee of the
Washington Board Of Trade for more
liberal appropriations for this pur-
pose this year.
The letters were sent over the sig
nature of George C. Shinn. chairman
of the committee. and they bring
strongly to the front the fact that
street improvements are not really
paid for on the sixty-forty basis.
In table in the letter Mr.. Shinn
points out that for each $1,000
spent In street improvements, the prop
erty owners pay one-half. or $500; tax
payers, so per cent Of one-half, or $500,
and the United States 40 per cent of
one-half. or 5000.
Mr. Shinn also points out that the
failure of Congress to be more no
eral in the matter of street appTo-
priations is most costly 10 the tax
payers, because of rHlmerous suits
for damage as a result OF injuries
to persons and property caused by
defective streets.
Inspection Is Proposed.
He asks each member to exert his
energies toward better street I'M
provements and lays open the facili-
ties Of the board for acquainting the
members with the facts, even to the
extent of taking each and every one
on a tour of the city streets. which
are used by constituents of the con-
gressmen who come here
The letter follows: THE commit
tee on streets and avenues OF the
Washington Board of Trade re-
spectsully- presents to you, as one
of the legislators of the District of
Columbia, this appeal for more lib
eral appropriations for street I'M
provements in our National Capital.
Reasons: l. The National Capital
should set an example to the cities
of the Union in the matter OF Wen
paved and well lighted thorough
"2 Well lighted streets minimize
the dangers of accidents, holdups,
! robberies and other mishaps.
SO. Good paved streets enhance the
pleasure of travel and are delight
| to the thousands of your constttu-
ents, as well as other visitors, from
nome and abroad.
"A. The growth and development
of the District demand more arteries
egress TO and from the bordering
states.
IS. Besides the many branches of
the executive. Legislative and judicial
departments of the government locat-
ed in Washington, there are many
public INSTITUTIONS of the United
States located in nearby states These
institutions necessarily are daily In
communication with various Offices
within the District of Columbia, and
good direct avenues of travel to and
from the District mean quick service
and less expense"
Institutions Listed.
Among such institutions may be
mentioned the following:
Marine barracks, Quantico, Va;
naval proving grounds. Indian Head.
Md; Naval Academy, Annapolis. Md;
perimental station Navy, Belleview,
D. c.; Fort Myer, Virginia; national
cemetery, Arlington. Va; Camp Meade,
Maryland: Boiling Field, Washington,
! D. c.; Fort Washington, Maryland:
| Fort Humphreys, Virginia, and Fort
Hunt, Virginia.
"6 The half million of your dis
| franchised fellow citizens are entitled
! to just treatment at the hands of
their common council. the Congress OF
the United States.
! do you realize that for every dol
! lar expended on paving the streets
\ of Washington. as distinguished from
! county roads. the property owners
! affected by the improvements, pay
| one-half thereof? OF the other half
| expended. the taxpayers of the Dis
! trict pay sixty (60) per cent; and
| Uncle Sam, who makes his home here,
! and uses the streets for himself and
! the. 1I0.000.000 of his family, pays
| forty (4O) per cent of one-haif Of the
cost of said improvements?
Recapifulation.
| For every one thousand dollars ex-
| pended,
Property owners pay A... $500
| Taxpayers, 60 per cent OF " 800
United States, 40 per cent of Il 200
| $1,000
] az. The District of Columbia, as a
municipality. may be sued for, and ad-
! judged to pay for, damages for injuries
| of accidents caused by detective streets
! The District has in the past paid out
many thousands of dollars for such in
juries. There are claims now pending
| for like causes, and. unless relief is af-
| forded, many more accidents will hap
pen-followed by payment of damages.
to say nothing of the loss of human life
! and the manning of many travellers on
] our public highways.
| I'VE are pleased to put at your dis
posal our facilities for acquainting your
! self, hrst-hand, with exact conditions
! of our streets and avenues. Should YOU
! desire to tour the city at any time kind
! ly advise the undersigned chairman.
| Teleuhone Main 1928.
May we count on you to actively ex-
>l-