Evening star., 1923-10-12
sEEsD.C. STREETS:
SL|GHTEDBY j. S.
Trade Board Writes Con.
| gress of Needs, Showing
| 1920 Burden on City.

-
ot street improvements Is paid by
the federal government is empha-
sised az @ salient point In a letter
or 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 4 table in the letter Mr.. ShinA
points out that for each $1,000
spent in street improvements, the prop
erty owners pay one-half. or $500; tax
rsayers, 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 lib
priations is most costly to the tax
payers, because of numerous suits
for damage as result of injuries
TO persons and property caused by
detective 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-
spectfully 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: /. The National Capital
of the Union in the matter of well
paved and we'll lighted thorough
fares.
"2. Well lighted streets minimize
the dangers of accidents, holdups'
robberies and other mishaps.
"3. Good paved streets enhance the
pleasure Of travel and are a delight
to the thousands of your constttu-
ents, as well as other VISITORS from
-. The growth and development
of the District demand more arteries
of safe and convenient ingresS and
egress to and from the bordering
states.
the executive, legislative and judicial
departments of the government locat-
ed in Washington, there are many
public institutions of the United
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;
navy yard, Washington, D. c.: ex-
p. c.; Fort Myer. virginia; national
cemetery. Arlington. Va; Camp Meade,
Maryland: Boiling Field. Washington.
.. C.: Fort Washington. Maryland;
Fort Humphreys. Virginia, and Fort
f's. The half million of your dis
,franchised fellow citisens are entitled
to just treatment at the hands Of
their common council, the Congress of
the United States
, Tar 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 1l0.000.000 OF his family, pays
forty (4O) per cent Of one-half of the
cost of said improvements?
RecapttulatioK.
psndsd ESr every one thousand dollars ex-
Property owners pay M. $500
Taxpayers. 60 per cent of W. 800
United States, 40 per cent Of " 200
$1,000
az. The District of Columbia, as a
municipality. may be sued for, and ad-
Judged to pay for. damages for Injuries
10 persons and property growing out
OF accidents caused by defective streets.
The District has In the past paid out
many thousands of dollars for such in
turies. 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.
we are pleased to put at your dis.
posal our facilities for acQuainting your
self. ffrst-hand. with exact conditions
Of our streets and avenues. Should YOU
desire to tour the city at any time Kind
" advise the undersigned chairman
Telephone Main 532S.
May we count on you to actively ex-
tfon?"