The Washington times., 1923-09-14
Widening Streets to Relieve
Traffic Congestion
Suggestions That Meet With the Favorable Consideration
of Washingtonans Generally Business Men Particularly
Bv BILL PRICE.

Washingtonians generally business particularly heartily
commend the suggestion IN ns newspaper nas tine nCEeang
will greatly relieved by the prompt widening OF the road
way of Thirteenth street northwest and other streets in the
Entirely Of the issue between the Merchant.
and Manufacturers Association and the District Commissioners
as to doing away with oneway streets in congested portions
Of the downtown district the Commissioners must meet the
problems are tantazng enough in every big city Of the
United States Washington exception The sauraton
AUTOMOBILES More than 100000 licenses to operate motor
vehicles will be issued in Washington next year. With the
oeass in the serious problems to their operation
Washington must look ahead to attempt to solve the diff
way space for moving machines and for parking win be help
full It little known fact that the sidewalks Of Thirteenth
street. north south of Pennsylvania avenue are thirty
feet wide of sixty sidewalk that thorough
fare sidewalk width alone equaling the total width Of
feet could be spared from sidewalk and
added to the roadway making that street. next to Penn
wanna the ideal automobile thorOugfare Of busy
part Of Washington entirely doing away with oneway traffic
The large majority Of property owners along Thirteenth street
their property might derive therefro the general
benefits to the entire community Congress would have to
the property would pay the bulk Of the the
long That is Of the unfair things connected with
taxation laws Of the District The widening Thirteenth or
any other street is for the general good Of the
mun yet the property must meet the expense in
addition to the regular taxes they pay into the District
treasury.
Thirteenth street used here merely as an example, The
widening OF other streets whether running east and
north and south would be of material the traffic
problems confront The widening Of northwest
has been suggested That thorougare not have the
unnecessarily wide sidewalks Of Thirteenth street. but
gnees have stated that the sidewalks could be decreased
IN width and the roadway widened without dement to
public interests to property values
The Engineer Commissioner Of the District would know
best to what be done widen the roadways Of
streets He at least knows that traffic conditions would
prove immensely there could be widening Of the road
ways OF number Of streets running in different directions
The entire community is vitality concerned in these
Business probably the greatest sufferers
present congesed conditions and their difficulties win in
crease with the operation Of machines Within the
last year Or 30 there has been large Jump in the Of
delivery in every business establishment in Washington due
almost wholly to traffic hndrances That increase in some
instances has been fully 40 cent One business sent
delivery Of to another business house recently
The truck containing the merchandise compelled to
around block EIGHT times before being able to get
the curb There necessarily much delay prompt de-
Hveries.
Business establishments not connected with alleys in which
20 load their deliveries against much of time
that costly to them and eventually to purchaser because
increased costs Of delivery must into overhead charges
With the Commissioners trade and civic organizations
operating for relief there every believe Congress
viii give an attentive Congressman listen well where their
convenience involved and this traffic congestion gets
close to Senator Congressman who or
Is driven In