Evening star., 1923-09-26

appropriations for streets and roads
in the District of Columbia, especial
ly for the arterial system carrying
the bulk Of the traffic: The appro-
priation allowed by Congress. was
increased little over 100000 to a
grand total OF $I.7S3.000.
Motorists OF Washington realize
that there is an urgent need for
additional street and road improve
main highways and Streets are in g.
deplorable condition and there are
literally hundreds of blocks where
houses have been built during the
last few years which are provided
with no permanent or even tempo
those neighborhoods to use the
streets in bad weather. All of these
residents pay taxes to the District
on their property In addition to the
taxes which many of them pay on
their automobiles. --'.
"The motorists Of the District con-
tributed Lass year for registration
tax, drivers licenses and permits
$445,711; also about $2s2.o0 in prop
erty taxation on their automobiles.
In addition 10 this. they paid fines
and fees amounting to over $i45.oo6,
making q grand total OF sss3.2sS.
BY reference to the attached tables
1t will be seen that there Is being
expended this year. for repairs TO
streets, avenues and alleys and for
county roads total Of about $685.
600. Thus 1t appears that the mo-
torists OF the District are paying
more than the entire cost Of repairs
on all streets, avenues, roads aAd
alleys I'm the District OF Columbia.
On the assumption that the moter
vehicle revenues should be used for
maintenance, as is the case In most
progressive states, and that property
taxation should be used for new work
or capital improvements, and that the
FEDERAL government is to pay 90 per
cent OF ali improvements In the Dis
be justified In spending at least ST.
SOC. 900 in the District for repairs and
maintenance. OF which the motorists
would pay about $s5o.00e.
we believe that the increase in
appropriations for new work should
be based somewhat upon the in
creased value of property and that
the increase In the appropriations for
maintenance and repairs should be
tased to rome extent at least on the
increases In automobile registrations
and the receipts from registrations.
We understand that property values
have increased in the District from
1922 to 1923 total of approximately
$oS,O00.000, or over 10 per cent. From
the tables attached you will see that
the Increases in automobile registra-
tions and the receipts from registra-
tions have increased at a much
greater ratio than the property
taxes. Thus II appears that an in
crease of 10 per cent or Is per cent in
the appropriation would be Justified
and that such an Increase would not
add to the present tax rate. -...
Need Of Coed Streets.
"As the District of Columbia is the
seat of the national government and
Is visited by hundreds Of thousands
Of tourists from ALI over the world,
naturally we believe that our streets
and roads should be at least equal
to ithase OF any other capital city in
the world. Certainly this cannot be
are cut below the present estimates.
I'VE are convinced that the people
generally throughout the country are
more than willing to have Congress
appropriate sufficient funds to place
and keep our roads and streets in first-
| class condition.
During the past year there has
been considerable safety work car
ried on by various organizations,
headed by the Safety Council. A
| number of private citizens have con-
tributed from their own funds sew
eral thousand dollars with which to
mark cross-walks and safety zones
for the benefit OF pedestrians and
motor car users. We believe that this
Is a work which should be done by
the city itself and that an appropria-
tfon of at least $4,000 should be al
lowed for this purpose
we are convinced that a careful
study should be made of trafic prob
lens In Washington by an experienc-
ed traffie engineer and that an appro-
priation is needed for that work. We
also desire to call attention to the
deplorable condition of our street
lighting system and to the necessity
OF an appropriation with which to
adequately light our main streets"
! The letter included a table, showing
the number of automobiles recfstered
| in the District from 1918 TO 1874. with
an estimate for 1894 and 1926, and a
| priations for streets and roads dnrin .
| the same period