The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-15
The Closing Of Streets to Traffic
By BILL PRICE.

This newspaper received many complaints regarding the
closing traffic Of streets under repair being rebuilt
Auto feel that comparatively little consideration is
given them in the way Of trying to make detours
and in the avoidance Of closing territory at one time
letter today is from citizen who lives in East Washing
ton works west Of the Treasury going backward and forward
A his fivver To escape the congestion Pennsylvania
his habit drive south that toroughfare through
the Mall section street. His wall is that Fourteenth
street from to the Bureau Of Engraving closed tight for
repairs that no provision has been made for crossing that
street through the dveway Of the Monument grounds and
fences.
from Fifteenth That too blocked Though poorly paved
street takes lot Of east and traffic off Pennsylvania
avenue and the Congested streets just south Of that
Of course says this writer you cant pave street and
use II at the same time BUT YOU CAN WAIT UNTIL. YOU
ARE READY TO PAVE BEFORE YOU DIG IT UP, and you
could pave side at time if any consideration at ali is
shown for public convenience They didn't do anything like
that with Fourteenth street They dug her up let her lay
The outcome is that about the way to get to East wash
Rockville = y" r.
The writer goes on to complain that in the old DAVIS b
bicycles were in vogue they used pinch us for this and
that until criminals as soon as we threw our a0s
oyer wheel You don see any Of that pulled on
blcycist but it's the way with automobiles You
cant drive down street without breaking some law and
while the city is rampant with booeggers and criminals
the time Of the police department is taken up almost wholly
IN pnchng automobiss for the most trivial violation
Another writer refers inconvenience Of AUTOMOBILES
traffic at Fifteenth and streets northeast and another to
various parts Of the city where repairs streets are apparently
delayed SO long that auto traffic becomes misery rather
Than a pleasure.
is but human to complain The average citizen Of the
District is so delighted streets being repaired and re-
built that he willing to suppress his irritation moon
venences feeling that better days are coming Yet there
does just ground for complaint that repair work
is often done without much thought Of the diff
cules thrown in the way of auosts of which could be
avoided Street paving and repair cost the city much money
and good that time be lost by workers paid out
OF the insufficient street appropriations provided by Congress
In many though the contractors for street work
who insist having everything easy for the making Of
good profits out of the municipality and who unconcned
to delays and Inconvenience caused the public by the
arbitrary and sometimes unnecessary blocking Of streets and
roadway Many times there nsufferabe delays in the
completion Of contract work, due writer points
to the fact that streets torn up before contractor
ready to push the work.
The engineer Of highways Of the District doubt follows
precedent and certain rules the closing of streets but
well for public officials to have in mind that they
servants OF the public ven though voeess one and that
and from their homes and places Of business
have things made for them possible particularly
in view of the fact that they pay the taxes which keep
up the streets.