The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-09-03
How Some of Our Streets May
Be Vastly Improved
By BILL PRICE

source of Just and continuous complaint.
Year in and year out there is held out the promise tnat
when appropriations become available conditions viii be
better or that winter weather is over there VIII be
activities in the highway department that will improve things
MI around.
Now comes the annual report Of the engineer OF highways
who appeals for funds for resurfacng streets and says
that the average age Washington streets beyond that OF
other municipalities evidenced oy the oe1erOraeo con-
dition Of older streets.
The District highway engineer points out that there
ong arrearage neglect to be made up It Is true
that for many Congress grossly negectn wash
neton streets make satisfactory appropriations
This brought about the arrearage referred to- In the last
two appropriation bills there has been liberal provision for
streets but the Commissioners should demand ample appro
praons the next few years put our thoroughfares
condition that reflects credit this beautiful city and not
discredit, at present
While Congress is to blame for small appropriations Is
not to blame for all shortcomings have been
md still experiencing
The District Government: must responsibility in
ways them being in inferior work that is often
done by contractors for which there to be little useful
remedy another being the failure Of somebody in the Dis
st Building compel street railways to meet the full
quremen of the law that they shall bear the cost of street
c0nsucn and repairs between tracks and for two feet on
Rither side
Il Is serious thing this matter of permitting beautifully
paved become partial wrecks through failure to
pei street railway companies their legal obligations
Ceneraes useless proceed to be specific In the
hope that what has been going long viii be corrected
years ago Nichols avenue southeast from the
foot Of what known the asylum hill to the top Of the hill
asphaed heavy cost property and
This work caused much rejoicing in that section affording
vas believed beautiful driveway The entire roadway in
pInding the railway tracks, asphalted
Two bad winters with icy conditions forced the rail-
md other means In doing this and also through natural
and along the tracks the asphalt paving wrecked
% hundreds Of places leaving holes and gaps that both
dangerous and unsghtly
There has been occasional hearted patching of these
In less than four years what promise of being
satisfactory roadway is through the middle at least most
On the opposite side Of the District Georgia avenue
the paving Improvement Of which has, and must yet cost
tracks the paving is crsdabe but virtually nothing has been
done in between the tracks into which automobiles must
in passing each other.
should be corrected the public should know why cannot
be done.
It spend many thousands Of dollars Of
to put down paving each side OF tracks
II the spaces in between the tracks remain
traffic and disgrace to the neghborhoods It is just
less spend all this money fine roadways the
companies refuse to obey the law about making repairs in
the portions Of the rOadways the law says be kept
1t their expense.
The center of roadways on which street car tracks are To-
Gated are Just important to traffic these days as on the
sides Automobiles pass each other and do they
must go among the car tracks where the condition Of the
paving should be just good as elsewhere.
The deplorbe condition of Nichols avenue it may be
stated is not recent has existed since few months after
this tOrOughare asphated The street railway company
has either refused do its in resufacng and repairs
has been allowed to get away with things it fit
Georgia avenue should be splendid thoroughare: pride
60 the whole city Is it going to be that long the middle
Of the avenue among the tracks, is allowed to stay in
present disgraceful condition?
Under modern traffic conditions unquesonaby unfair
railways should be compelled pave and
repairs for feet either side of and In between tracks
The streets belong to the public They for the of ALL
The maintenance of tracks and the running of heavy
does greater deterioration than from other vehicles
but the railway companies should not be required pay ALL
THE COST portion, their just portion would be the
thing.
law however says otherwise and the District Govern
ent has right easing the street railways any
than would the smallest and poorest taxpayer Every
property in this city whatever taxes assessments
may be levied him. he must do matter how unjust
the assessments and assessments for street paving and
snfacng unjust The burden is often heavy people
Of moderate means but the District building doesn
anybody. It collects the tolls.
Responsible officials should compel compliance with the
law the Of street railway companies until the
Nonnro "a do NoxdiA; nnuu: !.