Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-26

After a comprehensive survey and
study of the street system of Ia
koma Park Md, the street committee
Of the town council has submitted a
summary OF the general situation, to-
.gether with recommendations for con-
Sideration by the council, when pre-
pairing estimates for the next fiscal
year.
The survey showed there are on
the Maryland side of the town 26.5
miles of streets within the corpora
ton limits. There are miles closed
to public travel at the present time.
OF the 1875 miles open to traffic. 90
miles are concrete, 05 mile is btu
minous surfaced, 6 miles are cndered
and 6.5 miles are earth graded. The
general condition of the concrete
streets. with one exception, is held
satisfactory. Some of the surfaces
OF the new concrete pavementS are
uneven and are showing signs of
heavy wear: others are scaling and
beginning to fail. Most of these con-
ditions, it was said, can he made sat
isfactory by immediate repairs The
cinder surfaced and earth graded
streets have been scraped recently
and. with a few exceptions, are in
satisfactory condition for light traffic.
hut they must he constantly scraped
and dragged TO keep them in equally
good condition.
Many Demands on Town.
Continuing. the report says: Each
year requests to open new streets in
connection with subdivision develop
ment are submitted to the mayor and
council for approval. Substantial de-
velopments are necessary asset in
49, y ,f 'Tol-
and should be encouraged. In all
cases first consideration should he
given to maintaining and improving
the public streets already open. and
new streets should he opened when
such action can he fully justified as
general public benefit and will justify
the expenditure of the town funds.
The improvement of streets requires
a large investment of public funds,
and every effort should be made 10
preserve the investment in the most
economical and satisfactory manner
by systematic methods of maintenance.
Street Improvement without proVl-
siuns for adequate and systematic
maintenance is unecOnomlcal ana does
not justify the expenditure of public
funds Street improvements should
lie based upon the results Of a careful.
economical and engineering study or
existing conditions. Streets should lie
laid ont and pavements designed and
constructed with careful consideration
to location, grades. drainage and sub
grade treatment. Apparently all OF
these features were not fully cOnSld-
cred in the development of the present
town system.
For several years there has been
considered by the town only concrete
streets for substantial pavements.
Concrete pavements properly con-
structed provide an excellent street
and appear to he desired by the peo-
pie of the town. However. there are
other types of pavement of equal
merit which should he considered in
the street improvements to obtain the
most economical and satisfactory re-
suits
Inadequate Drainage System.
The report invites attention to- the
fact that the town has no uniform
drainage system for storm and surface
water, the drainage facilities now eX-
listing being inadequate to carry sat
isfactorily the normal surface rum
off Natural Waterways have been
depended upon TO a great extent TO
carry the water. but as the town de-
veloped many of these waterways
have been closed. Those remaining