Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09

other elements of structural Washing
ton. The Mall, Lafayette Square and
the Triangle are other units of the gen.
eral scheme which in time will testify
further to the excellence of the 1901
idea.
The avenues Of the L'Enfant plan
bearing the names Of the States have
now been extended beyond the limits of
the original city, in some cases all the
way across the District to the Mary
land line, making connection with the
main roads of that State and thereby
afording ready entrance and exit to
and from the center of the District for
The thousands of tourists who from East.
North and West must cross Maryland to
reach the National Capital. Straighten-
ing and widening these thoroughfares
has greatly facilitated the constantly
increasing volume of traffic
A notable case In point is Rhode
Island avenue, which by agreement with
"The Old Line State" has now been
projected to the eastward to provide
Tor more direct connection with U. S.
Route No. !, over which thousands of
cars pass daily between North and
South. Another important extension
now IN process of development is that
of Sixteenth street, which leads direct
~ north from the White House and
Lafayette Square, in the center of which
Is located the extraordinary statue of
Gen. Jackson, mounted on a prancing
steed with curly name and tail. Where
sixteenth street crosSes.the District line
into Maryland 1t is planned to build
oeautiful gateway with a triumphal
arch or other suitable form of memorial.
Old Trees Replaced.
In the old city, now downtown WASH
ington, many of the 'gridiron" streets
devoted entirely to business have had
their roadways widened from 80 or 40
feet to so and 80 feet. This, accom-
plished by borrowing sidewalk space,
which was often IS or 80 feet in width,
was done against the noisy protests of
older Washingt onians, who were krieved
at the removal of many trees that had
been planted and nurtured since the
village days. The extraordinary growth
OF the Capital In the decade has made
necessary such drastic surgical opera
tons to meet the demands for business
and to relieve traffic congestion. To the
everlasting credit of the Federal and
District Governments immediate re-
placement of the trees has been made
and, wherever possible, trees Of finer
and sturd1er character were planted,
and are being carefully guarded and
cared for by the District forester.
In the decade the District has made
more and better pavements. On June
30, 1919, the records show that there
were in round numbers 7,352,000 square
yards Of street pavements of different
claSsif1catiOnS. On the same date in
June, 1929, the record was 8,606 900
square yards, net increase Of over
1,250, 900 yards, or Ill per cent.
1t has long been the rule, by custom
and law, that streets in the District,
once paved. shall be renewed with the
same material; in those streets In
which in the early days nlacadam had
proved adequate, automobile traffic of
later years demanded more subStan-
tial type. In street widenings the added
width Of pavement has been of the
same type as the old. In the extension
OF main thoroughfares through new
territory the new pavement has been
almost invariably of cement concrete
OF the 619 miles Of streets now i'm
proved, 369 miles are of asphalt, con-
crete or macadam, 81 miles are of
various kinds of blocks and other mis-
cellaneous types, and 1873 miles tenn
porarty maintained with gravel sur
faces.
Parks Well Developed.
The parks Of the District have been
skillfully developed in widely separated
areas, utilizing picturesque Rock Greek
and its branches, and other sections
almost too rugged for domestic uses,
with results altogether charming, but it
yet remains to connect these beauty
spots by parkways passing through the
changing scenes of frowning cliffs and
rolling lowlands to tidewater levels at
Hams Point and the yacht harbor. Rock
Greek drive, soon to be completed, viii
pass under the so-called Million Dollar
Bridge, on Connecticut avenue, and into
Potomac Park at the great circle about
the Lincoln Memorial and the water
gate now being built at the northern
end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
The complete union of North and
South, accomplished in the minds and
hearts of the people in the half century
which has elapsed since the War Be
tween the States, is about to be sealed
by the completion of q permanent
bridge spanning the Potomac and re-
uniting with bonds of stone and steel
the lands that were for brief period
separated by this noble river.
The Mcmillan plan stressed the i'm
portance Of Water street as connect
ing link In the boulevard system between
Potomac Park, the War College and
Anacostia Park. Present plans Of the
Corps Of Engineers contemplate the
building Of bridge across the waterway
connecting the Tidal Basin with the
washington Channel, which will provide
a driveway joining the so-called Speed
way around Hams Point with Water
street.
It Is entirely feasible to combine COM
mercial and boulevard features In Water
street, which borders the Washington