Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23
Spring and Summer Program
of 1891 Starts March |;
Bridge Work Pushed.
$500 MEN PROVIDED
EMPLOYMENT BY PLAN
Bids to Be Advertised About Feb
ruary to Speed Up Pre-
liminary Preparation.

The Districts 1881 Spring and Sum
mer highway construction program will
be started at least two months in ad-
vance Of the regular schedule so as to
aid in relieving the unemployment sit
uation, it was announced yesterday by
Capt. H. G. Whitehurst, chief engineer
ana co-ordinator Of the municipal
government.
Plans completed by Capt Whitehurst
provide for beginning work on the high
ways about March /, whereas the
Highway Departments construction sea-
son normally starts about May /.
VIII Employ $500 Men.
The Spring and Summer program
VIII cost $2,500,000, and provide work
for approximately 2,5C0 men. About
100000 of this money remains in the
current appropriation for the Highway
Department, while the balance is car
rted in the estimates for 1882.
The advance In the construction pro-.
gram has neceSsitated a speeding up in
all preliminary work. Capt Whitehurst
has made definite arrangements to adj
vertise for bids about February /, with
view to getting the projects under
contract so that actual construction
-
By that time Capt. Whitehurst be-
heves the appropriation bill for the
1892 fiscal year will have passed Con-
gresS, making available funds needed
to finance all of the projects contained
in the Spring and Summer programs.
However, he plans to go ahead with the
work March /, irrespective Of whether
the appropriation bill is passed by that
date. The 100000 remaining in the
frk1 mill
enable the department to start on the
program without waiting for the 1882
appropriations.
Preparatory Work Arranged.
Capt. Whitehurst Is now issuing
schedules and releases of underground
construction for the purpose Of permit
ting the sewer and water departments
Of the public utility corporations to do
as much. of their work as is practicable
this Winter, thus enabling them to
keep their forces intact. Underground
construction must Of necessity precede
surfacing, and the schedules and re-
leases show the various departments
contemplating such work, where high
way improvements are to be made, so
they may complete the underground in
stallations. in advance of the paving.
In arranging schedules and field Of
operations, Capt. Whitehurst has given
preference to major thoroughfares and
necessary requirements in the down.
town business area, so as to obviate the
necessity of work in this section and on
the main highways leading into Wash
ington in 1882 during the George Wash
ington bi-centennial celebration. It is
Capt. Whitehurst's plans to have all
principal trafflc arteries leading into the
heart of the city from the District line,
Is well as downtown streets, in good
condition for the bi-centennial visitors,
many of whom are expected to come to
Washington in automobiles.
Bridge Projects to BE Pushed.
Aside from highway improvements,
Capt. Whitehurst also has completed
arrangements for starting work on the
major bridge construction projects. Bids
will be advertised about December IS
for the widening of the bridge over the
Baltimore d Ohio railroad tracks in the
line of Monroe street northeast. This
project is estimated to cost $135.000.
Another important bridge construc-
ton project, the replacement of the
Connecticut avenue bridge over Klingle
Valley, is to be started in March. Bids
are to be advertised about February !,
and the contract will be awarded a
month later. This new bridge will cost
$500, 900.