Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-09
BY JAMES E. CHM.

BY JAMES E. CHM.
A comprehensive and systematic pro-
gram of highway and bridge improve
ments is provided in the District ap-
preparation bill in the 1882 fiscal year,
now under consideration by the House
Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Carefully worked out by Capt. H. G.
Whitehurst, chief highway engineer OF
the District, the program calls for APP
preparations totaling $4,160,00O, an in
crease of $115,500 over the amount
allowed for the current fiscal year.
Under the proposed ALLEGATION, $3.50
900 would go to the surface division,
and the remaining $650,000 to the
bridge division. And of the total,
slightly in excess of SO per cent is set
ND as capital expenditures for new pro-
jects, and the balance for requirements
and maintenance.
Gas Tax Pays 81 Per Cent.
According to the calculations of Capt.
Whitehurst, 81 per cent of the total
estimate requirements of the surface di-
vision, will be financed from the gaso-
line tax revenues and the street and
road fund, and 43 per cent from gen.
eral taxes of which approximately
$3.50 900 is returnable under assessments
TO the Treasury. The amount returned
from assessments under the gas tax re-
verts to that fund. AL of the appropri-
alton for the bridge division, however,
is supported by general taxes, with none
returnable from assessments or other
sources.
The highway system of the District
exceeds 1000 mikes of streets, actual
and projected, of which about 726 miles
are opened and travelled. OF this, SOB
miles are improved with hard surface
pavement and macadam. divided into
274 miles of sheet and block asphalt.
ia miles of concrete and ITO miles OF
streets and roads surfaced with varying
forms of macadam of which approx
mately 80 miles have been curbed and
guttered and surfaced with asphaltic
materials and II miles are variously
paved with granite block and other
forms of surface. One hundred and
fifty-two miles are classified as unlm-
proved but travelled and have surfaces
of gravel, old material, cinders, etc.
Some Need Improvements.
A study of the development Of the
outlying main thoroughfares has con-
vinced Capt. Whitehurst of the need OF
a more progressive system in this phase
of the work, consistent with ownership
rights and traffic demands. Some OF
the arterial highways have been fully
developed from the heart of the city TO
the District line, it is pointed out WhlIe
others are in need of extensive improve
ment. BoulevardS within the city, con-
meeting its various sections 1t was SAID
are in need of improvement primarily 10
provide direct connections between I'M
nd m TalipVn hpQVV
travel on the arterial highways.
Capt. Whitehurst worked out his
program of development to cover
period of years, and submitted TO Con-
gress with the Highway Department
estimates the proposed work for the
first year under this program. In fact'
the proposed operation Of the depart
ment has been developed into a pro-
gram definitely arranged for the next
five wears. based upon appropriations
consistent with the estimates presented
in the 1882 budget.
The bridge system OF the District Is
comprised of 16 major structures and 81
of average size. Aside from maintain
ing these structures, the bridge division
also has under its care more than l3O
minor bridges and culverts, and, IN ad-
dition, is charged with the annual in
spection of rs miscellaneous railroad,
railway anu CdlLdl SGA ASNOANo'
Urges Bridge Requirements.
Capt. Whitehurst points out that six
of the major bridges should be replaced
within the next few years, and an equal
number of grade-croSsing structures
should be constructed. The replace
ment of all bridge structures and the
necessary grade crossing projects that
have been tentatively approved, he said,
oh hafnFP
projects are listed for consideration.
The work outlined as necessary in the
immediate future has been developed
into a program extending over period
of seven years.
The gas tax and street fund set up
at $4,000, 900 provides So projects. Out
standing of these are $45,lO0 for I'M
proving the Virginia approaches to
Highway Bridge and $58.400 for COM
pleting the widening to Sc feet of road
way of H street from Massachusetts
avenue to Thirteenth street.
The appropriation recommended for
the repair fund amounts to $1,175,00O,
an increase of 100000 over the APP
preparation for the current year. One
third OF this increase, however, is to be
used to improve streets in the Pennsyl-
vania avenue Mall triangle due to Fed
eral building activities. The work con-
streets around the new Department OF
Commerce Building-the west side OF
Fourteenth street from Pennsylvania
avenue to B street, the full roadway
Of Fifteenth street from B street north
to Pennsylvania avenue, and E street
from Fourteenth to Fifteenth streets.
Extensive repaving also Is contemplated
in the Capitol Plaza area. These i'm
provements, Capt. Whitehurst said, are
made necessary by changes in the Capt.
toll area.
b Street Big Project.
Another large project to cost $685.
is the widening to 80 feet of the road
way of street from Fourteenth street
to Virginia avenue. This is the first link
in the proposed B street boulevard run
ming from the Capitol to the new Me-
mortal Bridge The appropriation bill
as now drawn contains a proviso re-
quiring the United States Government
to pay 40 per cent of the cost of de-