Evening star., 1932-05-11

ment-Work that is far more costly than
filling in breaks and rutS.
Another serious effect of the reduc-
ton. it was pointed out, will be its in
fuence on the unemployment situation
Highway officials have figured that di-
rectly and indirectly between 400 and
SEQ men engaged in highway work will
be denied employment From Is to 90
per cent of these men would have been
employed by contractors The others
now connected with the Highway De-
partment force, are faced with a fur
lough.
Thus, with a reduced working force
and less funds on which to operate the
Highway Department will be pressed To
extreme efforts to maintain the streets
and roads in condition that has taken
more than five years and millions of
dollars to make satisfactory.
The S1,0l5,000 sought bv the High
way Department for repairs was di-
vided into three groups Five hundred
thousand were allocated for minor re-
pairs to all paved streets, alleys and
sidewalks. Three hundred and seventy
five thousand dollars we're for the repair
and maintenance of so-called suburban
roads and alleys, which includes all of
the outlying macadam roads and streets
and all unimproved but Travelled road
ways and streets. One hundred thou
sand dollars were for the surfacing, re-
Surfacing and repaving of existing paved
streets worn out through increased traf-
fic conditions or other causes where
maintenance cost is excessive and the
surface is in such condition as to make
it unfit for safe travel
Laid to Heavy Traffic.
The necessity for replacement. ac-
cording to highway officials, is due to
the fact that a great smany of the older
streets were built with concrete bases
of a very lean mix, and thin sections
are falling rapidly with the concen-
tration Of heavy traffic. While pave
mentS laid many years ago were ade-
quate and proper for that time it was
pointed out, highway conditions have
changed radically in the last 10 years
requiring pavements of greater strength
to withstand the heavier and increased
volume Of traffic and speed of motor
vehicles. Older pavements. with thin
and weak bases, required to take heavy
and faSt-moving traffic, it was said
are. rapidly reaching point of fatigue,
making requirements necessary to
avoid heavy and expensive mainte-
nance.
In slashing the Highway Department
estimates, the House also Topped off an
item of $4,000 for plans and surveys
for proposed viaductS over the Balti-
more g. Ohio Railroad tracks at Michi-
gan avenue and New Hampshire ave-
nue-the first step toward projects de-
signed to eliminate two of the four re-
manning grade crossings in the District.
The Michigan avenue crossing is on
a heavily travelled boulevard and is re-
-, 4s,,., l. Iay@
gerouS Construction of viaduct over
the railroad tracks at New Hampshire
avenue. it was said would permit the
opening Of a new highway connection
with Maryland. Property for the road
way from the proposed viaduct to the
Maryland line already has been ac-
uuired, but highway officials cannot go
ahead with plans to construct the road
until the viaduct is erected.
Hoped to Order Plans.
With the SIS 900 the highway depart
ment had planned to prepare plans Tor
the projects and make the necessary
surveys during the coming fiscal year
so that actual construction would begin
in 1884. leaving in 1885 but two grade
crossings in the District, one at Bates
road and the other at Quarrels street. |
at the end of the grade crossing re-
moval program because they are in out |
living sections and off the main arteries
of travel. Therefore, for $4,000. the
House would delay for year steps that
would lead to the elimination Of two
hazards to human life.
Effects on Lighting System.
Drastic cuts made by the House, ac-
cording to District officials, in addl- /
ton to the effects on the street system
described above. are destined to cripple !
the electrical department and result IN |
turning of between 1900 and 1900 /
street lights in various parts of the city. /
The House. without any explanation /
for it's action. reduced the fund for
street lighting and maintenance by
s96 900, leaving the electrical depart |
ment Sl54O0 short of the minimum |
amount required to meet the gas and |
electric bills in the coming year. and /
no money whatever for labor, NAM I
tenance and purchase of new equip |
ment
The Budget Bureau recommended an |
appropriation of S1,2l9,720 for the cleo |
trical department in 1888. OF that /
amount Sl0G6,000 was for street light |
ing and maintenance. The House al /
lowed S1,115, ,720, making the greatest /
reduction in the item for lighting. As
the bill went to the Senate. it carried
100000 in the street lighting item
Cost Put at S915,4OO.
An act of Congress prevents the |
lighting of the street lights any later
at night or extinguishing them any
earlier in the morning than under the |
existing schedule. So economies cannot |
be effected and the street lighting bill |
reduced in any other way than by the |
non-use of some of the lights now in /
service.
The street lighting system is made
up of 29, 800 lamps of various types. The |
majority of them use electricity for |
illumination. Some use gas.
To operate these lights for the fiscal |
year beginning July /, it was said, will |
cost $9l5.400, The appropriation for |
lighting and maintenance is $9l0 900. !
of which $4,000 is specifically set aside |
for a power survey, leaving 5000 900 to !
pay S9l5, 400 gas and electric bill to |
purchase new equipment, install lights |
on newly opened streets, to paint lamp |
posts and to purchase and erect street |
designation signs
After a preliminary survey attaches |
Of the Electrical Department calculated |
that If between ], 200 and 500 lamps |
are put out of service, sufficient funds |
would be saved to meet the gas and |
electric bills. Yet there would be moth |
ing left for maintenance the installa-
tion of lights on new streets and for
ether necessary services, the cost of |
which is estimated to amount to
$82, GOO.
The question now puzzling the Off
cialS Is whether further to economic !
on the street lighting bill by putting
more than 500 lights out of commits !
sion or drop all maintenance work the
erection Of new lamp posts in newly de-
veloped sections and leave new streets