Evening star., 1933-09-10
Proposed Changes in d. c.
Paving La,v Ciuen Close Study
More Equitable Assessments on Abutting
Property O,cners in Cases of Expen-
size Projects Are Sought.

District engineer officials have started
an intensive study of proposals for
modifying the District paving law to
make more equitable the assessments
on abutting property owners in cases Of
the laying Of extra heavy, expensive
pevements for heavily travelled thor
oughfares. it was revealed yesterday.
The main objective of the proposals
is to tighten the burden of the cost Of
such pavements now paid by owners
Of property along such streets and to
limit more definitely their assessments
to the extent of the local" benefit,
officials explained.
This thought is based on the princi-
pie, now generally recognized. that
major thoroughfares are primarily of
benefit to the city as a whole rather
than to owners along the street.
Gotwals Calls for Data.
Mai. John c. Gotwals. District En-
gineer Commissioner. has asked Capt
II c. Whitehurst. engineer of high
ways. to compile all necessary data on
the matter and to submit report and
recommendations. The study looks to
a possible recommendation to Congress
fol modification of the present paving
law to correct the present unequal dis
tribution of costs of heavy paving
projects which interested officials are
convinced exists.
The study is just now being started
in earnest although the general sub
ject has been q matter OF long consid
eraticn dating back to TIE substitution
of the present assessment system for
the old Borland law as a result of
levies under that law being knocked
down time and again in District courts
as unfair and inequitable
The new paving law was approved
February 20. 1881. While its enact
ment was brought about BY the numer-
Gus successful assaults upon the old
Borland law in local courts. it was
based primarily on front foot assess
ment for properties along a street i'm
provement The new law did set up
maximum limits of assessments and
otherwise eliminate inequities under
the old laws, but engineer officials are
definitely convinced Of, the need for
further relief in the cases of the heavy.
expensive pavements fSr traffic arte-
ries, they declared. In some cases the
effects Of the present system are out
rageous. one official said
Official Gives Illustration.
For instance. one official pointed out,
ing on purely local" street having
an old macadam roadway. Later,
traffic conditions demand the widening
OF the street to form an artery for
travel between other sections of the
city. A new paving with a heavy base
to carry the increased traffic load is
laid The new street is of a type far
beyond the needs or wishes of the ad-
joining owners, but they get the effect
OF the heavier costs, as well as heavy
traffic.
Another case cited is Of one street.
suitable to the Uses Of nearby property
owners. which quickly was pounded to
pieces by heavy traffic which was turned
into it for traffic reasons.
Many such cases can be cited. Off
cialS say. in support of the contention
that property owners along such streets
should be assessed only to the extent
of their benefit. figured on the pre-
sumption that the street is a local
roadway and not major traffic artery
Law Amended in 1916.
The Borland law. enacted in 1914
and amended in 1916. in some particu-
lars, provided generally that the prop
erty owners should bear one-half of
the cost Of paving abutting streets for