Evening star., 1935-07-31
SOUTHEAST WANTS.
NEW AVENUE SPAN
Present Bridge Inadequate,
Association Says-HoIds
Section Neglected.

ate share of public Improvements, y
the Southeast Business Mems ASSocia-
ton has urged the District Commits
sioners to replace the Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge in the interest of safety
and remove the "health-menacing''
garbage disposal plant within its
boundaries.
In letter the business mems group
charges Southeast Washington has
been neglected; that it has paid for
the imt r)vement OF other sections
while i.s conditions have remained
obsolete.
ut is desired at this time to direct
your attention to the conditions OF
Southeast Washington" the letter
read. There are IL, ,622 families, con-
sisting Of 67.337 people. who contrib
ute to the payment of levied taxes and
assessments, residing in this section
of the city. The taxes paid amount
to approximately 1512 per cent of
those paid by the entire city, and in
return this section has received in the
past but approximately per cent Of
all taxes expended for improvement.
Other Sections Held Favored.
Gas a result the section has been
neglected in the repair of streets,
the construction of bridges and nu-
merous other necessary improvements,
while other sections of the city have
received numerous improvements far
in excess of the taxes paid by such
sections, such as the construction Of
three bridges in the northwest sec
tion of the city during the last three
years"
In requesting new Pennsylvania
avenue bridge, the organization asked
that an estimate to cover the cost
of initiating the replacement Of the
span be included in the District
budget for the year ending June 30
1887.
This association, as well as the
Citizens Associations Of East Wash
ington, including the northeast and
southeast sections" the letter con-
tinued, "are unanimous in approving
the replacement of this inadequate
and dangerous bridge, which Is one
of the oldest structures of this nature
IN the District of Columbia.
Guard Bars Trucks.
"This bridge was constructed in
1890 and is of such narrow width
that it permits the passage Of but
one lane of traffic in either direction.
In view of approximately $4,000 We
hicles that pass over this bridge every
day, it is obviously inadequate to meet
the needs of present-day traffic. At
the present time the span is con-
sidered in such precarious condition
that a guard has been placed at
either entrance to prevent trucks Of
more than 10 tons from passing onto
the bridge.
1T is believed that your action in
approving this item for the survey
ing and engineering investigation for
the replacement of the obsolete and
inadequate Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridge will greatly encourage the citi-
zens of Southeast Washington who do
not request a pretentious bridge but
merely an adequate, safe structure
which will cost but one-third of the
amount expended in the past for a
number of bridges in the city. 1t is
desired to have an annual appropria-
tion in the amount Of $250,000 until
the completion of the bridge, which
would be less than the amount Of
taxes paid each year by the citizens
of Southeast Washington"
Garbage Plant Custer Asked.
Discussing the removal of the gar
bage disposal plant, the business men
said:
Southeast Washington feels that
1t has been neglected, that it has
paid for the improvement of other
sections while conditions in this par
ticular section have remained obso-
1ete, and that in addition to the lack
of an appropriate share of public i'm
provements it has been forced to har-
Dor the garbage disposal plant for
the whole city, which is an eyesore, 0