Evening star., 1936-08-23
$1,100,0DO BOOST
MFUNDS ASKED To
IMPROVE STREETS
Increase of 68 Per Cent in
Highway Appropriation
| Proposed for District.
S4,2O0,O0O IN PROJECTS
LISTED IN ESTIMATES
Budget Calls for Expenditure Of
100000 More Than Now
in Sight.
Ry DON s. WARREN.


An increase of 68 per cent in high
way improvements for the next fiscal
year is proposed in the 1898 estimates
Of the Highway Department, released
yesterday. Street. sidewalk and bridge
projects which would cost S4,206, ,28O
are sought.
Rough calculations by budget Of
ficials showed the increase of Sl,705,-
900 over appropriations for the same
purposes for, this year. if approved,
would require some 100000 more in
gasoline tax revenues than are now in
sight.
Virtually all highway improvements
and maintenance costs are paid out
of gasoline tax funds. In the 1888
estimates, only S253,000 would be
charged to general fund revenues.
Maj Daniel j. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer, estimated that if the
entire proposed highway budget was
approved it would use up surplus
of s400,0 900 which may be expected IN
gasoline tax funds at the end of this
fiscal year, and call for about $4,000
additional Such q calculation makes
allowance for an increase of about
100000 in gas tax collections which
may be expected this year and next
on the present 2-cent tax.
The estimates carry authorization
OF s1,500,000 for construction of a new
PENNSYLVANIA Avenue Bridge over the
Anacostia River S650,000 Of which
would be available for starting con-
struction next fiscal year; and Sl00 900
for completing construction OF new
Chain Bridge over the Potomac, for
which $25O0QO is available this year.
An item of s25,OoO for planning the
new Anacostih span is included in the
1887 appropriations.
Increases also are sought for new
paving work, street widening projects,
curbs and cutters, resurfacing and
maintenance of highways.
At the same time the Commis-
sioners made public the 1888 esti-
mates of the Water Department, re-
vealiug that division isxseaking ST.
4o6.140. an increase of some 100000
over this year, or about 16 per cent.
The Water Department. however. es-
Inmates its 1888 program will leave
surplus in its fund of some s776,000
at the end of the next fiscal year.
The Water Department also pro-
poses to continue in force the 25 per
cent reduction in water rents, and the
allowance of 10000 cubic feet on
minimum bills. and a reduction in
water main assessments, adopted
about two years ago.
New Water Mains Proposed.
The department also proposes lay
4ng of two new water mains to i'm
prove service to the southeast and
Anacostia sections and to the south
west area, at a total cost of $3.50, 900
The proposed increase in highway
funds for next year is based on several
causes. officials say. For one thing,
the home building boom has made a
great increase in demands for street
improvements. For another, for this
year and next the District does not
have the large Federal grants, through
the United States Bureau of Roads,
Tor Federal highways and their direct
feeder connections, which were avail
able last year and the year previous.
Estimates of the actual expected
deficit in the gasoline tax fund for
next year are uncertain. However.
receipts for the past fiscal year
amounted to SASH 900. Even as
suming that gasoline tax receipts in
creased at the rate of 100000 this
year and next and allowing for collec-
ton of 100000 charged to the rail-
roads and the Capital Transit Co
there still would be deficit of about |
100000 at the end of next fiscal year. |
budget officials calculate.
The bills against the railroads are
Tor part of the cost of the new cross
ings for the tracks north of New York
avenue northeast and those against
the Capital Transit Co. for the cost of
repaving track areas which have been
abandoned. A legal battle is in pros
pect over the latter charge.
List Not Completed.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director of
highways. has not yet completed the
list OF street improvements which
(see STREETS, Page B-2)