Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-01

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sion and the Washington Sub
urban Sanitary Commission
share IN the responsibility. The
area is serviced with gas and
electricity by the public utility
companies of the District Of Cos.
lumbia.
But nowhere in "this complex
network" Is there q single unit
Of government responsible to the
people for a coordination Of
these functions (which ordinar.
lily demand o-ordination in such
community"
Improvement Setup Hit.
The system Of special improve
ment districts employed in the
county also came in for criticism
in the survey. 4
The districts were authorized
by the 1941 session of the Mary-
land Legislature to permit citi.
zens Of an area to provide spec
cial improvements for them.
selves.
Although the districts are tax
ing areas, the service or function
for which they are formed 10
carried out by the county De.
partment Of Public Works.
All of the districts are in un-
Incorporated areas and in many
instances lie next to incorporated
areas.
Their size varies from 80
homes to 5000, with an esti-
mated average at $50 to 800.
The report points out the
technique is widely used 'tfor the
exercise of governmental func.
ton across boundary lines In
which it is less feasible for q
single existing unit of govern
ment to operate" =
It adds, however, ''this justifi.
cation does not exist in Primes
Georges County"
The districts were considered
responsible for 3 delay in the
incorporation ot the areas and
thus the full development of ur-
ban services. The report advises
a less frequent use of the device.
Street Mileage Increases.
81
1t is revealed that during the
fiscal year 1858 the town govern
ments spent approximately 80
per cent as much as the county
on roads and spent all that was
expended on sanitation and waste
/ removal.
An indication of the towns
highway and street problems was
revealed in the increase in inn
proved street mileage maintained
by the towns from l48 miles in
l947 to 2l4 miles in 1858. The
increase during the period is ap-
proximately IS per cent of the
1947 figure.
None of the towns performs its
street work with its own persons.
mel.
In all cases the work is ac.
complished by contract with
private persons. A wide variety
in procedures for maintenance Of
streets was reported. s.
1T is not possible to determine
the degree of economy and efis
cheney which is achieved by the
towns in their street work" the
report stated. cit would seem
that a central agency for the de-
velopment Of standards and spec
ihcat1ons and for inspection
would be useful to the towns"
Because Of the wide variety in
the percentage of total town
expenditures for streets, the re-.
port suggests further study Of
the. performance of each town In
construction and maintenance Of
highways.
Garbage Collection Varies.
A variety in arrangements for
garbage collection also was
noted, and this field was consid-
cred to hold possibilities for
greater cooperation and econ.
omies. "a
Although citing a need for
further study of the problem,
the report said:
1T seems reasonable to assurio
that there are possibilities Of
economy In the fuller use of
equipment. Some towns Use
their garbage trucks for only
part Of the week with the re-
suit that they stand idle DURING
the remainder. A central COZ
lection service would seem to Of
fer opportunity for economy.
This needs to- be studied, how.
ever. not only in terms Of doi-
lars saved but also in service
rendered" .