Better avenues leading to the depots at the North End, and to Charlestown, are very much needed. The extension of Washington street to Haymarket Square and Portland street has been considered during the past year, and, although orders for the accomplishment of the object passed the Board of Aldermen, they were lost at the last meeting of the Common Council by a few votes. As this project will undoubtedly be again revived, it has been suggested that in connection therewith, the widening of Sudbury street, and the removal of Scollay's buildings, should be considered. If this should be accomplished Tremont street would be connected by a broad avenue with Haymarket square, which would, in turn, connect with the several streets which branch therefrom and lead to the depots, bridges and ferries at the North End. Although more important street improvements were authorized during the year 1868 than during the last year, yet the great amount of work of widening, building, and the settlement of damages and assessment of betterments, came within the duties of the year just past, it being an unparalleled year in that respect, and consequently the labors of the Committee on Laying out and Widening Streets have been more than usually onerous.

A plan for the laying out and grading of the streets on Fort Hill was matured by the committee having it in charge during the early part of the year, and the streets laid out by the city council accordingly, on the twenty-third of July last. This improvement has been delayed for several years on account of there having been no available place for the deposit of the earth. The laying out of Atlantic avenue has, however, relieved the city from the difficulty, and a contract has been made for the removal of a large portion of the hill, the earth to be taken to Atlantic avenue, which is to be completed by the terms of the contract on the first of September

next.

Oliver street has been completed during the past year, and opened for public travel; and a large portion of the expense of widening and grading the street has been assessed on the abutters according to law.

The projected avenue across South Bay for connecting Ward 11 with South Boston will undoubtedly be brought up for your consideration during the year, and is deserving of your special

attention.

The importance of straightening, widening and

extending the main avenues that connect the district embraced in the Highlands and Dorchester with the city proper are specially recommended to your early and favorable consideration.

PAVING.

The operations of the Paving Department during the past year have been very extensive, as was anticipated. From the first of January 1869, to the first of January 1870, there has been expended in the city proper, South and East Boston and the Highlands, the sum of six hundred and sixty-seven thousand eight hundred and seven teen dollars and ninety cents, including about five thousand dollars paid for grade damages, being two hundred and sixty thousand seven hundred and sixty-four dollars and one cent more than was expended in 1868.

In regard to important work performed by the department, mention may be made of the paving with small granite blocks of Tremont street, from Eliot street to Pleasant street, eight hundred feet in length; Federal street, from Summer street to the South Boston bridge, two thousand two hundred feet in length; and portions of Broadway, South, Kneeland and Cambridge streets, and the

squares around Faneuil Hall; also, the paving with wood portions of Tremont, Court, Bulfinch, East, School, Richmond and D streets, and Court square; also, the paving with round-stone of Federal street, from the Old Colony and Newport railroad to Dexter street, two thousand eight hundred feet in length, and of Hampden and Northampton streets one thousand six hundred feet in length; also, the raising and paving of Water and Devonshire streets and Spring lane; the grading of Dartmouth street and the streets around the Coliseum; the work on Shawmut avenue and Harrison avenue; the building of a wooden trussed bridge, two hundred and ten feet in length, on Dartmouth street, over the tracks of the Boston and Albany and Boston and Providence railroads, and an iron bridge on Dorchester street, over the Old Colony and Newport railroad.

The Committee on Paving have given considerable attention to the different kinds of pavement in use in other cities, with the view of making improvements, if possible, on our own streets. Visits have been made to New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, the operations and management of their street departments examined, and as much information obtained as time would permit, as to

the relative merits of the various kinds of pavements and their real worth.

The Committee and Superintendent are of the opinion that the small granite block pavement is best adapted for those streets most exposed to heavy travel. It is so even as to allow the carriage of heavy loads with comparative ease, and at the same time it affords a secure foot hold. Its durability, after several years' trial, is unquestioned. For streets in the vicinity of court houses, school-houses, banks and public offices, where freedom from noise is desirable, the wooden pavement is well adapted. During the year a considerable amount of the several varieties of this pavement has been tried. was laid down on East, Richmond, School and Tremont streets, the Stafford pavement on Court square, Court street and Cornhill court, the McGonegel pavement on Tremont, Bulfinch and D streets, and the Paul pavement on Tremont street. These pavements have given such general satisfaction that many petitions have been presented to the city government for their more extensive use; but the Committee on Paving, are of the opinion that a sufficient amount of the several varieties has been tried to test their relative merits,

The Nicolson pavement