Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-17

denunciatory remarks. While the ignorance of
visitors as to who has the entire control over
the avenues OF this city may excuse their fndig-
nsation, yet how unj1stiiiable are SUCH enpres-
In the premises, and are alone accountable for
Its shameful condition. have been before Con-
gress with several committees of our citizens
asking for the authority 10 have Pennsylvania
avenue paved, but never have we been able 20
Houses
Let me state an incident right In point, re-
Gently related to me, which occurred some three
or four years ago. The property-holders on
Louisiana avenue, between 9Th and 9TH streets,
on whichfronts the Seaton House, disgusted at
the horrid conditio of the street. and knowing
the hopelessness of getting authority from Con-
gress within the lifetime Of human patience,
resolved to take the responsibility of putting
DOWN valuable pavement at their own expense,
trusting that Congress (Which has exclusive con-
troll OF the avenue) would passively acquesce;
but no sooner had they commenced the proposed
improvement than an officer Of the Government
prohibited their going ON with the work until
first acquiring authority from Congress.
Messrs. Congressman. and your constituents
visiting the National Capital, give full vent to
your curses and indignation at the condition of
the avenues Of Washington The reason why
they are 30 but illustrates the truth of the old
saying that 'your curses, like chickens, come
home to your roost." daughter and cheering.l
That the question of Jurisdiction over the ave-
nues of Washington may be freshened to the
minds of Congress and the country. submit
some extracts from report made by the Hon.
Samuel l.. Southland, of New Jersey, late Vice
President OF the United States, to the second
session of the Twenty third Congress, i'm 1885:
the dinen.ons Of the Streets deter
mined 10y them, without interference by the inhabi
venienee. 1t is plan caicuatedfor the magnificent
capital OF great nation; but oppressive, from its
tants, if its execution 20 any extent Is to be thrown
upon them. No people who anticipated the execu-
funds would ever have dreamed Of forming such a
plan. 1t would have been consummate folly. At
tor: ecntemplated that the Whole or even large
proportion, OF the burden, should be thrown upon
ply sustained by two considerations In the first
place, the contract between the Government and
extent of public lots sufficient for all the edifces
and improvements which its convenience could
require: and i'm addition thereto one half of all
the building lots within the city limits thus making
a saus q all s
nj 81 Which ms be- p%rd n al t the
the present. has claimed and exercised entire and
that the inhabitants or the Corporate Authorities
have no power either to enlarge to diminish them
al
1t has even closed one Of the streets and sold the
the situation Of the streets and canal retaining to
itself the lots thereby thrown and the supreme
could have entered into the contemplation OF any
one at the date Of the contract nor can il now be "a
should bear the expense Of the streets the property
and control Of which was 50 absolutely in the Gov
cent, which belonged to it, must be Increased in
value by their improvement.
ment was bound by every principle of equal rights
and Justice to pay proportion Of the expenses in
property which Il held and Which was se incressea in
value and benefited by ii and this would have been
the streets are its property and to be regarded
as altogether under its control it is not easy to per
than in arder and Se nrees sTs
be regarded for the joint convenience of the Gov
eminent and the inhabitants the expense of main
tanning them should be joint: and in proportion to
their respective interests. The early action Of the
in conformity with this principle, but the Govern
tive proportion It's expenditures for this object
have been comparatively small, and devoted almost
entirely to the avenues and streets which are indis
and the public Offices To exhibit the views of Those
Mao %ere m t. oy me nation with control and
this report from President Washington to tn.
from President emerson to the lone Saie
A a - isi and coy 81 message from Mr.
Congress has expended nothing except upon
streets which adJoin the public squares, aud even
and set out some trees along the squares leaving the
rect OF the expense OF even those streets to be borne
while on the other hand, the city has not only
expended its money on the streets where even the
spsas ops1es and esdns To- @
national establishments at the Navy Yard and Ar
senal, and those leading to and around the public
squares and reservations belonging TO the nation.
and thus, by its own means, enhanced the value OF
| public PR perty.
The mmense, property of the Government whicl,
has been thus keneited has been at all times free
from TAXATION while the property OF indiy duals
joining has been subjected TO it. In several of thu
states of the Union, where the Government holds
taxes have been expended for the ordinary municipal
a,ed In the city II WasLington the case has been
directly the reverse Holding here more property
position Of this kind In the acts OF Incorporate:
which gave the city partial control and regulation
perry Of the Government from taxatton and il might
!erhaps be properly inferred that Congrcs: did not
be equally subject TO those burdens which became
necessary for the common benefit OF the whole But
proprefy abstained from leyying taxes upon it, an
have laid the whole weight npG;n that part Of tie
Government has been equally participant in the ben
| efts which have resulted from them. The assess
private alike but the taxes have been coilected onIy
iron the private holders of property.
sse and eSfnf in their original formation, but thew
VIII from the same causes continue e be Raead
annually cost nearly double the amount Of sreets Il
the sine length, Of moderate dimensions. The gov
ought not TO be very deaf 10 the complaints of those
upon whom such a burden has fallen.
streets were transferred without any pecunary com
| pensation therefor being mad ~ the Government
| The reservations of ground for public Use con
.ists Of seventeen entire squares. large sections
in various parts of the city, and contains I
rood, ans 80 perches of land. On of these the
capitol, President House, and other public build
iDgs have been erected The rest of them either
open and unCccupi d, have been devoted public
uses according to the discretion of Congress tbs
| subject.
For this large extent Of land, equal to all its pres
ent and prospective wants the Gsvernment paid
4 aominaty the Of $3.50 TO the proprietors oI
the soil, but in reality nothing. This SUM moi
paid from the general treasury onScent OF Il
! contributed by The people of the United States
THE whole Of il was taken Of the proceeds al
the sales OF building lots whch had also been secured
by the Government in the contract with laudheiers
IL thus appears that the people of the United state
have paid moth for all these public lots nor 10,
| the property in the streets. They procured then
and now own them rctthor the .xpcaditnre Of a SIN
gle dollar. Ii is difhcult to estimate the present
value Of the public grounds.
| I'm 1896 there had been received from the sal,
OF building lots, which cost the GOrsrnment mort
| al
| And the value Of the public reservation
I,6pUU
| Sa.2Il .024 4
| lars have been received by the General Government
from the further sales of lots originally donated 4,
It, the proceeds of which have not been applied /.