Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-19

NeiI the emu OF the miscellaneous accounts
are more appollinaris water qulnine pills. castor
Oil. Ebay rum" and corkscrews with dash of
ammonia water for the baths
An Cnpleasantness IN South Washing.
ton.
THE ALLEGED BLOCKADE OF VIRGINIA AVENUE
THE EFFORTS TO RAISE IT.
Mr.. John P. Murphy, well-known old citi-
zen and taxpayer, residing for many years at
the corner of 18th and G streets southwest
writes to The STAR to say that for more than
year past he has been endeavoring to get an OBJ
structiOn on Virginia avenue, corner of 18th
street southwest. removed. This obstruction
consists OF an enclosure. or series of them. of
portion of that avenue by wooden fence
used by permission Of the District authorities
as front yards for number of new dwellings
and described by Mr.. Murphy as BLOCKADE
across Virginia avenue. stopping the public pass
way, while that avenue has recently been
opened to 18th street. where the improvements
are stopped, to accommodate few persons who
occupy these new dwellings,
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Referring to the papers and records in the
Commissioners office, it is found that Mr. A. F.
Barker, well-knOwn house builder took out
permit May "a. 1879, to erect row of houses
on the vacant lots south Of this triangle. near
Eth street, and got written permission from the
engineers office to utilize the ranglefrOnting his
ground in order to give him access to the car
rlageway on street, which had Just then been
paved with asphalt Virginia avenue remaining
then unmprOved.
The board of pubic works had years ago,
when 18th street southwest was paved left this
triangle square sOdded and inolOsed with
cheap wood fence and narrow fOotwalk on the
south side, between it and the lots now benefited
by its use.
The houses were built the front yards ex-
tended to street, each yard being inclosed
with neat paling fence, flowers planted sod
ding done, and the whole beautified. adding
value and attraction to the houses which were
soon caught up by purchasers The incosure,
s0dding. DC. have cost Mr.. Barker several hun
dred dollars. which probably he more than
realized in the sale.
MR.. MURPHY's PROTEST.
The first paper on the subject in the District
offices is letter from Mr.. Murphy dated 3Oth
April, 1880, in which he states that taking the
opportunity when the Commissioners issued a
public order to the police to remove all Obstruc-
tions from the streets, reminded him of this
One-the ''pennng i'm of this triangular square
fronting square 1885, thereby causing pedestrians
the Inconvenience Of passing 10Th street to
street before they can pass around the square,
simply to make show of front yards and make
property sell BETTER and closing by asking the
Commissioners to cause this evil to be speedily
remedied. This was referred TO Lieutenant
Greene, who sent Inspector W. F. Wallace to
examine the situation and report. His report
recites In substance the facts as above, and
closes by adding: Permission has been given
the property owners of square 1885, fronting Vir-
glnIa avenue, to enclose the space in their yards
to use and beautify until otherwise ordered. and
that 1t does not incOmmode or interfere with
any ones rights
REPORT FROM THE ENGINEERS OFFICE.
Lieut.. Greene thereupOn forwarded the paper
to the Commissioners, endorsed ''The complaint
appears to be unfounded." May 8. 1880, Mr..
Murphy writes to the Commissioners, to saw
that he has too much pride to indulge in writing
unfounded statements, and did not know what
the engineers have been doing, but that encour-
agement had been given the parties to be bene-
fitted, or the fence would not have been put
there; and further. that the narrow fOOtwaIk
had been placed there through his (Murphy's)
endeayor, aided by Mr.. Gunnell, and that seven
slgners had been procured for that purpose In
this letter he enclOses to the Commissioners the
reply received by them-Lieut Greene's renort
on the subject. His next letter to the Commits
sioners, August 20, 1881, requests that they
cause fOotway to be laid where the narrow one
had been torn up. This was not assented to bv
them.
THE OTHER SIDE HEARD FROM.
Here another letter appears from one
stating his objections to the footway being
placed there, which would cut off his access to
the carriageway on B street, destroy the beauty
Of the new improvement on that avenue, and
stating that when he purchased his house one
of the considerations was that the parking in
front had been permitted by the Commissioners.
and written order had been given by them
guaranteeing its permanence.
APPEALING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
About this time. August "a. 1881. Mr.. Murphy
addressed a letter to Attorney General Mac
Veagh, reciting his grievence and inclosino a
plat of the location, showing the situation. and
stating that having failed to secure satisfaction
he had appealed to Headquarters This letter
was by the Attorney General, forwarded to the
Commissioners, and is on file In that Office
September /, 1881. the Commissioners received
another letter from Mr.. Murphy, that on looking
over The STAR he finds reply to his request
sired, and that all that was necessary was to re-
move the paling fence to the parking. aud do
the paving; that the bricks had been hauled away
&c. Soon after this petition, with Al signers,
was seat in. asking that an order be issued as
soon as possible that the fencing be removed
back to the building line, that the people may
not suffer from further Inconvenience, and the
unsightly appearance of the same.
The officials Of the engineers office state that
at the time the permit was granted Mr.. Barker
to temporarily occupy this corner of Virginia
avenue and 18th street. that that avenue was
not improved, and that Mr.. Barker had right
to demand and obtain access to the paved
street, which was thus afforded him. and with
out such privilege his property could not have
been assessed for the special Improvement tax,
which has been imposed upon it; and they take
the ground that until the District government
can finish the Virginia avenue Improvement,
that this Is the best way to afford relief to the
property owners. who have adorned the space
| NIT ohF1,f. l.opV Aav-< Ia
This Is the present status Of the yexed uues-
ton. but MI. Murphy expresses purpose to
continue his objection until the obstruction Is
removed.
She c0oed; he wooed; ana the old man sid