The Evening critic., 1882-04-27
WIDENING FOURTEENTH STREET
ROAD,
An Interesting and Comprehensive
EcuOrf bN I.icmipnnnt drcenc.


Report by lieutenant Grccuc.
Lieutenant Greene yesterday submitted tho
following report to Major Twining, which
Will be transmitted to tho Senate District Com.
mittcc
ACjor w. J. T,riain0, Corps II Engineers, q. s.
A., Engineer Commissioner, d. g..
MAJOR. In reply 30 the resolution OF tho
Senate, dated April II, 1881, have the honor
TO report as follows: on tho 2lst Of March,
1881, Hon. John sherman, trustee OF property
lying along the Fourteenth stroot road, ad-
dressed n communication TO tho Commission
ers requesting that this road might be widencd
from Boundary street to Whitney avenue Tho
letter was accompanied by n petition OF rcsl-
dents IN that vicinity praying for the wldon-
Ing OF the road.
Under tho provisions OF chapter IL OF the
Revised Statutes OF the District OF Columbia,
regulating tho manner Of opening or WIDEN
ing roads, the Commissioners proceeded to
consider this matter, and docming IL to bo
conducive to the public interest" they de-
tcfmincd to take the necessary steps for
widening tho road, subject TO the condition
that Congress should signify its approval by
making n specific appropriation for the pur-
pose. The Commissioners, therefore, passed.
an order directing tho necessary surveys and
plats TO be made. Upon receipt OF the plats
from the surveyor the Intention to widen the
road was advertised in daily paper for three
weeks, rs required by the law. In reply TO
the advertisement Mr. sherman and Mr.. Mat
tingly protested against the property being
taken without duo compensation.
Under the authority conferred by tho law
an agreement was made between the Commits
sioncrs and the above parties that the price
TO be paid should be ten cents per square foot.
The number OF feet TO be taken, as certified
In the surveyors plat, was 1O7,32S. On tho
Both day Of September, 1881, tho Commission.
ors transmitted to tho Secretary OK the Treas
ury their estimates for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1883, and under the hend improve
ments and repairs they submitted the follow
ing; "Condemnation OF land for the Widen
ing OF Fourteenth street extended, S10,732;
or n trtr a tnnY.N tfasr ITn
extended, S6,000' The Secretary of the
Treasury disapproved the first item and ap-
proved the second on condition that the prop
erty.owners would donate the land.
The original estimates and the revision by
the Treasury Department were transmitted 10
Congress on December 5, 1881, and since that
time no further steps have peen taken in that
matter.
In BRIEF ,-then, the Commissioners have re-
ceived n petition for widening Fourteenth
street Rond and have taken the necessary
steps TO grant the petition, provided Congress-
distinctly approves such action by making n
specific appropriation for the purpose. Tho
decision OF the matter thus rests with Con-
gress.
In regard TO the necessity for such widen
ing, ii is submitted that Fourteenth street Is
the principal outlet from the city on the
north, and during eight months of the year
from 1000 TO 5000 vehicles pass over It
daily, suburban residences are rapidly
many years there has been a considerable
population resident in Mount Pleasant viii
lage and other localities on tho Fourteenth
street Railroad along Fourteenth street ex-
tended. TO accommodate the increasing
travel, Ii Is evident that the road must be
widened mt an early day, and the land can be
obtained now much cheaper than when II
shall have been improved. The width of Four
teenth street is 10 feet, while that Of the ex-
tension is only fifty feet. The Commissioners
fixed the new width OF the extension at
eighty feet as being the least which would ac-
commodate the travel, and on account OF
Improvements already made on tho ives
side OF the road 1t was determined to take
the land from the east side. 1t does not seen
entirely Just that the owners OF the east sid,
should be required to donate the land with
out any compensation when they are not the
only parties benefited. The Columbia Col
lege property on the west side, the residents
Of Mt. Pleasant and the general public, whicl
uses this road as its principal summer
drive, are all benefited by widening the road
In the property In which the owners on TIN
east side are solely Interested, thoy have no
asked any compensation for the necessar,
streets, but have already dedicated them {,
tho public to the extent OF two miles in length
comprising 639,000 square feet, or nearly fif
teen acres Of land. Very respectfully,
I. V. GREENE,
First Lieutenant Engineers.
The report is accompanied by several maps
plans, estimates, petitions, etc.