Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-27
CITY AND DISTRICT.
The 1ith stree. Extension.

REFILL os THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS To THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.
IL was mentioned in yesterdays STAR that the
District Commissioners had sent a reply to the
Senate resolution of April 14th, directing a re-
port Is 10 what steps have been taken in rela-
ton 10 the extension Of l4th street into the
county. with plans and estimated cost. The
Commissioners state that the 21st Of March.
1881. Hon. john Sherman. trustee of property
lying on the f4th street road, requested that
the road might be wide1ed from boundary street
to Whitney avenue. This letter was accompa-
niesi BY petition of residents Under existing
laws the Commissioners proceeded 10 consider
the meter and '-deemiBg it to be conducive to
the public interest, theE determined to take
the necessary steps for widening the road sub
ject to the approval Of Congress They there
fore passed an order directing a survey and
pIats to be made. ,pOn receipt of the pIats
from the surveyor, the intention to widen the
road Was advertised a. required by law. Mr..
Sherman and Mr. Mattingly protested against the
property necessary to widening being taken
without due compensation Under authority Of
law an agreement was made between the Com
missionerS and the above-named parties. that
the price to be paid should be 10 cents per
square foot, the number Of feet so taken to be
certified by the surveyor. September 80, 1881,
the Commissioners sent TO the Secretary OF the
Treasury their estimates for the fiscal year end
ing June 80 1888 and under the head of elm
prorements and Repairs" they submitted the
following: Condemnation OF land for the widen
ing Of this road, $40, 7a2 80; grading and i'm
proving said street, $1,000" The Secretary dis
approved the first item and approved the second
on condition that the property owners would
donate the land. The original estimates and
the revision by the Treasury Department were
transmitted to Congress- Dee. 5, 1881, and since
that time no further steps have been taken in
the matter.
NECESSITY POR TIRE IMPROVEMENT.
This street and its extension constitute the
principal outlet from the city on the north and
during eight months of the year from COCO to
5000 vehicles pass over it daily. Suburban
residences are rapidly being built in this section,
and there is u considerable resident population
IN Mount Pleasant village and other locations
adacent tn 18th street it is also proposed to
carry the l4ti-street railroad along 14th street
extended To accommodate the increasing
travel it Ia evident that the road must be
widened at an early day, and the land for that
purpose can he obtained cheaper now than when
improved. The width of 18th street is ITO feet,
while that OF the extension is 80 feet 1t does
not seem entirely Just that the owners of the
land should be required to donate the land with
out compensation. The Columbia College the
residents of Mount Pheasant and the general
public all using this road as a sum-
hner drive, are all benefited by the WIDEN
ing. In the property in which the own
ers OF the east side are solely interested
they have not asked any compensation for the
necessary streets but have already dedicated
them tn the public to- the extent of two miles in
length, comprising 6Ss, 0;0 square feet, or nearly
II acres
THE ESTIMATES OF THE COST
OF the work are as follows: Grading, including
haul Il loo cubic yards at % cts. s4,3i2. grading
and RELAXING cutters 1G235 square yards s2iS. As,
total. SJ.919.55.