National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-20
THE COMMISSIONERS.
Current transactions at the Various
District Oncss.

In the subdivision mado by s. p. Brown
in 1865, of PLEASANT Plains" "Lamar's
Outlet" and "Slppery Hills" which are
recorded in the office of tho recorder Of
deeds, the width Of Sheridan avenue Is
given as sixty feet, while ia the second
subdivision recorded, the same street Is
given as forty-Hvo feet wide, the curb
stones having been moved in fifteen feet
from the original width, and tho people
on Howard avenue are removing fifteen
feet on sheridan avenue. Lot owLors
claim that the street should be sixty feet
wido. Capt. Greene has replied TO one Of
them that the deeds for the lots ON tho
north side Of Sheridan avenue ia Mount
| Pleasant are full of minor errors, and the
descriptions of property given in them
arc confused and indefinite, but after u
careful examination OF all the data avail
/ able, find that there is no doubt that in
| May, 1865, S. Z. Brown made u subdivi-
| sion Of Mount Pleasant in which the
| width Of Sheridan avenue is given at
sixty feet. | am not aware of any power
on his part to subsequently change the
| width of that street. Such action would
/ appear to no in direct violation of section
| 246. II. .. ID. &. In October, 1866, how
| ever, no did attempt TO change it by maxi
| ing second subdivision, in which tho
width is given at forty-fvo feet, the south
| line remaining the same and the north line
being moved out 10 feet. Various sales
of lots have been made under this second
subdivision, and by the descriptions given
| in them some of the lots project IL and
some lG feet beyond the original line of
! Sheridan avenue. The question is of
great importance, as 1t involves the title
to nearly 10000 square feet Of ground.
| The interests of the District and of the
public require that tho full width Of 60
feet should DO maintained. l think the
commissioners should insist upon the
street remaining go feet wide, as originally
dedicated aud recorded in the land records,
and that the owners of lots on tho north
side should be notified to move their
fences back to n limo 60 feet north of the
stones marking tho north line of the
street within sixty days; and, if the
notice Is not complied with, that tho at
tornoy proceed against them under Sec
tion $50 of the Revised Statutes, ID. G.,
for unlawfully obstructing the full use of
a public highway" In this report At
torney Riddle concurs.
The commissioners have returned to
the President the bill for the relief Of
WIN. Bowen without recommendation.
Bowen was employed to fill up vacant
lots which had beon condemned rs nuis-
anCes, and he was awarded 81 ,4G5.5S,
which he accepted aud gave receipt for.
He then claimed that he was not aware
of the nature of the receipt. The COM
missioners say that defense now would
DO a disadvantage to the District, and
while they do not approve of the bill
they return it without recommendation.
The commissioners have written lot
ter to Comptroller Lawrence relative TO
the latter's ruling about the firemen's
fund. He ruled that the only firemen
recognized by law are the six fremen
who do the starting for the engines. The
commissioners take exception to this, aud
cite instances to show that by universal
use the word fremen means u man who
extinguishes fire.