Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-05
A Comprehensive Plan which Capt. Ma.
han IS Engaged UpOn-LOOking. Out
for the Future Growth Of the City
Capt. Mahan thinks Provision Should
be Made Against Indiscriminate Sub.
division of the County.

Capt. +. A. Mahan, assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner, is preparing a map or chart on
which he is continuing the general plan of
Washington city into the suburbs north of the
boundary. In making this plan he utilities the
maps prepared by the coast survey office, as the
results OF the typographical survey of the Dis
trfct, which has been in progress under the
direction of the coast survey for several years.
For prosecuting this survey, Congress makes a
special appropriation each year of $4,000.
The importance Of the work is now becoming
manifest, In view of the rapid extension of the
city nOrthward. at is of the highest import
ance,' said Capt. Mahan to STAR reporter,
"that Congress should, by legislation, pro-
vide against the indiscriminate subdivis-
s ong tas igeares
subdivisions the general plan of the city has
been totally disregarded. There, you will see
to map of the District hanging beside his
desk, latter you leave the boundary the roads
defect to the right or left, following no plan.
The 18th street extension is com para
lively straight, but it is turned off at Boundary,
making an angle there That was done, have
sion: If the street had been continued in a
straight line the Stone mansion would have
been brought directly upon the street line. In
the property which has been subdivided within
the last few years, in most every case streets
have been laid out without regard to the di-
rection Of the city's streets. 1t the city had 70
follow the direction Of these streets and sub
divisions You would have city out there by
and-bye with crooked, narrow and irregular
streets. The streets are made SO narrow that If
they were within the city limits they would rate
as alleys, and be improved as alleys under the
permit system. 1t Is of general Importance
and, think, OF especial Importance to the
property owners in tie suburbs to provide now
properly for the future extension of the city on
a comprehensive plan, carrying out the original
design OF the founders of the city. The lines OF
the streets can be laid down beyond the city
limits. or course, the streets cannot be laid out
now. 1t will take many years to do that, for
there is still much work TO be done within the
present city limits. But the lines could be es-
tablished, and Congress, I think, could warn
all property owners that II they encroached
with improvements upon such lines, they can
not recover damages when the street Is finally
extended. Yes; this work by the coast survey
Is Of great Importance" continued Captain
Mahan. sit Is a long and tedious work, and
has been performed with great care and accu-
racy. With the aid of the maps made by the
coast survey, II 1t were proposed to extend one
Of the streets or avenues over the Boundary,
could sit here in my office and in half a day
calculate just how much excavation would
have to be made in order to establish proper
grade. Without the benefit Of this survey we
would have to send our own men out to survey
little piece at a time, fixing the grades as we
went along. Then ut length we might find that
not agrco