Evening star., 1886-10-29
CITY AND DISTRICT
THE EXTENSION OF MASSACHU'
SETS AVENUE.

cism of the Com missioners for their action in
the matter, that seems unjust and unreason-
able, and SO entirely at variance with the law
and the facts that have governed their
conduct, while SO little has been written In
their defense, that 1 feel moved to take up the
gauntlet for them. had hoped that THE STAR,
which is usually quick to detect and expose un-
just criticism OF our Commissioners, and was
never before to my knowledge found opposing
SO important and necessary an improvement,
would place the whole matter before the public
in so clear light as to make a complete de-
tense of the Commissioners and leave no doubt
in the mind of any unprejudiced and intelligent
person, to the wisdom of the proposed
extension, or its expediency at this time.
!, TO my great surprise, however, The STAR, ,.,,
conclusions in this case seems to have been
misled by the GROWERS and croakers, and to
most important public Improvement that has
been undertaken by the District Commission
ers In recent years TO any one familiar with
the law under which the Commissioners are
acting, or who has noticed the exposure by Col.
Ludlow of the errors and injustice of those who
have vented their views against the measure
1t must be evident that the opposition has ali
come from those who either had insufficient
knowledge of the subject to enable them to
criticise fairly and intelligently, or from the
grand army of grumbers who have opposed
with all their power every public improvement
proposed or undertaken In the District. and
that these writers do not, by a large majority,
express or reflect the intelligent public opinion
upon this subject. Let me say here, lest l be
forthwith charged with being member OF the
syndicate which tits reported own the property
on the line OF the proposed extension, that am
say, say of it. its Existence. ~ Moreover do not Ss own
foot of property anywhere near the extended
avenue. On the contrary, my property lies in u
would select other streets and avenues in the
improvement OF which l should have some
pec1hiary h interest: But candor compes me 10
avenue which is by lar the most important one
to the general public, the extension OF which
for this reason should take precedence OF any
other. will not ask tor space to meet the more
unreasonable and absurd statements which
hsneosa have been made IN In opposition to the
nave already been laid bare by the
Commissioners themselves, but will, only tor
were and how careless they were of the facts on
which they based their charges, allude to the
fact that they boldly charged the Commission
and more important streets, 7th street and
14th street, for the benefit of asyndcate of spec
ulators, in violation OF law, in face of the fact
as explained by Col. Ludlow, that the money
TO be used was specifically appropriated tor
opening new streets in the county and could
other purpose. When 1t was clearly shown
that the cost OF this improvement would be
nue. derived from the increased value of the
property on the line OF the extension, so that
In point OF fact, 1t would pay tor itself, it was
still opposed, and that, understand it, is the
ground OF the opposition of THE STAR, for the
reason that, Notwithstanding the extension
would be a good thing for the public and ought
to be done IN Line near future, yet, nevertheless
as it would benefit largely lot of land specu-
lators who could afford to give the land and
pay lOr grading, too, the extension should wait
until law could be got through Congress under
which the land could be taxed for enough to
pay the entire cost of the improvement; and
that, in any event, 1t would Oe an outrage upon
the taxpayer on New Jersey avenue or East
Capitol street to use any portion OF the money
raised by taxing his property to pay for extend
ing and grading streets into the county chiefly
for the benefit OF people who happen to own
property on the lines OF such extensions.
This is SpecOuS doctrine, but it is ali
that the opposition has left to stand upon
the uniairness and utter absurdity OF
Did any one ever hear of such proposition
before? The fact that it is necessary to wait to
get a law passed to put 1T in 1orce would seem
10 be conclusive proof that in the District OF
Columbia, AT least, 1t Is Il new departure. Ger
tainiy not one OF the streets and avenues within
the District was ever laid out or improved ON
this plan, and it is equally certain that none
ever will be- Broadly stated, this principle |
would require that in the erection OF every |
be taxed to the extent OF its increased value
resulting therelrOm and the proceeds applied |
towards the cost OF such building From the
extension or widening of every street there |
necessarily results a profit to the adjoining |
land-holders. This always has been and always |
will be the case, and the law takes account of |
1t by providing that the jury in assessing dam
ages shall take into account benefits; but it |
does not provide that ii the benefits exceed the |
damages he difference shall be assessed against
the property. AS "a matter OF fact, it no Dusi-
ness OF the Commissioners nor of the public |
whether the land through which a proposed |
street is to run belongs to syndicate or to a |
hundred different people, except as it may |
affect the cost. The only question tor them TO |
consider Is whether the new street is required |
Tor the public benefit and convenience, and, if |
SO, whether they have the power an authority |
TO make ii. In this the land for nearly two |
miles in length by 100 feet in width is given |
for the roadway, but on the east side of Kock |
creek, between the creek and Boundary street. |
a. in nf land ,i..I,,
condemned to enable this great avenue to be |
open TO the public. But the man on New Jersey |
tax my property to extend Massachu-
setts avenue into the county for the |
nrose OF enhaneing the value of the
moment; who paid for the cost of paw
ing New Jersey avenue years ago, which made |
your property worth three times as much as it |
was before and enabled you, perchaAce a specu- |
latOr, 10 clear some thousands OF dollars there
by? You paid one-sixth OF the cost OF it, it is
true, ana your nelghbOr across the street paid |
another sixth, but the remaining two-thirds OF |
the cost OF improving your street went to make |
trict owes for improving property inside the |
city limits, to pay the interest upon which and |
create a sinking fund which will within the |
course OF nifty years pay the principal. The |
very properly over The creek, now for the first |
time To receive some benefit, mas paid aud will |
continue TO pay taxes annually, although not |
a dollar OF those twenty millions was ever spent
TO improve that property. |
In the county we have always paid and shall
continue TO pay our taxes with even more |
promptness than you do in the city to enahle
the city to pay this enormous debt to nav tor |
policemen and other iuXuries which Won enioy |
such AS smooth pavementS. sidewalks etc
while we build our own sidewalks and Sewers |
II We have any, and We also build our own |
water WORKS, ana yet you are unwilling TO help |
us open this street and insist that it is n great
outrage upon you Tor US TO expect any assistance
from you. But the law is not as selfish and one
sided as you are. The same law which makes
US pay every year our pro rata of the debt |
created IN making you rich, will soon compel |
you to pay not as much as you ought to pay
to be sure, but enough to show YOU how
much more than your share you have received |
OF the twenty millions, and what mean selfish
fellow you are, any how. May / say "a word |
Iurther as 10 the importance of doing this work |
which ougn TO have been done twenty years ago |
now. Delays In the extension OF streets which |
must sooner or later be extended at any cost |
are dangerous and expensive. This extension
can never be done for SO little money as now
building erected on the line OF the propOsed |
extension, purchase of a lot by AN Ohsfr,Ic.
ZIONIST, or death OF one OF the present Owners
leaving minor children, are events any one of |
which may delay for years the Opening OF this
avenue, and require In the end the condemna-
ton oil the lan0 for the entire distance of two
miles. Moreover. who knows that Congress-
Will take any action III the matter at its next
session, which Is practically but two months
for action, 1t can hardly be expected that Diss |
trict matters outside OF egular appropriations
will receive any attention. This liz An onnnr- |
tunity to open TO the public tha mos iYp ror
tant avenue In the District upon more favorahia
terms than were ever offered before tor the ex. |
tension of o street. II will open up the most |
Deautlfui section about Washington, and give