Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-19

WHY THE COMMISSIONERS ADOPTED THE ROUTE
PRoPosED--AN xxrLANArIox Or SOME forNN
CONCERNING THE IMPROVEMENT By COL
LuDLow-THE cRossISa OF ROCK cRREK AND
THE GRADE OF THE AVENUE
II made the proposed extension OF Masss-
chusetts avenue study for three months"
said COL Luoiow, Engineer Conmiseioner OF
the District, when asked By STAR reporter
to-day regarding various points concern ng
the project 81 went over the ground carefully
and made halls dozen trial lines, both On the
ground and on the map There were three
main points that we kept In view from the
start The first was that the avenue should
proceed a. directly as possible, or, la other
words, that there should be a. little
variation as possible from the line
e ne cIy s Of the sse W.as
should be constructed from end to end OF the
present width, $50 feet Third, that the ave-
should span the creek and hold an easy grade
from the present terminus OF the avenue to the
ae Leu town r9ad. All the study OF the su lect
The avenue will have to ascend from its
present terminus to the Tenleytown road. a
esac sboa, 5000 m.ss or height Gs OF soe
ieet. All the roads now crossing Rock
creek are depressed where they cross, and con-
caole on u city street or avenue. The extension
OF Massachusetts avenue, rs projected aud laid
DOWN on the plan, will have maximum grade
OF 4A2 ieet In 100, grade that p&ir orcar-
riage norses can readily trot along. the Capitol
HUI grade Is q per cent grade--six tee, 10 y
ascending the hill just beyond the Boundary,
Is u ten per cent grade. The ensy grade of 4la
feet Will be the maximum. At many points
along the proposed extension the grade will be
less.
The avenue will cross Rock creek by means of
a bridge or arch, at an elevation Of 06 feet The
fuN Inn
a distance Of 400 feet, where IL makes turn. In
the kaiorama property, at An angle OF about Is
degrees. IL 10 proposed p mask that angle by
country makes that slight DETECTION or change
in the direction absolutely necessary. The
present lines is impracticabie, because IL would
run the avenue into Rock creek, and carry 1t
along the valley nearly IongitudinaiIy for a dis
across the creek we would nave 70 construct u
culvert, build an immense embaukment, and
on seI 81 mat OF masonry OF other
reach the other side Of the creek we strike u
deep valley, with steep sides, without room TO
construct an avenue $50 feet wide.
Furthermore, carrying the avenue on in a
straight line We would strike Teniey town road
at depressed point inside OF the Georgetown
city limits, aud We would have all the ascent TO
make on the Tenleytown road. After giving
The matter full consideration this lower line
WAS rejected as practically Impossible, as In
VOlFlug enormous expense and as undesirable
when the better results to be obtained by fol-
lowing the detected line are considered. So in
The plan adopted, We have adhered TO the gen.
eral idea OF having as little detection pUss-
BILE from the general direction of the avenue and
AZ tne same t.ine the least grade possible. The
avenue VIII also strike the Ieuiey town road at
u point from which it may at some future day
oe still further extended west with advantage.
That would not be the case ii l: were extended
on the lower, or straight line. The style OF
structure to De constructed across kOck creek
depends, o. course, the Iiberality OF Congress
| in making the appropriation. There may be
an iron bridge or bridge OF masonry. While
al mon Dfiuec Is Inucu cueuptr, stVne sLruc.-
ure Is nucn naudsomer and more substantial.
Tue site OF the proposed bridge affords splendid
Opportunity Tor display Or for architectural
ELECTS, as 1t is visible tor mics around from
every ulrectiOn. The bridge should be made u
handsome structure.
1--WE will endeavor," continued the colonel,
ITO get to Rock creek with the money We have
now anu Compete The Improvement uuuer
future appropriations. All Oh the owners of the
heirs aud Mr.. Lyons, dedicate the land for tue
s,>euuc " Tue D,s,rict wItnOuI cusI. Iue ave-
nue. wall pass through the nOrtnery pos LtOu Ot
the grounds OF the new naval Observatory, and
eral property. The avenue wiz pass within u
lew hundred feet Of the proposed site Ut The
Observatory building. Al present these GROUNDS
are inaccessible. except by small private
y large area, now practically closed, ana which
Is now undesirable tor Residences because 0r
Tue dImcuity oI getting 70 IT. IL 10 our idea to
make Massachusetts avenue the finest avenue
IN The world aud 10 permit no cneapeniux or
degrading accessories upon II, SUCH ~ horse-car
lsues OF cable roads. Tue roadway OF thus ex.
tension may be made wider tnxn within the
city limits rs there Will not he the same ueces-
shy for parking At the sides, ~, owing To the
niily surface VI the land IL Is probable that the
ground bordering upon II Will be utilized for
villa sites. There could he made at the side.
Two ruau ways tor vehicles and in the center Der
uap6 road tor EQUESTRIAN purDOSe6."