Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-04
ENHANCING THE CITY.
Suggestions for Extending the Streets
beyond the BOUNDARY.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:

To the Editor OF The EVENING STAR:
The time TO consider the advisabllity OF extend
Ing the city beyond the boundary In accordance
with the original design arrived when the first SUBJ
division OF property outside O; that limit was Of
fered for acceptance by the authorities Nothing
was done at the time and nothing has been done
since. As natural consequence, innumerable
Heights" Mounts :" Parks" and "Closes " nave
spruhg into existence and fastened themselves
upon the supuros which are the Dirthright OF the
capital city. Knowing no law save Individual
caprice they present TO the eye a chaos OF narrow
and Irregular streets, commencing anywhere aud
endlng nowhere, worthy only or the system"
which prevails In Pekln or Bagdad, and 10 the
mind confusion OF nomenclature which would
bring distraction to a London caoman. Fancy
stranger In the city OF the future seeking friend
whose address might be Jag Lincoln terrace, Cos
street extended northwest. washington. D. C."
III In the fullness OF time Congress sees lit 10
take the matter up II Will be found that we are
confronted with "a condition, not a theory" as
recent writer has expressed It, and that an exten.
sion OF the city In conformity with the present
plan is no longer possibility under our form OF
government lameHted ear OF Russia, we are
told, located the railway between ST. Petersburg
ana MOSCOW by drawing a line between those Two
the road was built. A lamented Engineer COM
missioner was less successful in this scnool OF engi
neering.
Your correspondent &C. In The STAR OF March
~ goes to the other extreme and repeats at some
length the lament OF the poet, Why don't they
build the towns In the country! Were u so Tort
innate as TO own property near the Boundary, val
ued let us say. at $50 per foot would his heart so
bleed for the OAK trees? Would he not rather join
with those graSping vandals whom he condemns
and with them overlook other considerations
and favor plan which would yield the ..quick re-
turns which he admits are Obtainable. The QueS
ton Of drainage Is at present TOO well uAderStood
and its importance too firmly established TO be
overlooked BY any engineer who is qualified TO
take charge OF an extensive improvement. The
practical application or the principals or deep
drainage, in connection With the disposal OF sur
face water, may be seen on ali OF the important
Improvements now in progress. The work before
the Commissioners is difficult one and it is the
duty OF citizens 10 give them all the aid in their
power. whether in the form OF dedication OF prop
erty or gratuitous advice. Let this be the ex-
cuse for the following suggestions:
4. Let the WORK OF the Commission be confined
10 the extension OF the avenues and the principal
north and south streets, deviating in the case OF
the avenues from their present course TO conform
10 the topography or TO avoid TOO great sacrifice
OF private rights or public money Let the inter-
sections OF these avenues, and such new avenues
as may appear advisable be marked with circles
and other public reservations Thus will the M ain
features OF the plan OF the city be continued
III. Let comprehensive rules be tablished to
govern all new subdivisions, regulating the width
OF streets and alleys, the depth OF lots, maximum
Ill. Permit the resubdivision Of property now re-
corded the abandoned streets TO revert to the own
ers ana oner every ind1cement to property
TO Voluntarily alter their plans TO conform to the
new order. The present law prevents an owner
correcting mistake in subdivision without an act
OF Congress permitting him TO do so.
". Prohibit the improper and deceptive use OF
names. letters, and numbers belonging to the reg
ular system designate streets In their proper
position.
V. Provide for the direct extension Of q street or
such modification or direct extension as he CON-
missf0nerS may approve whenever the owners OF
three-fourthS OF the affected property may make
application in proper form. The effect of such
policy would be that before many years the owners
would find that in consulting the general good
they would but advance their own interests, and
that the greater value OF property on the broad
and Imposing thOroughfareS which are character
isttc OF Washington over that selected on the pres
ent insignificant Oy-wayS would prove sufficient
inducement 10 bring about speedy change.
VI. And, lastly most potent OF all arguments
conf1ne all appropriations TO such streets and
nues as have been approved By the Commissioners
These arrangements being perfected, the sySte-
matte prosecution OF the work Of opening the
streets should be commenced at once, a certain
proportion OF the cost be assessed on the abut-
ting property and q certain proportion charged
against the general good This last would be or
set by the Increase in taxable value. Whenever
private enterprise undertakes the Improvement OF
property in advance of appropriations II should
meet with the utmost encouragement, and pro-
videi the work conforms 10 the regulations which
govern pubic works, the amount which would be
chargeabie 10 the general fund should he placed
TO the credit OF the property and an exemption
from taxation be allowed until the amount OF tax
remitted shall equal the amount due the property,
taxation valuation TO be based on the property as
improved. q, L. N