Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-02

PROVED By THE COMMISSIONERS.
The District Commissioners to-day made the
following order: THAT hereafter all proposed
subdivisions Of land ia the District of Colum-
bia will be certified to by the surveyor Of the
District of Columbia in conformity with pro-
visions of the Revised Statutes Of the United
States relating to the District Of Columbia. and
will be transmitted by him to the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia for action in
pursuance of the act entitled An act TO regu-
late the subdivisions of land within the District
of Columbia approved August "a. 1888. The
surveyor of the District is hereby directed not
to certify in any manner whatever to any new
subdivisions or plot thereof except for the
transmission of the same to the Commissioners
for their action"
This order was made in pursuance of rec
ommendation by Capt. Symons. Some days
ago capt Symons addressed a letter to the
commissioners inclosing TO them plat of a sub
DIVISION which has been made Of property lying
at the junction of the Bunker Hill road and the
metropolitan branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. This plot is not submitted for
approval or for record, Capt. Symons wrote,
but there are certain points connected with it
10 which desire to invite attention. In the
hrst place this subdivision is not at all in con-
1ormlty with the general plan of the city in
any way, the streets not running north or south
or east or west nor being of the proper width,
ana neither do they join on the existing sub
olVlson OF Brookland on the east. The parties
In interest or some one representing Them
came into my Office some time ago and made
inquiry as to whether they would be allowed
TO make such subdivision as is shown here.
told them that they would not be allowed
TO do so, as it was directly contrary to
the provisions of the law of August q, 1888
Since then they have apparently gone to work
and made the subdivision with the assistance
OF the surveyor of the District of Columbia,
Mr. William Forsyth, who, according to the
certihcate on this plot, surveyed and plotted
this land in November, 1888, after the passage
OF the act above referred to of August q. 1t
Is the apparent intention of the owners of this
property to sell these lots. probably without
there being officially recorded, by metes and
bounds, to persons whom they may delude into
buying them. notwithstanding the fact that the
SUBDIVISION is made contrary to law, and in this
they have been aided and abetted by the legal
and duly appointed surveyor of the District.
The plain intent of the law of August a.
1888, is to prevent the making Of such subdi-
visions as this Of West Brookland,' and Mr.
Forsyth, it seems to me, has lent his name and
his official position to an open and palpable
attempt at violation of law. / have the honor
to suggest that Mr.. Forsyth be written to by
the Commissioners and his attention invited to
the law and his action in this case, in order
that any further service Of this kind on his
par huoy 10 prcNeutcu, IL pOSslDle.
The plat referred to bears the words Sur
veyed and plated November, 1888. VIM. For
syth, surveyor. D. c."
Monday Capt Symons addressed another
letter to the Commissioners, calling attention
to the fact that lots in the subdivision referred
to were being offered for sale .'notwithstand-
ing the fact that this subdivision is in direct
defiance Of the will Of Congress, as evidenced
by this act of August 81" He suggested that
the matter be referred to the attorney of the
District for his opinion as to whether the
owners and agents of .West Brookland" can
not be restrained from selling or offering for
sale lots therein.
Il would also suggest" he said, 'that steps
be taken by public advertisement, if necessary,
to warn the public against purchasing lots in
this or any other subdivision laid out not in
conformity with law"
This letter was referred to-day to the attor-
ney's office.
The subdivision of West Brookland, accord
ing to the plat, is owned by j. Henry Brooks
Joseph G. Hester and R. W. Walker. and the
land Is offered by Walker & Wilson, real estate
agents