Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24
EXTENSION OF CITY STREETS.

EXTENSION OF CITY STREETS.
A Bill to Make Suburban Thorough.
fares Conform to the Existing Plan.
rHs MEASURE THAT Mr.. HxMPHrlL IL AUTHORIZED
TO BRING INTO THE HousE-A coxPREHxNsrvr
| BnL-THE ABLE AND EXHAUSTIVE REPORT
WHICH WILL ACCOMPANY IT.
| As heretofore mentioned in TIE STAR Mr..
Hemphill was last week authorized by the
House District committee to report favorably
the bill providing for permanent system Of
highways in that part Of the District Of Column
bia lying outside Of the cities This bill is q
combination measure intended to embrace the
best points Of the many bills which have been
introduced on this question. 1t directs the
Commissioners to prepare plan for the ex-
tension Of permanent system Of highways
over that portion Of the District not included
within the city limits of Washington and
| sible in conformity with the street plan OF the
| city Of Washington. The highways are not in
| any case to be less than ninety feet nor more
than 160 feet wide, except in cases Of existing
width not less than the present and not more
than 160 feet
| PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
The bill then goes into details and provides
that the plans Of such street extensions shall be
prepared from time to time in sections, select
| ing first such areas as are covered by existing
suburban subdivisions not in conformity with
the general plan Of the city Of Washington.
The Commissioners in making such plans
| shall adopt and conform to any then exist
/ ing subdivisions which shall have been made
in compliance with the provisions Of the
act OF Congress approved August 81, 1888.
or which shall, in the opinion of the Com
| missioners, conform to the general plan
of the city of Washington. Whenever the
plan OF any such section shall have been adopted
| by the Commissioners they shall cause q map
| Of the same to be made showing the boundaries
| and dimensions OF and number OF square feet
| In the streets, avenues and roads established
| by them, the boundaries and dimensions of and
number Of square feet in each, il any, Of the
| then existing highways in the area covered by
such map and the boundaries and dimensions
| Of and number Of square feetin each lot Of any
| then existing subdivision owned by private per-
sons, and containing such explanations as shall
be necessary to . complete understanding Of
such map.
In making such maps the Commissioners are
further authorized to lay out at the intersec-
tons Of the principal avenues and streets
| thereof circles or other reservations corre-
spending in number and dimensions with those
now existing at such intersections in the city of
Washington. A copy Of such map, duly certi-
fed by the Commissioners, shall at once be
filed and recorded in the Office of the surveyor
of the District of Columbia and after any such
map shall have been SO recorded no further
subdivision OF any land included therein shall
be admitted to record in the Office of the sur
veyor, or in the Office Of the recorder of deeds,
unless the same be first approved by the Com
missioners and be in conformity to such map.
Nor shall it be lawful when any such map shall
have been so recorded for the Commissioners
OF the District Of Columbia or any other officer
or person representing the United States or the
District OF Columbia, to thereafter improve,
repair or assume any responsibility in regard
to any abandoned highway within the area
covered by such map, or to accept, improve,
repair or assume any responsibility in regard
to any highway that any owner of land in such
area shall thereafter attempt to lay out or es-
tsblish, unless such land owner shall first have
submitted to the Commissioners plat of such
proposed highway and the Commissioners shall
have found the same to be in conformity to the
map, and shall have approved such plat and
caused it to be recorded in the office Of the
surveyor.
When any such map shall have been recorded
it shall be lawful for the owner of any land in
| cluded within such map to adopt the subdivi-
| sion thereby made by . reference thereto, and
to this section, in any deed or will which he
shall thereafter make.
For the purpose OF making surveys the Com
missioners and their agents and employees are
authorized to enter upon any lands through or
on which any projected highway or reservation
may run or lie.
The Commissioners are authorized to name
all streets, avenues, alleys and reservations laid
out or adopted under the provisions of the act.
Within thirty days after any such map shall
have been recorded which shall alter any high
way in any then existing subdivision in the
area included in such map or which shall dis
pense with any highway o. any part thereof,
the Commissioners shall make application to
the Supreme Court Of the District in a special
term by written petition praying the condenn-
nation Of permanent right Of way for the pub
lie over all the land lying within the limits of
such subdivision not already owned by the
United States or the District Of Columbia or
dedicated to public use as highway. Upon
the filing Of such petition the court shall pro-
coed to condemn q permanent right Of way for
the public over such land.
As to any highway or part Of any highway
laid down upon any such map which shall not
lie within the limits Of any existing subdivision,
the Commissioners at any time thereafter.
when in their judgment the public convenience
shall require the opening of the same or of any
part thereof, may make application, as afore-
said, to the Supreme Court OF the District of
Columbia for the condemnation and opening
Of the same, and the court shall thereupon con-
denim the land as before. In such case, how
ever, the court, after public notice shall have
been given shall first hear evidence as to
whether the public convenience does in fact
| require the immediate opening Of the highway
described in such application and shall deter
mine that question on the evidence submitted
to it, and if the court shall to any part of the
land sought to be condemned decide such ques-
ton in the negative it shall proceed no further
as to such part at that time.
When any right OF way is to be condemned
the court shall cause a Jury of seven iudicious,
disinterested men, not related to any person
interested in the proceedings and not in the
service or employment OF the District of Co.
lumbia or Of the United States to be SUM-
m0ned by the marshal. The court and the Jury
shall hear and receive such evidence as may be
| offered on behalf Of any person having any in
terest in the proceedings, after which the Jury
shall render a written verdict
Where the use of part only OF any parcel or
tract Of land shall be condemned in such pro-
| ceeding the jury in assessing the damages shall
take into consideration the benefit the purpose
for which it Is taken may be to the owner or
| owners OF such tract or parcel by enhancing
the value of the remainder of the same, and
shall give their verdict accordingly.
The verdict Of the jury shall state as to each
parcel of land involved in the proceeding only
| If any, which it shall award in respect thereof,
and shall not contain any finding as to the
ownership Ct ths land or the persons entitled
| to the compensation.
Each OF said jurors shall receive compen-
sation OF $o per day for his services during the
time heshall be actually engaged in such serv-
ices.
One-third Of the amount awarded by the