Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27


To tho Editor Of The Evening Star:
Three somewhat extensive suburban improve
ments, important as to the general interests of
the city and to the taxpayers, are now under
consideration before the District committees
OF the Senate and the House-the extension of
Pennsylvania avenue to the southeast, New
York avenue to the northeast and Massachu-
sets avenue to the northwest.
The two first are asked not only in behalf of
the interests Of the immediate sections Of the
District they would bring into more direct con-
nection with the city, but also as creating new
avenues for traffic from the outlying country
for miles beyond and each asks for an appro-
priation of some $50. 600.
There is nothing difficult nor expensive in
the way of opening either Of these avenues,
and they both reach portions of the District
upon which nothing TO speak OF has been ex-
pended since the government has undertaken
to make improvements in the city and District.
1t is probably safe to say that these sections
have within the past twenty-five years raid in
taxes for the benefit OF other portions Of the
District and city several times over the sums
now asked for these single improvements. At
the most it would be but small modcum of
justice to the eastern sections.
From the report of the Commissioners it ia.
however, learned that these much-needed i'm
provements are handicapped by vigorous
appeal for the extension of Massachusetts, ave-
nue. at an estimated cost Of $4,000
So far as understand. ii il not claimed that
this extension Of Massachusetts, avenue is called
for as business opening to any now unaccOm-
mOdated territory beyond nor that the north
west portion of the District has not now suffi-
GENTLY numerous and convenient means of ac-
cess to the city, nor that it has not in the pas
received its due share Of the public funds for
imprOvenl ents.
=, AS these are not the grounds upon which
Massachusetts avenue bases its request and are
the precise grounds upon which PENNSYLVANIA
and New York avenues rest theirs, there would
seem to be neither justice nor propriety in at
tempting to make these extensions a Joint
project.
Pennsylvania and Nov York avenues stand in
their own right and on their own merits and
| ask consideration on the grounds of public
convenience and even-handed Justice, II
Massachusetts avenue can show to the Commits
siOners, or the people of the District, satisfac-
tory reasons for the expenditure of SITS. 600 we
shall enter no protest, but we do most emphatic
cally protest against Harvesting two much
needed public improvements to a costly ex-
pcnditqre OF no immediate pressing public
need whatever.
These three proposed extensions are in no
sense parts of whole: they have no relation
one to another, near or remote: and they can
with no propriety be made contingent the one
upon the other. II Pennsylvania avenue south
east ard New York avenue northeast can show
sufficient reason in public convenience, Justice
and equality for asking extensions at a cost Of
some $50, 900 each, with what sense or Justice
are they to be asked to wait upon an expendi-
| ture OF 1890 to extend miles above George
town?..If their claims are just and the improve
ments desirable. let them be granted And
whenever Massachusetts, avenue can exhibit
like claims to public consideration proportion
ate to the expenditures she asks let her de-
mands also be granted in and of her own right.
But why strangle two needed improvements of
moderate cost, because a third, not especially
or Immediately required, comes in and asks
more than the Commissioners ray the District
| can meet?
Besides what with a disproportionate share
Of street extension Rock Creek park and the
Geological Garden, cannot the northwest afford
| to give the rest Of the District little show?
Such extreme modesty might indeed be a sur
prise to the rest Of the District, but, as quite
likely, it might never occur again; il might be
held as excusable for this once. L.