Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-12
AS TO ALLEY COMBINATIONS.
Bill Prepared by Attorney Thomas to be
Submitted to Congress.

The present laws IS to alley condemnations
are very unsatisfactory and the assistant at
| torney for the District, Mr.. 8. 7. Thomas, anx-
Ious to correct the existing state Of affairs, has
! prepared the following BILL which he recon-
| mends be submitted to Congress with the Com
| missioners' approval and request for early
passage:
An act to authorize the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia to open alleys and to
provide for the expense thereof and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted, &c, That whenever the Com
missioners of the District Of Columbia shall in
pursuance of existing law pass an order for the
opening Of an alley through any square in the
cities of Washington and Georgetown or shall
order one already laid out to be widened or ex-
tended. the surveyor shall. within fifteen days
aftervard, distinctly mark off such alley in the
manner III which 1t may be designated in the
Application therefor, and shall make out dupli.
cate plats OF said alley showing its courses and
boundaries and the area Of ground in square
feet which may be taken from lots or parts Of
lots IN the square by the opening or extension
of the alley, one OF which plats shall be depos-
tied IN the office of the Commissioners and the
other kept in the Office of the surveyor, and all
| such alleys or extensions shall thereafter be
kept open and free for public use.
Sec. z. That upon the filing of such plat in
VIC VI tno SOululsSlOuerS, the latter snail
make application to the marshal of the District
OF Columbia to summon jury of seven dlsin-
teresied citizens of said District to assess the
damage which may accrue to any individual
individuals by the opening or e1te nsion of such
alley, and the return of the damages ascer-
tanned shall be filed in the office Of the said
Commissioners and the amount thereof, less
the benefits hereinafter provided for, paid to
the person or persons entitled thereto out of
any unappropriated money in the Treasury of
the United States, one-half of such payment to
be charged against the revenues of said District
Sec. g. When the return of damages shall
have been made and filed with the Commits
sloners, aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the
Commissioners to appoint three disinterested
citizens to levy "a tax equal to the amount
thereof, together with the expenses attending
the opening or extending of such alley, includ-
ing the expense of examining the title to lots or
parts of lots affected by the alley, in Just pro-
portion upon the individuals whose property
III the square may be benefited thereby, and
they shall make due return to the Commits
sioners of the amount levied on each individual,
designating the lot for which they may be re-
spectlyely taxed, and it shall be the duty of the
Commissioners to furnish a copy of said return
to the collector Of taxes. whose duty it shall be
to collect the same as other taxes are collected
Sec. 4. That all alleys opened or extended in
the city OF Washington since June 80, 1871, I'M
der an ordinance of the late corporation Of
Washington approved November 4, 1872 are
hereby made valid.
Sec. 5. That ali alleys or parts Of alleys here
tofore closed by subdivision. with the approval
OF the Commissioners, shall hereafter remain
closed.
An explanatory letter accompanies the bill.