Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-02
THE EXTENSION OF STREETS.
Major Raymond Makes q Report On the
Bill Before the Senate.


Bill Before the Senate.
| The STAR has heretofore referred to Senat,
bill 1164, ito extend the streets and avenues O
the District Of Columbia" The bill was sub
mitted to the Commissioners for their views OF
December 81. As the direct supervision Of the
streets Of the city come under the engineer de
partment the matter was referred TO Majol
Raymond for his views, which he embodied il
the following memorandum submitted to TIT
Commissioners this morning for their action:
"The main object Of this bill is to secure thu
establishment Of an appropriate system Of high
ways through the numerous subdivisioni
suburban to Washington, and through the in
tervening tracts. These subdivisions are now
in general traversed by highways which pre-.
sent a bewildering diversity Of width and di
rection, entirely unsuitable to urban needs
| While the necessity for the rectifcatiOr
contemplated by this bill is more Imminent
as to the environs on the northerly side OF
Washington, no other section Of the District
can be wisely omitted from a measure of this
character, no matter how remote apparently
| the time when a like interference shall be rem
dered necessary by the city's progress. Hence
| the provisions of this bill extend to all SUBJ
urban subdivisions in the District.
Although this bill also contemplates the ex-
| tension of the permanent highway system over
| the entire District (see Sec 81 the expenditure
| OF money under it is substantially restricted
| to the rectifcation Of the existing subdivi-
sions, for the reason that there will be
| little or no necessity to pay for land for
highways in the portion Of the District yet
| unsubdivided, as owners OF such land will
generally be willing to give the necessary land
for highways when the city's expansion makes
1t appear probable to them that it will be more
profitable to subdivde their tracts into build
ing lots with acceptable streets than to let them
remain in a state of nature. They will CON-
pensate themselves for the land they give for
highways by adding to the price of the land
they sell sufficient to pay them for the land
they SO donate to public use.
In the matter OF existing subdivisions the
property Is generally owned by persons who
bought the land after subdivision and have in
creased it in value by improving it and the
contiguous highways In many instances also
the proper rectifcation of subdivisions will take
the entire holding of an individual or divide it
in such manner to render the portion un-
taken Of comparatively little value. Hence own
ers OF lots In existing subdivisions have equity
that do not inure to owners OF unsubdivided
tracts. In cases where the property in subdi-
visions, which it may be found advisable to
change, is still wholly or mainly in hands of
those who made the subdivisions the property
owners can secure an equitable readjustment
Of their plats to the new system under the first
clause of section 5.
to the Establishment OF highways in tho I'M
subdivided tracts has been obviated by the act
OF Congress entitled IAN act to regulate the
subdivisions of land within the District of
Columbia" approved August q, 1888, to COM
pei the future highway system Of those locali-
ties to conform to the general plan of the city
OF Washington, which gives the Commissioners
ample power to prevent irregular and I'M
authorized subdivisions in the future.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STREETS.
It will be noticed that this bill (section y
also includes within its scope the establishment
Of streets through intervening unsubdivided
tracts of land. The object III including those
tracts Is to provide for the opening of high
ways through such tracts far as the Com
missloners shall deem it advisable, to afford
means for direct access between the several
subdivisions they separate, and which other
wise might be left with very circuitous and in
convenient avenues for INSTRUMENTATION
and access to the city.
The clause in section l limiting the minimum
width OF the streets to 30 feet and maximum to
l60 feet needs no further explanation than that
the latter ID the maximum width of the city
highways, and experience establishes the for
mer as the minimum, consistent with due re-
gard for the conditions which should govern
any extension Of the streets Of the national
capital.
The exception to this rule contained in the
last clause of section is made because there
are subdivisions particularly in the vicinity of
Rock creek, which for Typographical reasons it
would be Improbable SO far as any public in
terest is concerned to disturb. Some of the
streets OF those subdivisions are narrower than
the width prescribed in section /. Many OF
these will doubtless be widened in any plan
adopted under this act, but some will serve a
better purpose as they are now The minimum
and maximum legal widths under the present
law governing county roads are fifty and one
hundred rpsn nj
sections and is obvious.
Section 4, in apportioning the expenses or
dana ges awarded under this bill, excerpts from
the portion chargeable to private abutting
property the pro rata amount charged for con-
demned improvements. 1t would be almost
impossible to justly apportion charge for
these Improvement damages among contiguous
subdivisions.
THE PROCEEDS OF SALES.
Under section the proceeds of the sale Of
these condemned improvements are given to
the United States and the District Of Columbia
in equal parts, and this, with the interest of the
private property owners ill the existing streets
not abandoned which is given to the United
States, will be fully equivalent to the amount
the United States and District contribute to
the payment of improvement damages. Be-
sides it should be borne in mind that the
suburban property will also largely contribute
in the way of general taxes to the general fund
Oh the winch the amount CnarSe-
able to the District for damages must be paid,
leaving out Of consideration the amount here
tofore paid in general taxes by the county
property in excess OF the amount appropriated
for improvements of roads and for other sur
burban purposes.
Section provides for the disposal of those
portions Of the land of the existing highways
not included in the new system, and for the
condemnation and sale of improvements in the
line OF the proposed new highways and the ap-
plication of the proceeds of such sales.
In some cases 1t may be advantageous to the
owner of the property abutting an abandoned
highway to obtain portion of such abandoned
land contiguous to his lot in order to get good
front on some new highway, and it may not be
inmical to the public interest to allow him that
privilege. This Is also provided for in section 5.
ABANDONED HIGHWAYS.
The proceeds of the sales of abandoned high
way land it proposes to apply to the credit of
the abutting private property for the reason
that those highways were practically, although
the persons who purchased the abutting lots.
of those who made the subdivisions the rever-
sionary right is in them. Hence present abutt-
ing owners, whether those who made the SUBJ
divisions or those who bought from them, are
entitled to credit to that extent. But as it
would be impracticable to divide the aban-
doned land out in parcels, putting the money
in the treasury to the credit of the District and
then having the District issue to the owners of
such abutting property certificates Of in
debtedness receivable for assessments for
damages SEEING most feasible and in M