Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-18
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP,
The Progress Made in Devising a
Street Extension Plan.
A BOND ISSUE TO PAY THE EXPENSE,
Taxpayers Making Lively Protest
Over Their Bills.
S ON E IN ROW EMENT
BOND ISSUE TO PAY THE EXPENSE.
SOME PROVEMENTS.

1t is likely that during the coming ses.
sion of Congress legislation will be asked
TO enable the provisions of the street ex.
tension bill to be carried out. Last spring
| tnls Dill after years of effort finally became
a law. 1t carried with IL, however, no
money appropriation, but authorized the
District Commissioners to have surveys
made and maps prepared showing the pro-
posed extension of the city streets beyond
| the city limits. The map is to receive the
| approval OF commission consisting of the
secretaries of War and of the Interior De-
partment and the chief of engineers of the
army, and 1t then can be placed on record.
Progress has been made thus far in the
preparation of a map showing in a tentative
way the extension of the streets in the sec
/ tlon extending from the Geological Park
10 the grounds of the Soldiers Home This
map Is being prepared under the direc-
! ton or the Engineer Commissioner and
/ has not as yet received his final approval
! and. of course, has not been submitted to
| the other two members of the board of
Commissioners.
An Issue of Bonds.
IL Is probable that when the map is ap-
proved Congress will be asked to make an
Is needed to enable the streets to be ex-
tended and widened. The amount of money
necessary will be quite large and II is
thought that the Commissioners as soon
as the map Is ready for record will recon-
menu tnat the money required be raised by
the issue of bonds. The map as prapared
mas been printed in The Star Since tban
change has been suggested and is being
eohsioered In regard to the extension of
connecticut avenue. Instead of continuing
II In a straight line from Florida avenue
~, ID suggested that the extension follow
the present course of Columbia road 70
Leroy street and thence along the same
INES as that of the present extension of the
avenue as far as kalorama avenue where
II Will strike the true line of Connection
avenue and by means of a bridge soutb
VI the present bridge across Rock creek
pe JOINED TO that portion of the avenue
which Is occupied by the tracks of the Rock
Nreek Railroad Company and which CON-
tihues IN a straight line to the bounds of
the District.
Not I'm Straight Lines.
ms proposed deviation from the direct
oI connecticut avenue through
portion Of Washington Heights is de-
iehueo on the ground of economy, as deep
cuts Will be avoided and there are no
hsa
removed. With the exception OF the con-
unuation OF 10th street the elevated ,,ro,,nl,
on the other side OF Eloriaa avenue to m.
east anu west of 10th street is nor 10 ha
peu. seventeenth street Is not TO ba
Atenueo ana lstn and lytn streets viii
aolio" the indirect line of existing straats
me existing streets from easT to ~, 80
as rune preserved, but, OF course a yre..
CT "iutn is provided Tor New Jersey ~
lin ~ Is PROPOSED to extend in a straight
miiI pe ihtersected by the extension of N.re
ia1i ipshlre avenue from the north. This
a. ,dt'S ~, avenue will from that point foIlnw
tHe me or Columbia road while ~,
Sey avenue viii be continued to th 1eT-
aiohs flney Branch road, or the extan
Sion of l4th street e eAteh-
,na ne oirect ana uniform extension of all
me streets is not contemplated by this nan
anu this Is especially noticeable IN the inoaP'
Hoii east ana west of 10th street It a. ob
Jee'eo on the part of property holders tho,
sactior. 70 run streets through this
section would necessitate heavy pradin9
ana would be expensive to the owners
wen as TO the public On the other bsnd
II is claimed that the direct connantin,,'
saatia Is demanded in a thickly built nm
section OF the city, such as il is eynao.a9
that the future growth of the cifv nil
make OF all this locality, will render n inn- |
possible to retain the grade which axiStr =,
this nj; IN .,t other words, it is argued that
TINS MIL will have to come down ap5 g.
might as well be done now as at anv tir,a
The Public and the Indix,a,,,
However, all these as well as other oras
lions are receiving the attention of the En-
gineer Commissioner and later will ha -.
ed upon by the other members of tho hoora |
and or the commission named by tho lon,
IL Is probable that as the result of the time
anu thougnt devoted to the subject 81 con
ciuslon VIII be reached that will recoppize
.ne iiiterests OF the property owners in
tneir relations to the whole community and
make suitable provision for the ultinnata
growth of the city.
II Is recognized as a misfortune that tho !
subdivision of property was not earlier resr-
ulated by law. II that had been done the
tangle of narrow end crno,.S |
streets encountered in some sub3i,,iSinr
would not now be in existence. a source or
lnls time not only Of expense to the puhIic |
out to the property owners.
AstOnished Taxpayer.
IL seems that number of propertv
owners are beginning to find out that dpr-
ng the past year and a half an Assessment.
II property for taxation purposes has been
going on. 1t is a well-known fact that only
| small percentage of the land owners avail
themselves of the opportunity afforded at
'ach rlennial assessment to learn the re- /
suit SO far as their own property is CON-
'erneo ana to correct errors into which, in
[ would seem that the present assessment
$ astonishing some of the owners who find
tut what has been done when they cali for
heir bills Then, for the first time, they in
erview the assessor and make a kick n
$ in vain that Mr. Trimble tells them that ;
he time for kicking is past and that the
assessment having been completed cannot
,e changed, even If the authority of the
be invoked. They continue
o cry out against the injustice of the vain i
tion of their property. A line of com
flaming taxpayers has appeared before
he assessor recently and they still continue
o come. In some cases they have COM | z
laint to make of mistakes such as placing
house on a vacant lot and making a |
harge for an improvement which does NOT |
Xfst This class Of complaints is readily |
disposed of by Mr.. Trimble, as he has am |
hority to correct all mistakes of this char 1
cter.
Valuations Rather High.
But when a taxpayer comes along and
ellis Mr. Trimble that his land or the i'm {
rovements have been assessed at too high Y
figure, then Mr.. Trimble feels sad. be- q
ause the complaint is some five or six I
lonths too late. 1t is claimed. however. $
9th by Mr.. Trimble and by Mr.. Griffin '
he latter was member of the board of re- r
ision-that a good many complaints in re- i
ard to high assessments are well founded !
he board of revision made heavy reduc-
ons, and the rule was that when a change Il
as made in the valuation of one piece Of I
roperty a corresponding change was made I
the value of all the property in the To- Il