Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-28
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Opposition From B Street to a Pro-
posed Railway.
REPORTS ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
More in Reference to the Tax
Question.
NJ ANY MINOR MATTERS.

ceived the following letter from residents
of street northwest:
Understanding that there are now pend-
ing before you for consideration and re-
port sundry bills granting the right of way
TO certain parties for street railroads along
b street northwest between LIST street north
west and LIST street northeast we, the un-
dersigned property holders and resident
taxpayers on said street, beg to suggest
that the said b street northwest is en-
tirely occupied by private residences; that
the granting of the right of way along
said street would be simply ruinous to our
private property by decreasing its market
able price, by utterly destroying the peace
and quietude of our homes and families;
the necessary noise and the rattle and jar
of the cars would not only render the &C.
cupation of our homes quite untenable. but
would he menace to health.
IL street northwest is one of the narrow
est streets in the city as well as one
of the steepest. This is shown by the sur
Veys on file in the office of the District
engineer. a double line of track would rem
der the street quite useless for the occu-
pants. Neither our private carriages nor
the milk wagon or the grocers cart could
stand before our premises.
Again, the street is the main thorough
fare between East and West Washington
on the north side of the Capitol and a
street railroad would interfere disastrously
with the present heavy travel on that
street
Again there seems to us to he no present
need or road on said street, we have
heard of no demand. and we have nov,
within a square, a herdic line and two lines
OF street cars. We invite your special at
tention to the fact that several attempts
have heretofore been made To run a line of
street cars along this street, notably by the
Washington and Georgetown Railroad Com
pany. that the whole question OF the adapti-
bility Of this street has been fully consid-
cred by you and the Congress of She United
States, and permission 10 use this street
has been uniformly denied.
&C. street to the north ~ us IS now &C.
cupied by railroad tracks over which the
proposed lines may be run TO advantage
thus saving residence street for resident
purposes.
We earnestly beg that we be protected in
our peaceful homes and in the enjoyment
OF our property, or that some compensa ton
be urged in any bill which may be OF bene-
mt to the promoters of The contemplate
roads. and tend to the destruction of our
property rights. AS. however, we have
made our homes on this street We earnest
ly beg that you viii report unfavorably on
any bill that proposes to deprive Us OF our
homes by rendering them sitnply uninhabi-
table by reason of car tracks.
The Lander Bfll.
House bill 2s63 to authorize Mrs. Jean
Lander to adopt Frederick Carl Lander. a
British subject, came before the Comm.s-
sioners recently for report. They submitted
the bill to Attorney Thomas for his opinion
before passing finally upon the matter.
Today Attorney Thomas sent in his report,
which says:
This bin is an extraordinary one. II II
Is supposed that its enactment by Congress
would make Frederick Carl Lander the
child and heir of Mrs. Jean Lander or that
1t would make him a citizen of the United
states. 1 think those who indulge in the
belief are mistaken. Should the bill become
law, and Mrs. Lander should adopt Fred
erick Carl Lander as her heir and child and
should die intestate. he would not be her
heir, nor be entitled to share in the dis
tr1bution OF ner estate. The bill is not
recommended by the Commissioners"
The Permanent Board.
The assessor for the District today made
the following report upon House bill 2SS7,
which Is a sequence to House bill 2Sss re-
ported upon by him yesterday exempting
improvements from taxation. The bill pro-
vides for permanent board OF assessors.
composed of a president at $4,000 Der
ahnum ana a prosecutor at $500 per an
mum, and the president of said board is
vested with exclusive power to levy in
crease, diminish and equalize assessments
on real estate in the District of Columbia"
permanent board composed of citizens
OF this district, under proper restrictions.
would not be objectionable" SAYS Assessor
Trimble and has heretofore been favored
and advocated by this office: but the prin-
ciple involved in the pending bill is In no
materiai respect what is required or de-
sirable If adopted it would place the large
property interests Of our citizens in the
hands Of one individual. who might be an
absolute stranger to their needs and neces-
sues, and without even the privilege of an
appeal from what might be considered IN
arbitrary ruling. The prosecutor also NAV
be an alien or a nonresident, without spe-
cial interest In District affairs. and both
pres,dent ana prosecutor without RESPONSE
bility to the Commissioners or the tax paw
ers. whose property is held by the so-cslled
board with exclusive power
II is Capitalization Of power in one in
oiNouai' which would be extremely danger
Gus and not at all In harmony with our in
situations.
Il trust the bin may not be approved"
Today's Orders
Inc Commissioners today ordered:
That r. A. Tobin rejoin curb on X street
southwest between LIST street and South
Capitol street at cents per linear foot. to
be charged to Improvement to said street
That public gas lamp be erected on Con-
necticut avenue extended between Kalo-
rama avenue and Woodley lane at a point
l2o feet from the northeast corner OF Con-
necticut avenue and Kalorama avenue
That four catch basins be constructed on
18th street northwest at Olive and n streets
at an estimated cost Of ss25. chargeable to
That granolithic sidewalk be laid on the
south side OF h street northwest between
18TH and 18th streets. except In front of 81
Matthew's Institute, lot IA. square 2ls.
Ihat cutters be cleaned and holes in mad
way OF Howard avenue. Anacostia. he re-
paired at an estimated cost of STE
Inc parking commission is directed IN ,a
move two trees in front of 1900 s2d street
northwest and to plant one young tree mia
WAY between those thus to be removed
Inc parking commission is directea 20 "a
move tree In front Of 1921 Vermont ayenn.
northwest "e avenue
me parking commission is directed 20
trim up the trees above the line ~ ,hs
tops OF the street lamps on Corcoran street
avenue iahpsnife
Ihat {. w. Dorset be registered ana H.
eensed as master plumber and gas hitter
atter ming proper bond.
School Building.
Inc commissioners have been requested
oy several residents OF Montello to furnish
school accommodations at Ivy City for the
children Of their section. The building at
Montello has been found to be too small
to accommodate the children at times for
admission. The Commissioners expressed
themselves being anxious to do every
thing possible in the matter.
A Protest.
The residents Of B street from LIST street
east to LIST street west have sent the Com
missioners a written protest against the