Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-27
LITTLE HALF MOONS
Mr. W. Pitt Kellogg Objects to an Alleged
Circle.
original Site for Hancock Statue Has
NO Friends - Rfddled by Rail-
road Tracks and Protests.

The following letter from Mr.. W Pitt
Kellogg, relative to the condition of 16th
street at the junction of New Hampshire
avenue at U street was received by the
commissioners today, and is interesting.
L desire respectively to call your atten-
ton to the condition Of 10th street at the
JIncture Of New Hampshire avenue and L
street In the appropriation bill for the
District OF Columbia, passed by the second
session of the Fiftieth Congress- there was
provision, as follows: That the Com
missiore rs Of the District of Columbia are
authorized and directed to condemn a suf-
hcient amount of ground at the intersec-
ton of 18th and L streets ana New Hamp-
shire avenue from squares 115, l76, la, ls9
and l9o, for the purpose Of constructing a
circular reservation, the same TO be called
Hancock Circle, provided that the ground
TO be acquired or the cost of the same be
betrayed otherwise than at public ex-
pense.''
After the passage Of that act. the Com
missioners of the District established a
small circle from the center of this street
In each direction, being, / think. some so or
30 feet in diameter. AS the persons who
owned lots In the squares above mentioned
would not consent to donate any part of
their property for the purpose of this circle
1t was circumscribed to the narrow limits
the corner lot of square 1T5 and the corner
diagonally opposite, in square 1870. The
circle as constructed absorbed all the park
ing on the corner Of squares 10 and l90
encroachfng Slightly even upon the lots
The owners of these lots protested against
the establishing of the circle at the time
alleging that IL was small as to be a
blemish rather than an ornament to that
locality.
This became so apparent that Congress-
in the District appropriation bill passed dur
ing the first session OF the Fifty-second
Congress. provided as follows: That the
circle at the intersection Of 18th street and
New Hampshire avenue. known as Hancock
Circle, be and the same is hereby trans
ferred to and located at or near the inter-
section of 10th street extended and Morris
Street
since the passage Of this act no effort
has been made to remove this circle. but
street railroad company has been permitted
to cut through the center of the circle and
lay a double track of street railway. The
effect of this is 20 leave a half circle on
each side of the double track, which has
been curbed and erased. These two little
patches of grass are very small and cir
cumscribed in width, extending, 1 think.
the entire width of the original streets from
their extreme points.
II respectfully submit that II is not say
ing too much TO assert that these two
patches of grass, in the shape Of half
moons. in the middle Of a magnificent
avenue like 10th street are not only strik-
ing blcmishes, but objects of ridicule to
everyone who observes them.
Il submit that this unsightlv obstruction
ought TO be removed from the center Of
10th street, not only in the interest of the
general public, but in justice to the prop
srty owners whose rights have been en-
croached upon without their consent their
parking hypothetical, and the value of
their property greatly injured so much so
that the owner of one Of the ,ots who lad
intended TO build residence thereon has
been compelled to abandon the project"