Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-17
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
That Theater Question.

Apropos Of the consideration by the Com
missioners of a change in the building reg
ulations relative to the location Of theaters
President James c. yelling of the Column
bian University writes to the Commission
ers today upon that subject as follows:
"As citizen of Washington I would re-
specially request that no change be made
in your building regulations, such as would
repeal the requirement that as a prelimi-
nary to a building permit for a theater the
consent of a. majority of the property
owners on the front of the confronting
square should first be secured. The ex-
pediency Of recurring the assent Of such
owners is SO self-evident that it does not re-
quire to be argued. More than any other
property owners, save those in immediate
proximity to the theater building they
should be obviously first considered I as
sumo that in common justice as well as in
respect for all proprieties of law and right,
no change viii be made in the building reg
ulations, such as will have a retroactive
effect upon a case which is res adjudicata
under your existing regulations 1 have
full faith In your wish to do justice to all
men. We hold our medical building under
a deed of gift. which makes it impossible for
us to sell 1t, however much We may be dam
aged by ~the immediate proximity of a
theater. with the noises and distractions -
Should He Paved.
The health officer has certified that the
alley in south half of square SIS should
be paved in the interest of public health,
and he recommends that 1t be done under
the compulsory. permit >ystem.
.... improvements Necessary.
The health officer has certified that the
improvement of the alley in square 2O4 is
necessary in the interest Of public health.
He also certifies to the same thing regard
ing the alley in square 1913.
Health officer Hammett has recommend
ed that houses numbered from 1Ol to 1O7
H street northeast be condemned as unfit
for habitation.
To Lay Tracks.
The Commissioners yesterday granted
a permit to the lexington and Soldiers
Home Railroad Company to lay their tracks
in accordance with the act approved July
g. 1898. The permit specifies the methods to
be used in paving between and along the
tracks. and makes other regulations.
A Railroad Hearing.
The Commissioners will give a public
hearing at their office on Monday, the 10th
instant at o'clock p. m, to those who
may be interested in H. r. bill $685. grant
ing the property owners of square 326 the
privilege of constructing and using a rail-
road siding into said square connecting
with the b. and P. railroad on Maryland
avenue, the entrance to the square to be
made from a point west of 10th street, and
not from any point west Of 18th street
Inspector of Clements.
The Commissioners yesterday appoint
ed A. w. Dow inspector of &c nents and
asphalts for the District Of Columbia, vice
Clifford Richardson. resigned.
Belt Line Changes.
The Commissioners have under advise
ment modification Of the route Of the
Belt line railroad. as proposed in Senate
bill 1890. SO that instead of a double track
on NJ street northwest from 4th to Goth
there will be a single track on NJ from near
7th street northeast to 18th, south on b
street to L, and double track west on L
to 10Th, north to NJ, and west on NJ to 26th;
also a single track from Florida avenue
and NJ street northeast on Florida avenue
to Sth street, south to L, and west on L
to 10th, and north to NJ; also an east and
west line from Northeast Washington to
Georgetown.
The modification, according to the Engi-
neer Commissioner, removes most of the
objections to a double track on VI street
between 4th and 18th. and extends the line
to Northeast Washington, passing Conven-
ton Hall and X street market, Deaf and
Dumb Asylum, and making good connec-
lions with the other parts Of the Belt line
tracks and the lexington and Soldiers
H3As railroad.