Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-18

be found trapezoid. the bisecting obliuue
lines Of which are noted as Florida avenue,
Prospect street, Crescent street and Super
Tor street (which is California avenue}. The
curved, loophke outline running through
the center is the present Prospect and
Crescent street, and was made by the orig
inal owner of the property to conform to
the natural lay of the land.
Property Owners Grievances.
The story that will be laid before the OFF,
Gals named by owners of property who
Eelieve they have a grievance Is substan-
TALLY as follows: When the property came
into. possession Of the present owners and
grew to be of great present as well as very
large prospective value. the Intentions OF
the District Commissioners In relation to
the streets and avenues traversing 1t and
its neighborhood were ascertained, In order
that the permanent metes and bounds OF
the property might be definitely learned,
and so that future improvements might be
SCI sibly contemplat ted, in accordance with
them. Sixteenth street at the time was
steep hill in front of the outlets of Cres-
cent and Prospect streets. About four
years ego an appropriation of $4,000 was
n ade to cut 10th street through. Most of
this sum was consumed, however, in the
purchase of the Burr tract, which was
necessary to widen 10th street to the re-
quired 100 feet. The next year 81, 500 was
added to what remained, and expended In
as far as the north side of Morris street,
and a year ago 5000 were appropriated to
make Crescent and Prospect streets con-
form to the 10th street grade. This sum
was considered insufficient for the purpose
by the District Commissioners, and Mr..
Henry May and DR.. q. T. Sewers added be-
tv cen 5000 and $4,000 to the amount, in
order to have the work done properly.
The reason these gentlemen made this
outlay from their private purses for pub
lie purpose was because they owned adj
vantageous property at the intersections of
these streets with 18th street and had had,
as they claim, the definite understanding
with four District Commissioners, Messrs.
Douglass, Ross and Rossell and afterward
Mr.. Parker. when he succeeded Mr.. Doug
lass that 10th street would be a 6-per-cent
grade and the streets on either side, in
Guiding Crescent and Prospect streets,
would be the same. Dr. Sewers and Mr.. May
also spent, on their faith in the supposed Of
fetal decision of the Commissioners, be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 in cutting down
their property to conform to this 6-per-cent
grade. DR.. Sewers went so far as to sur
round his extensive holdings with an iron
ornamental fence, and so did Mr.. May. DIR.
Sewers sowed his in grass seed and had the
genesis of splendid future lawn in reach.
His property and that of Mr.. May only
awaited the architect and builder. Water
mains were put in on 10th street and ex-
tended up Crescent street, in conformity
with the 6-per-cent grade already estab-
lished, and DR.. Sewers and Mr.. May paid
water mains. When Capt. Rossell retired
from the District service Crescent street
was completed in conformity to the 6-per-
cent grade determined upon by the Dis
trict Commissioners
Change Made by Commissioner Powell
When Commissioner Powell entered upon
his duties, it Is asserted, he Immediately
ordered change of Crescent street. at the
west end, where it curves into Central and
Prospect streets. He had it lowered about
eight feet, and the work exhausted the
fund which was intended to complete Pros
pect street in conformity with the six per
cent grade determined upon by his prede-
cessor and his colleagues. Then came the
order to change 10th street to 3 1-2 per
cent grade, instead of the six per cent
grade agreed upon. Property owners claim
that they have never been able to ascertain
the reason for this, and Dr. Sewers and Mr.
May found their property eight or ten feet
higher in the air than they contemplated
when they did their grading. The water
mains We're lowered on 10th street, but
Crescent street was left also in the air
above grade, like the surrounding property
and is there yet
Subsequently the Commissioners decided
to cut up the neighborhood pursuant to the
statute providing for the extension Of
streets and avenues beyond the city limits
In the small territory uEder consideration,
so the complaint goes the Commissioners
have decided to run streets shown on the
accompanying cut, namely. Crescent and
Prospect streets. obliquely at the same
angle as Superior street Tor California ave
nue.. On the opposite or east side of 10th
street. however, as a glance at the map in
the Commissioners office will show, Pros
pect street is designed to run exactly east
and west from 18th street to 10th street.
The street Immediately north of Prospect
street, called Morris street, and which Is
virtually the eastern continuation of Cres-
directly east
west between 18th and 18th streets the
same as Prospect street does between those
streets. The carrying out of the oblique
plan now determined upon by the District
Commissioners for Crescent and Prospect
streets between 10th and 18th streets ex-
ten led, will, Mr.. May and DR.. Sewers be-
| lieve absolutely ruin their property. 1t IS
said that Secretary Lamont, Secretary
Smith and Gen. Casey, who compose the
! board of appeals in matters relating to
suburban street extension, will have their
attention called to this matter in the course
| of the next few days. in order that they
may be equipped to consider the question
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