Evening star., 1895-04-27

seven feet by nine feet. This map has been
hung In the public board room for fully ten
months. and kept corrected as changes in
the map were authorized. Hundreds OF
persons have examined the map and re-
ceived explanations about it. 1t Is judged
that the representatives of a de"'a"a rr'-
jcrity Of the property interests Of that ter
ritory inspected the map. and informed
themselves of the progress of the street
plan. Numerous hearings by the board OF
Commissioners have been given. and many
suggestions or protests as to part Of the
plans have been received and considered. At
no time since the preparation of the maps
or sketches began has any property owner
or agent Of property owner been denied
plete inspection. of them or any Of them, or
any information with regard to their de-
tails
How the Plans Were Made.
For the plans themselves an early step
was to lay down on District map main
avenues or drIyeways connecting the large
parks or distant points, so that conforma-
BILE provision might be made for the por-
tions falling within the first section. A
filling-in on the general working map by
principal streets, connections Of subdi-
visions and the harmonizing of Irregular
ones followed. Transfers were then made
to the detail sheets, the house maps and
coast survey Typographical maps for close
study to secure acceptable grades and loca-
tiCns for streets without causing excessive
or undue damages to improvements or lots.
For these results changes in many cases
were necessary. and they In turn caused
others The final adjustment was reached
by painstaking study and adopted by the
Commissioners after their careful consider
atiCn.
Mr.. OlmsteL's Work.
"a provision in the District appropria-
ton act Of 1894 directed the employment Of
Frederick Law Olmsted for the prepara-
ton OF sketch plans and report on the ex-
tension Of the streets and avenues.
'FIve reports. two prints. showing curved
street plans for certain areas adjoining the
Rock Creek Parks, and three sketches fur
nished by Messrs. Olmsted. Olmsted &
Eliot. the firm of which Frederick Law Ohm
sted Is member. are herewith, being in
closures 1 to 10. Mr.. ]. c. Olmsted MEM
F. L. Olmsted one visit to the District for
inspecting the plans and the ground. These
gentlemen were supplied with copies of
maps called for.
"Our general map showing existing high
ways as distinguished from new ones. and
subdivisions and bearings. for convenience,
temporary names Of new streets, being
thereby useful for reference in connection
with the reports and prints mentioned
above, is inclOsed and marked inclosure IL.
"A blue print of a drawing. compiled and
to show on one sheet the adopted plan,
omitting details and abandoned highways,
Is herewith and marked inclosure r.
Some of the Extensions.
"Of the streets and avenues radiating from
the two principal centers Of the plan of
Washington whose prolopgations fall with
In the first section, 1t may be noticed that
North Capitol street and 10th street have
been extended. with their city widths 100
and 16O feet. direct to the District line.
that New Jersey avenue has been narrow
ed from 16O to 120 feet width, DETECTED
and made to terminate at 10th street; that
Vermont avenue. 1870 feet wide. terminates
at Brightwood road. and Connecticut ave-
nue., also 130 feet wide. is slightly detected
through Washir gton Heights.
"a direct extension of New jersey ave-
nue would strike buildings of the Freed
Howard University and the grounds of that
Institution; the grade would not be good
and the avenue would run near length of
Brightwood road -e--.r
lected gives a good grade. intersects 18th.
18th and 10th streets at prominent points,
makes use of part Of 14th street road. de-
fleets from the direction OF Brightwood
road and affords a short line from the Cap
itol to the probable main entrance of Rock
Creek Park. The reduction of width was
for economy; moreover, number OF the
streets crossed by the extended avenue
have liberal widths. and for present pur-
poses the whole width Of New Jersey ave-
nue. in the city does not appear fully USE
full there.
nue. beyond Brightwood road would run
into high ground, destroy some brick resi-
dences, cut building Of the Howard Uni
versity and penetrate the new , reservoir .,saa
grounds would still require deep cut. The
Joining and widening of Grant and College
streets will furnish a driving way from
ervoir grounds, and through or around
them to the Soldiers Home. Still the stop
page. even on a thoroughfare of a Wash
ington avenue, leading from the Executive
Mansion toward the Soldiers Home, was
adopted with reluctance.
"The small DETECTION in Connecticut ave-
nue. Is for a better crossing of Rock creek
little better grade for the avenue, and
especially as a matter of economy. The
adopted location uses existing streets, and
need not damage any building.
Rhode Island avenue Is extended direct,
and its further extension of full width, 100
feet, to the District line. Is provided in the
proposed street. plans for the I'd section.
"It is out of the question to extend New
Hampshire avenue on account OF the very
large expense which would result for dam
ages and land. New Hampshire avenue Ct
Petworth subdivision Is not in line with
the avenue in Washington, and can. as pro-
vided for In the plans, be better Joined to
Columbia road. This road has been wtdened
to 100 feet and extended to the meeting
point on 18th street. 1t may be a matter Of
regret that New Hampshire avenue was
not laid out beyond BOUNDARY street at an
early time, and made to include the part Of
Rock Creek Church road along the north
western boundary Of the Soldiers Home.
but it, now too late to rectify the mis-
take. s-'
Avenues Not Extensions.
"An inspection Of the general working
map will discover some reasons for the To-
cation Of avenues which are not extensions
of Washington avenues. The former gen.
orally occupy county roads, or approxi-
mately take their lines. The greater num-
Der and more important Of these avenues
are directed from the south and east. where
the larger population is. to points on 18th
street. at probable entrances to Rock Creek
Park. The ruling width Of these avenues
is 12O feet, that being the width of exist
ing avenues in the part of the first section
referred to, and considered sufficient for
suburban avenues
Alabama avenue, as named on the gen
eral working map, is, however, 16O feet
wide. This Is intended as grand drive
way from the upper part of the National
Park, passing north Of the Soldiers Home,
to the upper part Of a proposed park along
the Eastern branch. Illinois avenue will
connect the middle part of the park with
the Soldiers Home.
TT would seem that the portion Of Col
orado avenue which begins at 18th street,
where q rectangular reservation Is shown,
and ouda af a circle nm 18th street ahOuld