Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
CONNECTICUT AVENUE
Further Arguments Against the Plans
Recommended
Something About 22d street Extended
Prof. Riley Gives Further Ex-
PLANTATION of His Views.
% the Editor Of Tho Evening Star:

TO the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Mr. Winner has filed a demurrer to my
original protest, and. Judging from the
published extracts therefrom, ne objects
% the admission Of the protest on the
ground that l failed to state that / was
property owner interested. My protest be-
gan with the avowal that it was entered
both frorn personal and patriotic motives,
and The Star, in its introduction to the
published protest. quite correctly stated
that the objections are made as a property
owner and that my residence Is on Wyo-
ming Avenue. 1t is quite true that the
straight extension contemplated up to 1893
would pass in front of my home to the
east. a fact of which it was quite unneces-
sary for Mr. Winner to inform me, since I
originally purchased the ground from him
for this very reason, preferring to do a
great deal of filling to make 1t available
rather than purchase more desirable ground
to the east in the line of said extension.
In fact I possess a map showing just how
the proposed extension would affect my
property, made for me by order of Engi-
neer Commissioner Rossell. This Is the
personal interest which l referred to In
ohjectlnG to theschange from that original
plan Beyond my home however, 1 do not
own foot Of ground and have specu-
lative interest In Washington Heights
whereas Mr.. Winner either owns personally
or Is agent for the great bulk of the land
which has to be condemned either IN or
along the line Of the proposed detour. AS
citizen who has made the District his
permanent residence and has Investments
In other parts of it, 1 feel also patriotic
interest in the same.
Mr.. Winners estimate of the cost of the
straight extension is very largely exag
gerated. and l am quite willing to allow
my own estimate Of the difference in cost
between the two planss based, as they are,
on the surveyors calculatio to stand
against his figures.
posed detour is but natural. 1t has been
brought about chiefly through his efforts
and at the sacrifice Of broad principle in
connection with one of the grandest ave-
nues In the city and at the further sacrifice
of public convenience and the future beau
ty and welfare of the whole region i'll
volved.
have been asked, in connection with the
discussion Of this subject. what my views
are In connection with 22d street extended,
since. if extended, 1t will take away my
own home. There are various objections
that might be raised against the proposed
plans of the Commissioners concerning
Washington Heights Among them the
broadening by strips Of different widths of
ka.oraHaa and California avenues and the
leaving OF Wyoming avenue at its present
width. proposition which full considera-
tion will not. ! believe, Justify; also the
failure to provide a good available thor
ODD street. But the question of Connecti-
cut avenue itself so largely transcends all
minor considerations that in my protest
these were purposely left untouched.
"A glance at the map Of the proposed
plans in reference to this particular terri
tory shows at once that there Is wide
stretch between Connecticut avenue ex-
tended on the east and 23d street on the
west, without any cross thoroughfare This
want Is a great detriment to the neighbor-
hood and without a parallel anywhere else
in the District. Now. 22d street should
naturally be extended through this re-
gion as there are no insup4able OBJ
stacles in the way. Its extension
had not been discussed until recently
the fact remains that ed street Is a long
and main thoroughfare. whereas 23d street
runs merely within bend of Rock creek.
There are but two residences in the line Of
I'd street extended and the typographical
difficulties are certainly not in5uperabe or
greater than those in connection with 231
street extended. as now proposed. Now. the
straight extension of Connecticut avenue
and of I'D street would make this region
conform to the general plan. and the two
thoroughfares would meet at Kalorama
avenue in a triangle or circle. This plan
must strike every one who has not some
personal interest to oppose as most de-
sirable and proper, and the wonder is that
1t was not long ago adopted. I could not
do otherwise than favor 1t and be consist
ent, though it destroy my own home, since
I have insisted that in all broad schemes
of the street extension plan individual in
tereSts should sink In the general welfare,
so long as just reparation and compensa-
ton are provided. But If Connecticut ave-
nue. Is to be carried out on the present pro-
posed bulge. then 22d street extended would
meet it at an acute angle on a bridge across
Rock creek. This W 1uld be undesirable, II
not ridiculous. and should under such cir
crmstances be opposed to sacrificing my
own home, which / have done much to
beautify. and In which have very large
sentimental interest. which will go for
nausht in condemnation proceedings
There Is another vital point in the dis
cussion that calls for attention. since with
the exception of its admitted larger cost,
not one of the important ontentions in IA
vor of the straight extension has been
weakened thus far. The more the matter
Is discussed and the more the facts
nected with the past history of the case
improvement of the Phelps tract are
brought to light the more 1t will appear
that small but actively interested minor
ity has had undue influence in bringing
about the detour against which l have pro-
tested; and. while / regret the prominence
that has been given to my own personal
views, it is a satisfaction to know, from
the expressions of neighbors. from those IL
ready published and from letters which
have been addressed to me (some Of them
from perfect strangers), that there IS very
general approval of the Views which have
set forth The majority views Of those re-
siding in the neighborhood remain as ex-
pressed at the only public meeting so far
given to obtain those views. while from cit
stake have yet to hear Of one who favors
the detour. C. V. RILEY.
r~r II To- =, III