Evening star., 1895-06-19

Inc following letter, received at Inc star
office today, fully explains itself:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June IS, 1895.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Dear Sir: The decision of the Court of
Appeals in the case of the Commissioners
against Goodfellow and others, decided yes
terday gives to the Commissioners a proper
occasion to make a statement which they
have long intended Ito make, but did not
deem proper to make while the matter was
pending in the courts.
Intimations were made by counsel to the
effect that the DETECTION of Delaware ave-
nue. extended, made by the Commission
ers was in the interest of Commissioner
Truesdeil, and with desire to protect his
property.
The wide publicity given this statement,
with the publication of maps showing the
nearness of this proposed avenue to Col.
Truesdells property and its relation there
to. requires emphatic an answer as
words can make.
1t is utterly untrue that Commissioner
Truesdelrs property interests had anything
whatever to do with the detection of Della
ware avenue, or were even considered in
connection with the matter, or that the de-
Election resulted from any recommenda-
ton or suggestion by him. The location of
that avenue along the lire of Brentwood
road, as required by the Commissioners,
was officially decided as long ago as Feb
ruary, 1893, by Commissioners Douglass.
Ross and Rossell-long before Commits
sioner Truesdeli was appointed Commits
sioner, and before even Maj. Powell or
Commissioner Parker became members of
the board.
After the act of 1888, requiring all future
subdivisions OF land in the county to con-
form to the general plan of the city of
Washington, 1t became the duty of the
Commissioners to officially locate extended
streets and avenues from time to time to
enable property holders to subdfvide their
property in accordance with that act.
Several of the avenues and streets were
thus located and detected from their city
alignmeVts, for good and sufficient reasons,
and among them was Delaware avenue, as
shown by the official records IN the Com m
signed by the then board Of Commission
ers, in February, 1888.
This location Of Delaware avenue was
substantially confirmed by the present
board OF Commissioners, as one result of
their careful and comprehensive study for
the highway extension plan.
AS a further history of the location of
Delaware avenue Commissioner Truesdell
states that in 1887, when he was prepar-
irg to cubdivide lexington, he proposed to
Commissioner Ludlow. then Engineer Com
missioner, to dedicate Delaware avenue
through lexington. and was Informed that
such a location would not be accepted, as
the proper location of that avenue would
he further, east along the line of Brent
wood road. p
The records in the Office OF the Commits
soners. before referred to. are open to the
inspection OF the public, and they complete-
ly refute the unfounded charge that the
present board of CcmIhissionrFs have de-
hected that avenue to preserve the property
of Commissioner Truesdell from injury.
It seems hardly necessary to go so much
into detail for the defense of men charged
with such important duties but it Is en-
tirely untrue that the extension of Della
ware avenue in right line would inture
Commissioner Truesde!rs property. On the
contrary he would be greatly benefited by
such extension. as 1t would require about
100000 feet of his land which is unsuitable
for residential purposes to be condemned,
and for which his compensation would be
not less than $15O,OO0 at current prices.
But such an extension along the Ecking
ton valley, crossing and recrossing the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad on grade and
at acute angles within half a mile, would
be utterly worthless as public highway
and could not be justified upon any sound
engineering principles. :,
The line of Brentwood road is the proper
and most economical extension of Delaware
avenue and the Court Of Appeals has prac-
tically sustained the Commissioners in that
view. ~
Commissioner Truesdeus associates have
served with him now for more than fifteen
months, and they say without reservation
that he has brought to his work abilities of
esty of purpose which ARE above criticism.
In every official act he has shown a desire
to conserve what he deems the very best
interest of the Districtsof Columbia.
Trusting that you viii give to this letter
place in your columns, We have the
honor to be, with great respect,
Very truly yours,
CHAS. F. POWELL,
Major Corps of Engineers, u.S.A.,
7 ~