Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-16
THE HIGHWAY ACT
District Commissioners Will Wait
for the Courts
BEFORE ASKING FOR AMENDMENTS
Changes Which Major Powell
Would Like to Effect.
OTHER DISTRICT AFFAIRS

to take no positive steps toward gettlng the
street extension law amended until the
courts have considered the questions now be-
fore them regarding the act.
In The Star of November last attention
was called to the defects which had been
discovered in the act, and 1t was stated that
the Commissioners would present bill to
Congress amending the act, in order that
the original ideas of street extension should
be carried out without question. There have
been several interviews with the attorney
for the District, Mr.. S. T. Thomas, on the
subject, and 1t is understood the Commits
sioners have directed him to prepare bill
In accordance with his recommendation
which, it is understood. are in favor Of cut
ting out the assessment clause and making
that clause relative to the assessment of
benefits more specific. AS the law now
reads. there is a provision in this regard that
is considered entirely too broad. 1t stipu..
lates that the benefits are to be assessed
upon "the land benefited thereby" The
matter has attracted the serious considera-
ton of the Commissioners, and they are do
Ing everything In their power to remedy ex-
listing defects.
Other Changes Wanted.
Then the law, 1t is thought, is not broad
enough in several other respects. There
are limitations regarding widths Of streets
which the Engineer Commissioner is anx-
eral important projects may be carried out.
For instance, he is very desirous of having
the Piney Branch driveway widened to 100
feet. The highway commission was anxious
to have this done and would have recon-
mended 1t had 1t not been for the law
which prohibited the widening of a road to
more than 16O feet. Then again there are
several original ideas which Maj. Powell
desires to carry out in connection with that
portion of the third section west Of Rock
creek There is the recommendation, for
instance, that strip of land varying in
width from $50 to 200 feet be retained on
the west side of the creek to preserve its
natural beauty, as we'll as similar recon-
mendations in relation to the small streams
which branch off from the creek.
Maj Powell admitted to reporter of The
Star this afternoon that the Commission.
ers had had several Interviews with the
attorney for the District upon the subject
of street extensions, with especial refer
eIce 10 those clauses which were claimed
10 be unconstitutional. I'VE have decided,
however" said the MAJOR, until the courts
interfere, to go right ahead. Should the
act be declared unconstitutional most GER
tainly we will have it amended. The eX-
tension of the streets and avenues of this
city is most important work. and Should
by all means be accomplished before long"
The Street ExtensiOn Case.
No action was taken today by either side
in the street extension case, and Mr.. A. B.
Duvall of counsel for the District stated
to Star reporter that nothing would be
done before Monday, at least.
Electric Lights Instead of Gas.
The District Commissioners are doing all
in their power to foster competition In the
street-lighting business. The contract re-
Gently awarded the Potomac Light and
Power Company to light the subdivisions of
Tenleytown and Reno are evidences Of their
intention to help this company as much as
the law allows. 1t was stated today that
the gas lamps on the Aqueduct bridge
would be discontinued in few days. and
incandescent electric lights substituted by
the Potomac Light and Power Company.
Liquor License Applications.
Major Moore has notified the excise board
that he will return with the recommended
uons of his department all Of the retail
liquor applications intrusted to his care for
examination and report. 1t is not believed,
| however, that the excise board will take
the subject of granting licenses up i'm
mediately, as they have agreed to make the
return Of the new assessment, as far as the
| city proper is concerned. by the 1st of Janu-
| ary. Should an opportunity present itself,
however, in the meantime the license ques-
| ton will be considered.
Owners of UnimprOved Lots.
The wet weather of the past few days has
| washed the dirt from unimproved lots onto
the sidewalks of the city. Under the pro-
| visions of the act of March 2. 1895, the Com
| missioners have the right to remove the
refuse, If, after due notice, the owner re-
| fuses to do the work. The cost of the work
| is made a lien against the property. District
| inspectors are making reports every day of
| dirty sidewalks, and the Commissioners are
| sending out notices to clean the same forth
with.
Orders for Work.
The Commissioners have ordered: That
| the sidewalk over sewer trench on I'd street
northwest between street and Massachu-
setts avenue be repaired by the superin-
| tendent Of streets; that 1865 feet of six-inch
water main be laid in 18th street between
| Princeton and Yale streets northwest; that
| 500 feet of twelve-inch and eighteen-inch
sewer be laid in the alley in square 623, to
replace, in part the existing sewer. and that
| a fire hydrant be erected at the northeast
corner of AZ street and Missouri avenue.
Building Permits.
Building permits have been issued as fol-
lows: r. o. Ryder. to erect three two-story
| brick dwellings,, 1887. 1889 and 1341 street
northeast, to cost 81, 500; Oliver A. Emmons,
| to erect one two-story frame building at the
corner of Nichols avenue and Park street,
| Congress Heights, to cost $1,000.
Mr.. Burns Contract Vacated.
In accordance with the disclosures made
| in the case of A. B. Burns printed in
| Thursdays Star, relative to the erection
| of fire escape on the Homeopathic Hos
pital, the Commissioners yesterday vacated
| the contract with Mr.. Burns, and directed
| the inspector of buildings to make a con-
| tract direct with c. b. Albre & Co. to do the
| ork
| A New Fire Insurance Company.
| Authority has been granted by the Com
| missioners to the Mutual Fire Insurance
| Company to do business in the District.
| A Schedule Unsatisfactory.
| The Commissioners have notified the gen.
eral manager of the Brghtwood Railroad
| Company that they do not approve the
schedule of the running of the cars, because
| 1t Is not in accordance with the terms of it's
charter. They direct him to submit new
| schedule at once which does comply with
| the terms of its charter.
Fencing Railroad Tracks.
The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company has completed the fencing of its
tra cLa with the city limits from the tunnel