The morning times., 1895-12-01

The bond bill street extension
scheme, whether the accusation DE
true or not, bears on It's face the I'M
print of jobbery.
The street extension appears 10 be
an after-t iiOuxht of the oriRinatorS of
the proposition { hat the city needed ii
sewerage system propOrttoned 10 the
greatness of the city and the menace
to the public health from epidemic
diseases. The cloven foot of the lobby
list sticks out In the statements made
to the Congressional committees That
the sewerage system could not he
completed unless the streets were ex-
tended.
While 1t Is true that the making of
streets Is condition precedent to
good sewers II does not follow that
the extension of streets into the sub
urbs is necessary to the construction
OF the best sewers within the city lin
its, where they are most needed.
One OF the arguments which had
most weight with the Congressional
com mittees was that the city was in
constant danger Of epidemics, and
that the death rate from ty yphOid fever
was nlarmiugly large. This latterar-
yumcnt was diSproved In The Times
from the records of the health office.
When fhfs argument fell through
there was but little left in the state
ments before rethecommittee { nd on.
The next step In the conspiracy waste
carry through the extensions, and
his is being pushed to the extent of
asking the citizeus TO serve on juffes
OF condemnation for prospective re-
enumeration for their services.
The highway act Il pure and simple
an act In the interest of one class of
citizens n { the expense of another.
From 1856 to 1888 all Of The settlers
beyond the boundary instituted
series of improvements on plans
which to them seemed best ha wing in
that period no reason TO believe that
Congress or lobbyists would have
passed nm act which would interfere
with their holdings or their subdivf-
siOns Of lands aud streets.
Within that period the original own
ers of large tracts or subsequent pur-
chasers began making sporadic ini-
provements, most of which were de-
pendent on the running OF railway
lines through the remote sections OF
the District. Land companies were
formed, a great many Of whose pro-
moters were also Interested In The
railway lines. Notwit hstaDding all
this engineering the colonization OF
the District was confined To the sub
urbs near the city limits, where hnds
I'm fhe early days were sold cheap and
StIttCHient were
fcred. This was The natural course
OF events and strictly I'm accord with
the history of the extension and en-
1argement of all great cities.
It occurred TO the Ia nd speculators
that unless a forced value was given
to their In nds by Congressional act ion
their invest ments would bea interest
AT a date I'm the next century. What
WAS 10 be done?
About three years ago an act was
PASSED which. In the opinion of all the
citizens OF Washington, was one of
good intention. 1t appropriated S4.-
OOO,OOO for new and better sewers,
the general impression being that
these sewers, which were largely to
be paid for out of taxes on city prop
erty, would be for the benefit of city
property.
Subsequently Congress- was Induced
10 believe that the people would stand
an additional burden of 50 5000 on
the shibbnleth of "A Greater WASH
ingtOn;' that Is, that magnificent
avenues and shady streets he laid out
To the District lines outSide of I he city.
The citizens of Washington have
walked up now to the fact that this