Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-05
Objections Against the Proposed De-
Fiction of Connecticut Avenue.
APPEAL TO TIE HIGHER COMMISSION
Professor c. V. Riley as Property
Holder States His Objections.
history OF THE CASE

protests from citizens who do not approve
of the action of the District Commissioners
In this important matter. As is we'll known,
the commission, which is composed of the
Secretaries of War and the Interior and
the chief of army engineers, has publicly
invited suggestions from citizens, and prom
ises to consider any protests or suggestions
If made in writing. In their advertisement
calling the attention of the public to this
matter, the commission specify that all
such communications must be submitted on
or before the 18th of July and be addressed
to the chief of engineers, United States
army, War Department On and after Au-
gust l the commission states in the same
announcement they will hold sessions In
the office of the Secretary of War TO dis
pose of all objections made, and at that
time they will hear orally from those W no
desire to say anything in support of their
written objections.
As was developed when the subject of
preparing the proposed map was before
the District Commissioners there was con-
siderable opposition the part of citizens
to the proposed DETECTION of certain streets
from the lines of the city streets. In some
instances the contests assumed such pro-
portions that they attracted considerable
attention. This was notably the case with
the proposed detection of Connecticut ave-
nue., the proposed system of streets
TIN ough the Meridian Hill property and the
line of extension of Delaware avenue. In
some cases the Commissioners gave
public hearing, and the arguments of the
opposing sides We're heard. All those adj
vccating the reflections in street extension
were naturally arrayed against those VINO
believe in the general principle that there
should be n uniform prolongation of the
streets SO as to give the territory beyond
the old bounds OF the city the same advan-
tages and features of attraction which
are universally conceded to be the results
of the present city plan.
This point of difference is very clearly
brought out in protest which Professor
c. V. Riley. whose residence is on Wyo-
ming avenue. Washington Heights, has
just sent to the higher court, as the COM
mission may be termed. He objects to the
detection of Connecticut avenue, but much
of his argument applies to the broad
principle at issue between the advocates
of DETECTION and direct extension In gen.
eral
In his protest Prof. Riley says:
LAS the limit of time approaches within
which protests to be filed in reference
to the plans of what is known as section
l of the street extension scheme, made I'M
der the act of Congress of March 2, 1898,
1 send you this protest against the pro-
posed plan of Connecticut avenue extended.
as l feel a deep interest, both personal
and patriotic, in the same.
1.-THE history of the propositions as to
the extension of Connecticut avenue be-
yond the Boundary and the final adoption
by the District Commissioners of distor-
ton which, If ultimately ratified, Will prove
an everlasting blemish on the general + Ian
of the District is most curious and in
'structive, though withai sad commentary
on the protean government OF this great
capital of the greatest republic on earth.
I THAT history shows that public senti-
ment has been overwhelmingly In favor of
the straight extension, but that the more
active and persistent efforts of the few
who were actuated by schemes of personal
advantage have, SO far, prevailed.
THE present subdivision Of the portion of
Washington Heights involved in this dis
tte niy,f foo RI n
1852 by the owners, Otis F. Presbrey,
Elisha Goddard and Anthony Hyde, as
trustee for Julia L. Goddard. but Colonel
George Truesdell subsequently became in
terested in 1t and added further i'm
portant subdivision to the north. 1t bears
no relation to the general plan of the city,
the three main streets or avenues, VIZ,
California, Wyoming and kalorama. hav-
ing been established upon Typographical
considerations and at right angles with
18th strest extended, which was detected
westward on account of the high bluffs
which originally characterized the region
beyond the Boundary and between 18th and
10th streets extended.
The Original Subdivision.
"Only those who remember the original
Topography of this region known as the
Widows Mite and are able to compare it's
pa st with it's present aspect can appreciate
the amount of work in grading, filling and
improving that has been done chiefly by
Col. Truesdell, or the success and Industry
of Mr.. ]. b. Winner, who has been the
chief real estate agent in exploiting the
property, and who has always taken the
ke enest interest therein. These improve
ulents have almost uniformly been made at
private expense. In the original subdivision
not a single cross street, north and south,
was provided for, and, indeed, three-fourths
of the flfty-foot roadway marked on the
plans as Connecticut avenue extended has
no existence in the surveyors office.
s"rhis so-called Connecticut avenue eX-
tended, or strip between California and
Kalorama avenues, was originally simply
opened up by lhe owners interested, WIN
out being dedicated to the District; it Is
not in q line with Connecticut avenue but
Is the most direct outlet from that avenue
over Rock creek by way Of Woodley road.
When the Commissioners were considering
the plan of street extension beyond the
boundary in 1885, which resulted in the
well-known Ludlow map. as a result OF a
resolution of the Senate of the United
States adopted August 4, 1886, 1t was
deemed advisable to widen the avenues on
Washington Heights and also this cross
piece by adding fifty feet on the west. So
emphatic were the Commissioners in their
decision to widen and to obtain a decent
thoroughfare to Woodley road that Mr..
Frank Presbrey, who had built house
near the southwest juncture of Columbia
road and California avenue, was forced to
move his house, because 1t was in the line
CT this proposed thoroughfore, and was also
required after having moved the house to
the southwest corner of kalorama avenue
and the cross street to set back the build
ing over fifty feet on his own ground. Col.
Truesdell, as part Of this scheme, also
went to great expense in paving this same
street north of Kalorama avenue, on the
1OO-foot basis, the extra width being west
of the present road and abutting on Mr..
Presbrey's corner. In the subdivision, re-
corded April 3 1887. this is called Connecti-
cut avenue opened from Woodley road to
Kalorama avenue, the same south of kalo-
rama being described as not opened but pro-
jected.
Action of the Commissioners.
notwithstanding the approval Of
this, however. on the part of the
Commissioners, having in view a wide
roadway connecting Connecticut avenue
with Woodlay bridge. Mr.. Presbrey was al
lowed. July of the same year QSSO, to
record another subdivision just south of
Truesdelrs, altering the direction of the
original lots and opening roadway only
fifty feet wide for one-half the distance
between Kalorama and Wyoming avenues.
Mr. Winner subsequently sold, and permits
were subsequently given for, buildings
which have since been erected on the north
west corners, respectively of this cross
street and California avenue and of the
same and Wyoming avenue, thus absolutely
Iar,i