Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-24
ANALOSTAN ISLAND
Proposition for the Government to
Buy It for $4,000.
SENATORS CHANGE THEIR OPINIONS
Other MATTERS Acted On by the
Senate Committee.
RTTT.S OF TOCAT TNTFDECr
BILLS OF LOCAL INTEREST

The District committee of the Senate got
down to work this morning with a vigor
that may have had its inspiration in the
relief that is felt by every member of the
committee over the disposition of the
perennial dollar gas question. The appro-
priation bill being now under consideration
before the subcommittee On appropria tions,
this Is the harvest time for amendments to
that measure, and most Of today's session
OF the District committee was occupied by
consideration of such matters.
To Buy Annlostnn Island.
The most important action in this line
was the adoption by the committee of an
amendment to the appropriation bill au-
thorizinS the purchase of Analostan Island
by the government and the District in case
1T can be secured for $4,000 or less When
this matter was up before the committee
before on arguments made by Senator
Stewart the proposition was to buy the is
land for the purpose of erecting there a
contagious hospital, or similar institution
for the cure of disease. This idea did not
meet with favor, and the drift of opinion
at that time was that the scheme was not
feasible. Since then. however certain
members of the committee have been look
ing into the case, with the result that there
has been change of sentiment; this morn
ing's action was the consequence. In their
letters to the committee in answer to this
proposition to buy the island the District
CommiSsiCr erS reported that the assessed
valuation of the property was s37,500, but
that II the government should Euy under
condemnation proceedings the property
would probably cost three times that
amount. The committee decided to fix S7J-
coo as the limit of cost and it is believed
the bargain will be struck with the repre-
sentatives of the owners. whereby the title
&c rod TO hn
consideration of that sum.
here are about fifty-four acres OF solid
ground on the island, and about thirty
four acres of swamp land imm ediately ad-
joining, making total acreage of eighty
eight acres of land that, with certain
improvements, could be made available for
any purpose. The plans for the proposed
Memorial bridge include the construction
o. pier on a portion of this island and
this is one of the reasons that actuated
the committee in reaching it's decision to-
Day: II was felt that if the bridge is to
be built the right to build the pier on the
1slard would have to be secured, and it
would probably be an economy for the
government to control not cnly both ap-
which the piers rest well. 1t so hap
pens that the land on both sides OF the
river Immediately opposite Analostan
island, with the exception of the northern
eIid, IS the property of the government on
the west the Arlington estate. and on the
east the Potomac flats and the old naval
observatory grounds.
ore motive that operated to bring about
the decision of the committee was the
feeling that it would be far better for
the government to secure this beautiful
tract ,@ract OF lend, even with its present ma
lsrial surroundings, than to permit it to
fa!i INTO the hands CT private persons. who
might place there any sort Of an offensive.
esta est: blishment. The possibility Of the cree
uCn or a soap factory on Analostan Island
has more than once been present to the
minds of certain members of the commit
tee, and 1T is we'll understood that the
Pennsylvania Railroad COMPANY has for
some time had an eye on this propertv
with view to securing it for the purpose
Of establishing there extensive freight
yards, etc.
The amendment will be soon reported to
the Senate and referred at once to the
committee On appropriations.
Other Amendments Acted On.
The committee this morning also acted on
several other amendments to the appro-
priation bill. One Of these was that pro-
posed by Senator Stewart, appropriating
$500 to grade the banks on 1st street
west extended with the proviso that this
work shall take It's turn. Mr. Peffer's
amendment placing the wages of all police
van drivers at at least $50 a month was
also favorably acted upon, notwithstanding
the adverse recommenda ton of the Dis
trict Commissioners. Senator Hansbrough
was authorized to report a committee
amendment to the appropriation bill, au-
thorizing the paving of Princeton street
between 18th and 18th, at cost not to
exceed $1,000. Senator McMilan's amend
ment to the bill providing for the appoint
ment of a select commission to inquire
into the curriculum of the colored public
schools with especial reference to the pos
sibility Of extending the course of manual
training was amended by substituting the
board of school trustees for such a select
commission and by changing the reference
to the public schools, which, in the original
amendment, were described by the old
divisional numbers that are now obsolete.
Senator McMillan's amendment authoriz-
ing the expenditure of the uneXpended bal
ance now remaining of the apPropria ton to
remove Hancock Circle for the purpose of
beautifying the reservation at the intersec-
ton of 10Th and U streets was rejected by
the committee and adverse report was
ordered, withstanding Mr.. McMllan's
earnest arguments in it's behalf
BriEhtyrOOd Hallway Extension.
The committee took favorable action on
the bill to amend the charter Of the
Brightwood Railway Company. The bill as
finally approved by the committee is con-
siderably amended from it's original FORM
1t provides for an extension as follows:
From the corner of 9th and Umtila
streets northeriy to Vermillion, thence west
to Sth street and ncrtherly on Sth and its
extension to the District line. 1t Is pro-
vided that on the completion of this ex-
tension the company shall remove the pres
ent tracks on Umitilla street east of 9th
and on 9TH and Umitilia streets and to
restore those streets to good condition
Another amendment provides that in case
condemnation proceedings are necessary
for the securing OF the right of way
through any private lands the company
shall dedicate to the District the right to
use such right of way public highway
The company is required to file with the
Commissioners within ten days after the
passage Of the act a schedule of the time
and manner in which it proposes to run it's
cars. Notice of all proposed changes shall
also be filed with the Commissioners at
least three days before they are to take
effect The Commissioners are to approve
such schedules without delay IN case they
meet the reasonable demands of the tray-
cling public. The company is required be
tween the hours of ) in the morning and
midnight to run cars through from Florida
avenue to the northern end of Brightwood
avenue and vice versa at least every fif-
teen minutes, under penalty of so a day
Within one month afteI the passage of the
act it is required the Brghtwood and
Metropolitan railway companies and the
Capital Traction Company shall make ar
rangements for a system of transfers by