Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-26
CONNECTICUT AVENUE EXTENDED.
A Proposition Before COngress Calls
Out Much Opposition.

A Proposition Before COngress Calls
Out Much Opposition.
A great deal Of influence has been
brought to bear upon the members Of the
conference committee on the District ap-
preparation bill for the purpose Of acquaint-
ing them with what Is held to be the far
reaching Importance Of a seemingly insig-
nincant amendment offered to the meas
ure when It was pending in the Senate by
Senator Allison. The amendment. which
Is numbered sixty-nine, and may be found
on page Il of the District appropriation
bill, appropriates $1,000 for paving Con-
necticut avenue and Columbia road be-
tween Florida avenue and Wyoming street
and provides that Connecticut avenue shall
be extended straight from lie Roy place
to the District line on the line of Connec-
ticut avenue as now established within the
city OF Washington. In a communica ton
to the committee. Mr.. w. l.. Cole. the at
torney OF Mr.. w. H. Moses. presents a
series OF arguments against the proposed
legislation. Mr.. Cole declares that while
there Is no objection to the appropria ton
for paving the two avenues as proposed
that the proviso for the extension of Con-
necucut avenue IS open atO many. He
states that it Is radical departure from
the plan of street extension adopted and
recorded August 81, 1885, which plan was
adopted upon mature elaboration and after
hearings before the Commissioners of the
District and the commission of revision
created by the act entitled IAN act to pro-
vide permanent system of highways"
&c, and argues that it ought not to be
changed by hasty les!slat ton tackled on to
an appropriation BILL. Mr. Cole further
demning the ground for extending the
avenue in straight Tine as proposed or to
pay for the private property to be taken
for that purpose He declares that 1t Is a
mere legislative declaration of the inten-
ton of Congress to extend the avenue in
straight line, which, casts a cloud upon
more than three-Quarters OF million dol
lars worth of property, and without re-
erty embraced IN the lines OF said avenue
according to the plans Of "permanent
system of highways"
:. 1.-The extension of the avenue In a straight
line, as proposed" continues Mr.. Cole
would take four very valuable residences
and two stables, besides upward of 1 600 900
square feet of ground. the market value of
which ranges from 70 cents to $3.50 per
square foot while Of the ground for ex-
tending the avenue according to the per
manent system one-half or more already
belongs to the government. and upon the
part to be condemned there Is not build
Ing or other Improvement" ..-.
In conclusion, Mr.. Cole says that to ex-
tend the avenue in straight line as pro-
posed. would require the cutting down of
the high ground between Leroy Place and
feet, inf1icting great damage upon abut-
ting owners ard rendering necessary a very
considerable change Of grades in the cross
streets. while from Park road north across
Rock Greek q distance Of over a thousand
feet Is very deep ravine, which will have
to be either filled or bridged
The extension of Connecticut avenue as
proposed under the proviso of the amend
ment above described would 1t Is said re-
quire the destruction Of the handsome resi-
denceS of Mr.. Charles w Handy Miss e
L. Dorsey, Mr.. ]. B. Winner and Mr.. VIII
liam H. Moses, and 1t is estimated that the
expenses for the land taken for grading and
paving and making the changes in the cross
streets would amount to not less than $500
eO, which sum is not inclusive of the dam
age that would be done to the four prop
erty owners mentioned or to the owners of
the adjoining property.
Residents Of Washington and Connection.
Avenue Heights are opposing the PROPOSE
ton. They declare that the amendment
was introduced in the interest of owners of
large tracts across Rock creek.