Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02
UNDER THE HIGHWAY ACT
"a
Report Of Engineer Richards on the Plans
for Street Extensions.
The Several Sections Considered i'm
Detail-Early Recording Of All
Subdivisions Anttefpated.

Property owners generally, and especially
those whose holdings are. IN line with con-
templated street extensions. will be inter-
ested in the annual reportlof Assistant En-
gfneer VIM. p. Richards. In charge Of the
highway extensions, which was submitted
to Engineer Commissioner Black today.
In his report Engineer Richards says:
1.-THE constitutionality Of the highway act
having been tested in the courts during the
past two years, no section plans have been
filed since the recording OF the first section
in August 1895. The suburban parts of the
District not covered by the first section.
and known. as sections 2, ) and \. have been
studied In conjunction, SO that their COM
pletior may follow in close :orjer. !
Tentative plans of these sections were
well advanced more than year ago, the
past year adding more in detailed study
and In the preparation OF data for record.
During the fall and win.er field force was
kept almost constantly employed In the To-
cation of avenue and street lines, and in
the accurate determination Of points in the
various subdivisions. the correct notation
of all block distances, as required in the
highway act, has necesstatei careful work
in the field, and all valuable points of ref
erence have been preserved by suitable
monuments.
Second Section.
northeast suburbs between North Capitol
street extended and The Anacos,ia river.
has been completed for some time The de-
tail sheets were held in the office of the
Commissioners of the District, pending the
Supreme Court decision in May, when they
were forwarded to The highway commission
tor final action. A duL li:ate set Of the de-
tails was made during the fall for use in
this Office.
Third Section.
The third section, or the CO lnty west Of
Rock creek, has demanded most of our at
tention in the Office work. 1t covers a
region varied in topography. Offering easy
studies on the high grounds and presenting
sc me knotty problems in the eroded parts.
Work done under the act Of 1888 had al
ready furnished a plan in the level tracts.
and this was accepted with slight change.
The whole section has received an exhaus-
tive study, both as to details in grades and
the broader considerations Of harmony in
plan. It was recognized at the start that
a rigid system of right lines was impossi-
BILE from a financial point. Diverse cpin-
ions were expressed by the property hold
ers as to what extent curved system
should be allowed. The plan now offered Is
combination Of fiat curves and direct lines,
and has met with general favor.
Studies of this section were made on four
contour sheets drawn to a scale of one
inch to two hundred feet, with contours at
five feet intervals. which were enlarged
from the coast survey sheets. Independent
maps or plans were prepared Dy the off
ferent parties in this ofice and the map
finally submitted was one compiled from
these separate studies
Fourth Section.
The fourth section. or county east Of the
Anacostia river. has been entirely covered
by a tentative plan, which ,is not, however.
considered satisfactory. Further study is
needed, and considerable field work is nec-
essary before the section is finally prepared
for record. The plans are laid down on
maps similar TO those prepared In studies
OF the third section. II 81 i
Under the act of 1885, plats Of subdi-
visions Of land have been examined for
conformity to the plans q{ this office. ind
surveys and plats have been made for the
dedication Of land In EhHb0drne, Sher-
man avenue, Griswold's s,abdivfsion. Chevy
Chase drive. Connecticut avenue, Emporia
tract. 81
In regard to the future workIof this Of
fee. it may be well to say that the re.
cording Of all sections is anticipated to be
by the end OF the present. fscat year. To
provide for q finished atonditfon OF the
plans. 1 would respectfully suggest that as
much Of our present force as possible be
retained. The fling of the maps win cali
Tor more complete marking OF streets
OF grades and set of once or yorlxinr
maps drawn to q scale of one inch to enc
hundred feet. Court proceedings NAV call
Tor additional work from time to time, al
though the extent Of such work cannot be
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