Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18
HIGHWAY EXTENSION
Revised Plan Proposed by the District
Commissioners.
AMENDAfORY OF ACT OF MARCH 2, 's3
Suggestions by Special Committee
of Board of Trade.
ESTIMATE OF THE COST

When 1t became apparent that the high
cay extension act Of March Q. 1885, was
impracticable. that it could not be enforc-
ed, although declared constitutional and
valid by the United States Supreme Court
the District Commissioners determined to
prepare and submit to Congress such an
ame ndatory measure as would repeal the
objectionable and impracticable provisions
OF the act of 1893 and yet provide for such
system for the extension of highways
as would meet the approval of the people
of the District. In this labor of theirs
the Commissioners co-operated with the
board of trade. a special committee Of
seven having been previously appointed
by the board to prepare more conserva-
tive plan of street extension, through
amendment of the highway act The meas
ure proposed by the Commissioners, after
conference with the special committee.
was published in The Star the 9th of this
month.
The Commissioners and the board of
trade committee differ upon a single point
This difference is on section of the Com
missioners' bill, which section provides
that the Commissioners shall be authoriz-
cd. under certain restrictions, after a map
shall have been prepared and filed under
the act. to make changes therein from
time TO time. The committee Is of the
opinion that 1t would be unwise at this
time To confer upon the Commissioners,
even with the proposed restrictions. pow
er TO make such changes.
Provisions of Section z.
Section 2 of the amendatory act. as
drawn by the Commissioners, is as follows:
That the Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia be and they are hereby au-
thorized. whenever in their judgment eco
to prepare amended plans to the permanent
system OF highways for any part of the
District outside of Washington; Provided,
That under the. authority hereby conferred
no changes shall be made in parts OF high
ways which at the time the changes are
or acquired under the highway act, nor in
parts of highways lying wholly within
then existing recorded subdivisions Such
plans. after being duly certified by said
Commissioners. shall be forwarded to the
commission composed of the Secretary of
War, the Secretary of the Interior and the
chief of engineers. United States army. to-
gether with the written opinions of the
owners or agents Of the land directly af-
fected, and of the citizens association for
the territory within which the changes lie
and having been approved by said commits
sicn they shall be recorded in the Office
OF the surveyor of the District of Column
sia- and when SO recorded they shall take
the place Of the plans previously adopted
Aot HhC saHic dUu SHALL become 8
part Of the permanent system Of high
ways"
The Committees Amendments,
Tie subet snce of the amendments to the
highway act which this special committee
propose to recommend to the board of trade
for its approval, is outlining a bill substan-
TALLY similar to that proposed by the Com
missioners emitting section 2. Is:
I. The map of section l filed to be
changed by leaving ont certain new high
ways. or parts thereof, and by restoring
certain streets which on that map are
abandoned These proposed changes to be
prepared by the Commissioners and In
Guided in the bill when passed. II Is ex-
pected that they will reduce the cost of con-
formations IN existing subdivisions IN
section from 100000 or $lO,0OO.OOO to
about 8. 500, 900.
2 The collection Of all taxes and special