Evening star., 1897-02-15
CONNECTICUT AVENUE EXTENSION
Objections Urged 10 the Proposed
s.stralRht Line" Plan.

To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
I see by the city papers that Senator
Stewart proposes to offer an amendment to
the House District appropriation bill. TO
open and establish a new extension OF Con-
necticut avenue on a straight line. with
deep cut through Washington Heights. In
stead Of improving the one long established
and partly improved with asphalt pave
ments and sidewalks. and he attaches an
appropriation of saO".oO TO pay for the
property to be taken.
But this would not meet half the sum
uuired This IL not the first effort to have
property owners over Rock creek benefited
at the expense OF the taxpayers and the
government. And precisely in the same
way. by springtng an amendment to the APP
preparation bill. instead or going by Till
before the proper committee. When sprung
at the last session the matter was compro-
missed in conference, and sent to the Dis
trict Commissioners to consider and re-
port. They reported at the present session
with full and complete plats. measurements
and estimates showing the difference be-
tween the two routes. and that the addi-
tional expense of the proposed over the old
established route would be $oJ0.oOo
This is very low figure. leaving out mat
ters of damage to cross streets and sur
rounding property.
The real difference is estimated by COM
petent expert judges as nearer SJOo.I1.
The report concludes AS follows:
In brief. the present advantages In cost.
Usefulness and public convenience, obtains
with the adopted and recorded extension
of the avenue"
The avenue had been established by The
District Commissioners acting under spe-
Cial provisions of law: had been approved
by a commission also specially provided by
law. composed OF the Secretary of War.
Secretary Of the Interior and chief Of en-
gineers. Had been approved also by the
aesthetic inspector, Professor Olmstead,
nominated by law. the map having the plat
had been filed I'm the Office of the surveyor
of the District, and several expensive
houses and a block of buildings had been
erected on the avenue as first established.
One would suppose that after this, and
after rights OF citizens has thus become
vested. that all further efforts to change
the avenue would cease. Not so. Various
parties representing syndicate interests
over Rock creek appeared before the House
committee and still urged the change. But
the committee again made an appropriation
for partial improvement of the avenue
established SO far as IL coincided with
Columbia road to Leroy place. thus. in
fact, adopting the report of the Commits
Sioners.
as given by the District Commissioners. re-
quired for the proposed new avenue. and
by the estimate given In the proposed
amount for purchasing the same. the cost
of land alone would amount to about dou-
tle what Is set forth In the proposed ap-
propriation. and. adding the estimated value
OF the buildings. would amount to about
$4j0.000. Add to this building ruined at
the corner of Connecticut avenue and alley.
and the church at the corner OF Bancroft
street. and the immense damage to cross
streets and surrounding ground and lots
cut into irregular shapes and fragments.
and IT would bring the amount to over
100000.
1t is. therefore, difficult to see how any
one having the overwhelming balance of
private interests and the good OF the pub
lie in view can urge the change. Instead
of adopting the amendment proposed. let
Congress rather make q proper appropria-
tion to fully open and improve Connecticut
avenue extended, now fully established
PRO BONO PUBLICO.