Evening star., 1897-05-12
Commissiore, Black Authorizes Al
terations in Third Section,
EXTENSIONS UNDER HIGHWAY ACT
Conform to Subdivisions Laid Out
Under Law of 1888.
PL ANS ARE PREP RED

change the plans Of the third section of the
street extension plans, and the engineer de-
partment was put Immediately to work
making the desired changes This section
will be hailed with delight by a large nLm-
Ter of property owners IN the section in
volved, who protested vigorously against
the plans as laid down and adopted by the
former Engineer Commissioner.
In the extension OF the streets under the
highway act there is no section of greater
importance than the third. 1t embraces all
that territory north Of Massachusetts, ave-
nue. and west of Rock creek to about Saith
street. and west of Connecticut avenue
north of its intersection with 34th street
1t was over the preparation Of this Sec
ton that the authorities experienced the
greatest trouble. The topography of the
country is not well adapted to the straight
extension OF streets and where and how
they should be curved stirred I'D the prop
erty holders not little. The engineer de-
partment at that time was not in sympa Thy
%ith MI the plans OF the landscape engineer.
gress had designated to assist in the prepa-
ration of the plans.
This section is one of the most beautiful
In the District, and includes the subdi-
visions OF Oak View, Cleveland Park, CIeve-
land Heights, Fairview, Wesley Heights
Dumblane and others. Most of these SUBJ
divisions were laid out under the law of
lsos. and have symmetrical relation and
are In conformity with the general plan of
the city of Washington. A plan Cor these
parts was prepared under the direction of
Engineer Commissioner Powell during lis
term. the rectangular system of streets be-
ing carried, with q few exceptions, over the
whole tract. The topography of the coun-
try in this section. as stated above Is bad
for straight extensions, and although a
number OF curved highways were laid
Of 6tno 1vxy
would reach into several millions of dollars
Then. also. several beautiful drives, like
Woodley road, Tunlaw road and others,
were proposed to be abandoned their rlaces
being supplied by straight streets, which
would require deep cuts and several years
to be put in proper order.
Engineer Commissioner Black has given
this section his immediate attention. He
does not believe in the plans of his prede-
cessor, and already has received several
communications upon the subject. He be-
Heves that many now In favor of a grid
iron system have not given the subject
OF the amount of expense necessary, of the
great delay likely to occur, and the con-
sequent slowness of development for the
entire section. Those in favor of the direct
plan have argued that this plan is for the
future. hundred or more years hence,
and that when the proper time arrives to
develop these rough sections. land will have
increased SO enormously that the expense
in grading will be small in comparison.
Those in favor of curved system point
to the fact that enough land Is in the
county to accommodate about five cities Of
WaShington's size. and that such a radical
growth Is not likely to occur. That Sec
tions located on the fiat ridges plateaus
around the city are able to absorb all the
close building, and that the rougher parts
can be retained as villa sites, which will
form fitting border to the Rock Creek
Park and Conduit road.
In order to show the different effects on
the land made by the two systems En-
gineer Commissioner Black has had maps
prepared which picture In simple way the
results Of grades upon the very rough sec
tionS.
These rugged tracts. as is generally
known, lie along Connecticut avenue ex-
tended and border the Conduit road. The
section al ound Tenleytown and the Ameri-
can University will easily admit Of a rec
tangular system and as II Is the first likely
to be built up, the plan already proposed
will be likely to remain unchanged.
Woodley road. Ridge road and the other
beautiful drives leading to this section are
too well established. 1t is believed, to be
changed and will be woven into the final
plans. The avenues, like Connecticut, Mas
sachusetts, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Ari-
zona, will be retained on their present lines.
The subdivisions laid out under the law of
1888 will be conformed to, and a special
feature in the preservation of the beautiful
ravtnes and the establishment of parks on
the sides of the streams which pass through
these hollows will be laid down as previous
ly planned. In laying out the streets over
the rough sections attention will be paid to
the easiest grades with the smallest amount
of cut and fill. and a due regard to the sub
division of land into lots suitable for build
ing.
The whole force of the street extension
engineers Is now at work on this section
and 1t is not anticipated that any great
length of time will pass before the maps
are completed for approval.