Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-01
HIGHWAY EXTENSION
The Senate Amendment to the House
Repeal Bill.
ADVANTAGE OF this PROPOSITION
VIII Probably Be Passed by the
Upper House.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM

As soon opportunity Is offered in
the Senate Mr.. GaIlin8er will call up House
bill 1o209, TO repeal the act Of March .,
1893. to provide permanent system Of
highways In that part of the District Of
Columbia lying outside of cities. This re-
peal bill. which passed the House May 8,
was reported to the Senate from the COM
mittee on the District of Columbia May
%. with an amendment, which, II is be-
leved by those most largely interested in
this legislation. affords the greatest amount
of relief to property owners whose inter-
ests seriously affected by the law as
IT stands. while 1t conciliates conflicting
views on the subject and retains the map
made at an expense of about $4,000, and
covering q. 800 acres of land outside Of
subdivisions in the District of Columbia
The Sections Retained.
The Senate committee amendment re-
tains on the statute books the first five
sections of the act of March 2, 1898, pro-
Yidng follows:
THAT the Commits sioners of the District
of Columbia are hereby authorized and
directed to prepare a plan for the extern
sion of a permanent system of highways
over all that portion of said District not
ircluded within the limits of the cities of
Washington and Georgetown. Said sys-
tenn shall be made as nearly in conformity
with the street plaL of the city of Wash
ington as the Commissioners may deem ad-
visable and practicable The highways
provided in such plans shall not in any
case be less than ninety feet nor more
than one hundred and sixty feet wide, 'ex-
cept in cases of existing highways, which
may be established of any width not less
than their existing width and not more
than one hundred and sixty feet in width.
Sec. 2 That the said plans shall be pre-
cd f{y,na 70 fsyr,o iy, Of
WHICH shall cover such an area as the Com
missioners may deem advisable to include
therein. and it shall be the, duty of the
Commissioners in preparing such plan by
sections. as far may be practicable, to
select first such areas as are covered by ex-
listing suburban subdivisions not in con-
formity with the general plan Of the city
of Washington The Commissioners in
making such plans shall adopt and con-
form to any then existing subdivisions
which shall have. been made in compli-
ance with the provisions of the act of Con-
gress approved August 81 1888, entitled
AN act to regulate the subdivision of land
within the District of Columbia" or which
shall. in the opinion of the Commissioners
conform to tine general plan of the city of
Washington: Provided. however, that no
place or street extending no farther than
from one principal street to another, which
has been opened under the direction of the
Commissioners, or la conformity with any
subdivision approved by them prior to Au-
gust y. ISIS. and recorded and which is
now paved with asphalt or other sheet
pavement shah be-altered. affected or in
terfered with by any plan adopted or any
thing done under or by virtue of this act.
Whenever the plan of any such section
shall have been adopted by the Commits
sioners they shall cause a map of the same
TO be made showing the boundaries and
dimensions of and lumber of square feet
in the streets. avenues and roads establish
ed by them therein; the boundaries and di-
mansions of and number of square feet in
4 ia 4 he owls irc hierf,u
In the area covered by such map, and the
boundaries and dimensions of and number
or square feet in each lot OF any then ex-
isting subdivision owned by private per
sons. and containing such explanations as
Snail be necessary to complete under
standing of such map. In making such
maps the Commissioners are further
thoflzed to lay out at the intersections of
the principal avenues and streets thereof
circles or other reservations corresponding
in number and dimensions with those now
existing at such intersections in the city
of Washington copy of such map
duly certified by the Commissioners
shall be delivered to commission
hereby created, composed of the Secre-
tary of War. the Secretary of the Interior
anI the chief OF engineers. for the time be-
ing. who shall make such, alterations. if
eny. therein, as they shall deem advisable
keeping in view the intention and provi-
siCns of this act, and the necessity of har-
inc rizinG as far as possible the public con-
fenience witt, economy of expenditure and
u such commission shall see fit they may
S Eau etc to be made new map In place of
commission. or a majority thereof shall
nave come to a final determination in the
matter, they shall approve in writing the
pIap which they shall adopt and shall de-
liver 1t to said Commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, and the same shall at
once be filed and recorded in the office of
the surveyor OF the District of Columbia
and after any such map shah have been So
recorded 7 further subdivision Of 10
Included therein shall be admitted 10 rec
ord In the Office OF the surveyor of said
District. or In the Office of the recorder of
deeds thereof. unless the same be first ap-
proved by the Commissioners and be in
conformity to such map Nor shall 1t be
lawiul wheE any such map shall have been
e. recorded for the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia, or any other officer
or person representing the United States
or the District Of Columbia to thereafter
improve, repair, or assume any RESPONSE
bihty in regard to any abandoned highway
within the area covered by such map, or 20
accept. improve, repair. or assume any re-
sponsiSiity in regard to any highway that
any owner of land in such area shall there
nfter = Ike Inpt TO lay out or establish unless
such landowner shall first have submitted
10 the Comm 5sfoners a plat of such pro-
posed highway and the Commissioners shall
rave found the same to be in conformity to
suei. map and shall have approved such
pat and caused IL TO be recorded in the Of
flee of said surveyor. In order to enah;e
the said Commissioners to proceed specify
ami efficiently to carry out the purposes of
this act. they are hereby authorized to an
point two civilians assistants to the En-
gineer Commissioner. who, with suen En-
Slneer Commissioner. shall, under the H.
rection of the Commissioners have i,nme-
d'ate charge of the work to be done Under
this act, Provided, however That thu ap-
pcintment. term Of Office and compensation
Of such civilian assistants shall be subject
IN the approval of the commission herein
before provided for, consisting of the Ser
rotary of War, the Secretary of the In
terror and the chief of engineers or of a
majority OF them.
Sec 3. That when any such map shall
nave been recorded as aforesaid in the office
OF the surveyor Of the District 1t shall be
lawful for the owner of any land included
within such map to adopt the subdivision
thereby made by a reference thereto and
TO this section in any deed or will which he
shall thereafter make, and when any deed
or wiz containing any such reference shall
have been made and recorded in the proper
o!hce II shall have the Slime effect as
though the grantor or grantors In such
deed or the maker OF such Will had made
SUCH subdivision and recorded the same in
compliance with law.
Sec T. That for the purpose Of making
surveys for such plans and maps the Com
tnissioners and their agents and employss
nnce=SarilE in