Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09

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Carrollsburg and Hamburger. Carrollsburg
was located at and near the present site of
the Washington Barracks, and Hamburger
was near Georgetown, in the vicinity of
the old observatory site Their streets did
not conform to the plan of streets of the
proposed federal city, and the surveyor in
charge of the street plan was directed by
the Commissioners to run the streets
through these subdivisions.
In doing SO many of the lots were absorb
ed by the new streets. Some of the owners
Of the lots so absorbed by the new streets
owned a single lot only while other lot
owners had sufficient holdings to warrant
them in making an agreement to donate
land for streets and to divide the remainder
with the government, similar to the agree
me-t made with the proprietors of the I'M
subdivided lands.
Agreement With Lot Owners.
1t must be remembered that the agree
ment with the original proprietors of the
unsubdivideG lands expressly provided that
their holdings Of lots in the above two sub
divisions of Carrollsbufg and Hamburger
We're rot to be affected thereby, and it was
only by separate and subsequent agree
ment that some of the owners in these two
subdivisions subjected their holdings to the
conditions agreed upon by the proprietors
of the farm lands: that is to say substan-
TALLY. the land necessary for streets was
donated: the land needed for government
buildings. etc, was to be paid for by the
government, and of the remainder alter
nate lots. or one-half. was to be reconveyed
to the original proprietors-the United
States to have the other half or the avails
of il as the lots were sold
Now, the manner of acquiring the single
lots OF these two subdivisions which were
absorbed by the new streets is shown by
the records. Take for example, lot No. 102
of Carrollsburg. That lot belonged to one
lgnatius Digs 1T was absorbed by LIST
street southwest. and for 1t he was Civ en-
by the government lot No S. in square No
59S- The government acquired lot No s
and other lots of even number in saua re
5ls of the city of Washington from one
Young. IL Is thus demonstrated that the
United States. in the original laying out of
the city of Washington, distinguished be-
tween the single lots in the subdivisions.
the owners of which could not be expect d
10 donate them, and the holdings of the
larger proprietors and the owners of farm
iands, and paid for the lots so absorbed by
the streets The United States did not then
ask that the District pay the cost nor even
one-half the cost Of those lots bur the
United States paid the whole by giving one
OF Its lots nearest to the lot taken.
The CnrrOIlsburg Subdivision.
The land which was subdivided into Car
rollsburg was in ITO the property of
Charles Carroll. the father of Daniel Car
roll Of Duddington. In that year the sub
division was made, and a record of the plot
will be found in the land records of Marl-
boro'. Nd, the county seat at that time.
plat of the subdivision is now In the Ii
brary of Congress- in the Peter Force col
lection. and the history of the ACQUISITION
of the above lot No. 102 and other lots in
Carrollsburg and Hamburg, with maps of
the extersion of the streets of Washingto
through hem. will be found in the office OF
the superintendent of public buildings and
grounds, in the War Department
In connection with the subject of expense
Tor improving the streets which it Is pro-
posed to extend under the highway act, II
may be worthy of mention that some of the
streets through Carrollshurg, the land for
which was acquired In 1912 hav, not vel
been paved The cost of acquiring land for
streets for future use does not necessarily
involve expense for improvements Of such
streets.
An Erroneous Impression.
The history of the early days of the city
is referred to for the purpose of correcting
the erroneous impression that many have
that none of the land acquired for the
streets OF Washington was paid for by the
government. That position has often been
enormously taken in opposing the claim
now MADE by the District that the govern
ment should pay half the cost of lots taher
Tor streets In the subdivisions in line of the
present street extension plan.
recent development in the highway sit.
uation IS the filing of n motion to dismiss
one or the condemnation cases for want OF
prosecution. The case was called up 70,
argument last Monday, and the court wa.
Informed by the special attorney for the
District that the Commissioners had giver
instructions to go no further with the pros
ecutlUn OF the cases until an effort Is made
TO obtain an amendment Of the highwa,
act one OF the grounds of the motion 4
dismiss Is that the Commissioners hay,
abandoned the prosecution under the Law
In sucn cases made and provided and thai
the tendency OF the proceedings on tn,
records OF the court is damage to tn,
property in question and a cloud upon tn,
title.
Unless Congress Acts.
The fact that the prosecution under ex
listing law has been abandoned seems to b,
beyond dispute. and to keep the cases il
gress.onal legislation cannot be REASONABLE,
expected Judge Cox intimated during tn
argument of the motion that unless Con
gress- makes some provision before TIL
coming summer for carrying on these case
they ought to be disposed of. Such actor
by the court would have the effect of final
ly ending the proceedings, as the pistric
could not begin q new proceeding to con
denim under the present law. II. therefore
Congress does not act during this session
the property owners will seek relief fror
Of the proceedings. c. H. ARMIES.
II you want anything. try an ad. in Tt
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