Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-14

Pledge of the United States.
Under the organic act Fl 1878 the Unit
ed States has pledged Itself to pay one-half
the expenses of the District of Columbia
Under the acts relating to the extension of
streets and highways Congress has direct
ed that in making these extensions the
streets and highways laid down shall b.,
opened on the same magnificent scale as
to width and plan as now exists in the
city of Washington, SO as to make for all
time the capital of the nation city second
to none in the world in beauty and mag
nficence. In the city of Washington the
proportional part of land taken for streets
and avenues and the small reservations,
excluding the large parks, is about 30 per
cent of the total area. In the suburbs the
streets and reservations, as laid down un-
der the proposed extensions. will average
from 30 to 40 per cent OF the area. In the
city Of Boston this percentage averages 30,
and in Philadelphia about %
1.-The mistake must not be made, how
ever, that this increased area taken for
streets and highways in Washington over
the areas taken in the cities named means
or implies a proportional increase in the
cost of improving and maintaining such
streets and highways when in existence
since, after the first cost of grading has
been paid, the actual area paved or i'm
proved for roadways and sidewalks is near
~ the same as in other cities.
Needs No Argument.
'"The Commissioners believe that the JUS
tice of maintaining the provisions of the
act of June IL, 1878, in which the United
States entered into an agreement to bear
one-half the expenses of the District of
Columbia, is too apparent to require argu-
ment here, and they strongly urge that the
bill as amended in these. particulars be en-
acted into law.
When confronted with the necessity for
the payment of the Districts half of the
900, and by the fact that this amount
cannot be paid from the revenues of the
District of Columbia the Commissioners
find that one of three ways lies before
them: First, to repeal, In toto, the highway
act; second, to increase taxation; third to
raise the amount necessary by an issue OF
bonds.
1.-The Commissioners believe that the first
proposition is absolutely contrary to the
lest interests of the District of Columbia
that the second proposition is unwise and
inadmssible, and that the third proposition
is feasible. They therefore recommend
that the provisions of the bill relating to
this be passed. That such an issue of
bonds will not cause Il heavy burden to our
citizens is shown clearly by the following
statements:
Supported by Figures
For debt of 100000, bearing interest
at the rate of 3 per cent, redeemable in
twenty years and payable in fifty years
the annual interest for. the first twenty
years would be $4,000, one-half charge
able to the District of Columbia. If a sinkin;,
fund were established by annual appropria-
items of $4,000. during these twenty years
the annual burden for interest and sinking
fund would be (sl2O.oto plus sSOOoM 5000
100, one-half chargeaiAe to the District of
Columbia. AT the end,lof twenty years the
total annual burden ;WoulH be reduced 10
$l.s.t5O by the redemption of bonds If
during this period the I'm obey in the sink
ing fund we're invested the annual charges
would be reduced by the interest on this
Investment. ~ a..
imun amount of sSN,0O iahe annual bur
den during the twenty yeaps would be still
further reduced by thb interest which such
Invested assessments would bring. with A
end of twenty years. After the twenty
years the annual baf36n becomes decreas-
ed during each suceess Siyea year and is
urely wiped out at the end of fifty years.
Ire report was accomplished by a chart
showing by curves 1T he sael,ulation, the
wealth per capita and % hbs receipts from
taxes in the District Of &c Columbia for the
ted prolongations showing the probable
values of these items for the near future.
The Boards Contention.
I'm one respect" the report continues,
1.-The Commissioners deem the original
highway act and the amendments proposed
| in the bill lacking. 0mniscience is not
granted to any man. nor Is it given to any
man to know in every detail even what
the needs Of this District will be in 50 small
| a matter comparatively. as the plans of
| its streets. The general principles and
plans, however. can be adopted today. and
should be- but some provisions should BE-
made by means of which minor changes
can be effected from time to time as the
needs require. In some Of the streets,
through the more broken parts of the Dis
frirt iS Tho a hat afStII nal
| in laying out the streets upon the ground
will show that many thousands of dollars
| might be saved by moving a street. or
portion Of it, only half of its width In
other cases it may prove desirable TO have
| a large area in one tract, for educational
purposes or for the needs of the munich
pality or general government. This can be
done only by closing streets proposed
across such tracts DETECTING them
around them. While experience in other
cities has shown that changes in an adopt
| ed plan should be made difficult in order
| that the condition of permanency may not
| be impaired unduly, it has shown also that
| such changes do become necessary at
times and that provision should be made
| for them. 1t does not seem to be the part
| of wisdom to be compelled to take up the
| time of Congress with matters of this sort.
The necessary delay alone in getting con-
gressional action in some instances would
prove an inSurmOuntable obstacle.
Section to he Embodied.
Inc SOlil1ulSSloIIeTS tHcISlole IStoh-
ME nd that the following section be en-
bodied in the bill, preferably as section 2.
the other sections being remembered ac-
cordingly:
Sec. 2. That the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia be, and they are
hereby, authorized, whene<er in their
Judgment economic or engineering Iea-
sons require 1t. to prepare amended plans
for the permanent system of highways
for any part of the District outside of
Washington: Provided, That under the au-
thority hereby conferred no changes shall
be made in parts of highways which. be-
fore the changes are considered, have
been dedicated or acquired under the high
way act. nor in parts of highways lying
wholly within subdivisions then of record.
Such plans after being duly certified by
said Commissioners shall be forwarded to
the highway commission, J, pamed in this
act, together with srch Written opinions
as can be obtained fromsthe owners or
agents of the land directly affected and
from the citizens association for the ter
ri!ery within which ths shanges lie; and
when approved by said Commission, or a
majority thereof. then Ishall be recorded
in the Office of the surveyor of the Dis
trio nf Col lS4Rf a