Evening star., 1898-01-18
REPORT UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED
Captain Black, Sketches the History
Of Street Extensions.
THE COMMITTEES FINDINGS

ihe ulll TeCeulIy introduced IN Congress
to amend the highway extension act of
March 2, 1888, was Endorsed last evening
| by the Mount Pleasant Citizens. Associa-
| tion.. the members of which organization
are, perhaps. more vitany Interested than
| are those of any other similar association
The amerdatory act indorsed last evening
| was that prepared by the board of trade,
after conferences with the District Com
missioners, and the cection giving the Com
| missioners authority to change the map
after filing was also approved by the asso-
| citation, with but single dissenting voice.
that of Mr. Nixon
The meeting last evening was a special
one, called to consider the findings of
committee appointed to examine and re-
port upon the amendatory act and Cant
Black, the Engineer Commissioner, ac-
! cepted the invitation of President J. w.
Somerv1lle to be present ard explain the
proposed law and the improvements to be
made under 1t. Mr. w. =. Richards of the
engineer department of the District gov
erEment was also present, and explained
ny the use of two great maps the extent
and nature of the improvements proposed
Commissioner Blacks Remarks.
Capt Black briefly sketched the history
| OF street extension here and elsewhere, ard
showed how absolutely necessary it be-
comes in the history of every city to ex-
tend Its streets. He referred to the fact
that the act of 1893 became necessary be-
cause of the failure of the act of 1878 to
meet the requirements, and then cited the
! imperfections of the latter act, explaining
that no -~.'hs'anding 1t has been declared
valid and col .,ttutional ii is impract;ca hle
ana impossible of enforcement. He re-
ierred to the hard work which has been
expended by the Commissioners and the
board of trade in the preparation of the
amendatory act. stating that the one pur-
pcse 1T the matter on al sides had been
ana VIII be to remove the hardshins exist
ing because of the act OF 1888 and to estab-
nSh such comprehensive system of stree.
extension as will allow every land owner,
whether he owns one piece of land or
many, 10 know just how he stands and
Eow he will stand for practc ally all time
to cone.
Capt. Black referred to what is known as
section of the Commissioners bill, grant
ing them authority to make changes in the
plan of Improvements under certain cond-
tions, explaining that it is the one point OF
difference between them and the board of
trade. The Commissioners believe such a
provision not only desirable, ne said but
also absolutely. necessary, and In their
opinion no good reason has been urged
against it. ~
United States to Pay Half.
He also explained the bond feature of the
amendatory act. and then he answered a
humber of questions, which the members
o. the association propounded, stating.
among other things, that the Commission
ers will insist throughout that the United
States shall pay one-half of the expense of
the proposed improvements. Upon the con-
clcslon of his remarks Capt Black was ten
dered rising vote of thanks, upon the mo-
ton of Mr.. H. d. Walbridge, and then Mr..
w. L. Cole read the committees report on
the ampn1atOrV act which mani
mously adopted.
The Committees Report.
The report was:
Whereas House bill No. $3.50 Of the pres
ent Congress, proposing certain important
amendments to the act Of Congress ap-
proved March .. 1893. entitled An act to
provide a permanent system of highways
in that part of the DIS strict of Columbia
lying outside Of cities has been fayoraby
reported upon by the Commissioners of the
District and the passage of the amend
ment recommended by them;
And whereas the original act and the
proposed amtndmen ut vitaliy affect the
property and rights of the members of this
association, involving. as they do. the
abandonment of existing streets the TAX
ing of large quantities of land for open
ing new streets and widening of old ones
and the assessment of benefits as a special
tax upon the property embraced in what
is known section l, shown by the
map made and recorded under and by
authority of said original highway act:
And whereas the. territory represented
by this association, extending from Colum-
bia read on the south to Piney branch on
the north. and from 18th street on the
east TO the Geological and Rock Creek
parks on the west. is more largely affected
by the changes contemplated by said high
way act and the proposed amendment
thereof than any other section of equal
area in the District of Columbia:
And whereas the recording of said
of section 1 and the condemnation pro-
ceedings begun the 9th of September,
1895, and which are still pending, have
cast cloud upon the title of our real
property, rendering it unmarketable and
even unacceptable as security fer loans,
| the effect being to check in great meas
ure the construction of buildings and other
improvements and the diversion of capital
which otherwise would have been invest
ed here to localities in our immediate
| Eeighborhood which were not thus injuri-
ously affected by the highway act and
| the proceedings Hereunder.
Matter of Greatest Importance.
And whereas the Mount Pleasant Citi-
zens' Association, composed exclusively of
owners of real estate within the area above
designated. believe it to be a matter of
greatest Importance that there should be
speedy determinati ton of the proceedings
instituted and had under and pursuant
I to the highway act. either by an amend
courts to speedily conclude said condemna-
| ton proceedings by final judgment of con-
demnaticn ard the prompt payment of
awards for property taken or by the alb
solute. and unconditional repeal of said act
Therefore be 1t resolved by the Mount
Pleasant Citizenx,. Association:
First. That the Congress of the United
States should at its present session enact
such legislation as will relieve the proper
| ty owners of this District from the embar-
| rassment, distress and financial loss which
4 he htert,xr
and will continue to ipfiict upon them as
| long as it is permitted to remain in its
present imperfect, impracticable and op-
pressive condition.
Urge Favorable Action.
Second. That the pending amendment, H.
R. 5ss2. If enacted inta law. would furnish
| comparatively prompt relief to many prop
| erty owners now suffering from the effects
of the highway act Of 1893, and would in
70 fHa 3D. 1.