Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-21
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Reports Drawn by Members of the House
Committee.
A Roadway Across Rock Creek Park
Extension of Street-ReIoca-
ton of Railway Tracks.

the House District committee on the bills
authorized by the committee during this
week as follows:
On House bill 1855, for a roadway from
Brightwood avenue across Rock Creek
Park, Mr.. Curtis report says:
''Your committee desire to report that it
appears that the angle made by the bound
aries of the District of Columbia at it's
northern point projects into Montgomery
county, Md, and has long complicated the
making of a crossroad at or about the
point provided for by this bill, by reason of
the necessity of concurrent action by the
District of Columbia and the authorities
of Montgomery county, Nd. that within
the District of Columbia there are at this
point two separate jurisdictions, namely,
that under the control of the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia and that
under the authority of the board of con-
troll of Rock Creek Park.
Two lines of travel may be considered
in this connection, Brightwood avenue and
Connecticut avenue, the first east and the
other west of Rock Greek Park, upon both
of which avenues trolley lines now run to
and beyond the confines of the District.
There is no crossroad running east and
west between these two lines of north and
south travel over a territory which, with
in both the District and Maryland, is about
four miles III length and two and a half
miles in width, or over eight square miles.
The road provided for by this bill gives
access across this territory at point
whore the distance is two and a quarter or
two and half miles and where the dis
lance around is from five to five and three
quarters miles. The roadway provided for
is thus a great convenience to the Dopua-
ton of tbs District of Columbia and Mary
land at and adjacent to Takoma Park
North Takoma and Silver Spring on the
east Linden and Forest Glen on the north
west and Chevy Chase on the west, which
is IN addition to opening a large territory
that has now no internal road facilities.
1t further appears that under present
conditions, access for the public to Rock
Creek Park has been but little provided
Tor, and that there is no means of access
now existing to the large portion of the
park north of the Military road. The road
way provided for by this bill gives
trance to the public from the two lines of
electric cars Brightwood avenue and Con-
necticut avenue lines) into this upper and
larger portion of Rock Creek Park
This bill designates the lines upon which
the roadway shall be constructed and sub
stantlally as already agreed upon by the
authorities in control of the three jurisdic-
tons affected, with power, however in the
District Commissioners and the board of
control of Rock Creek Park to vary the line
OF the roadway as may seem to them ad-
VantaSeous with view to public conven-
fence and economy of construction.
Such discretion seemed advisable in or
der to meet suggestions that may be here
after made from the authorities in Mont
gomery county, Md; otherwise the road
way in the District will substantially follow
the streets as laid out on the street extern
sion plan of sections and .. this plan COW
ering the portion outside of the park
me construction of the road within the
park is placed by the bill wholly under the
control of the board of control of Rock
Creek Park. The road and right of way
within Rock Creek Park will remain under
the control of that board. The right of
way outside of Rock Creek Park is to be
a nrDS
United States in such manner as may be
satisfactory to the Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia. Your committee have.
also received petitions from citizens of the
District OF Columbia and of Montgomery
county, Nd urging the relief granted by
this bill.
The bill provides an appropriation of
$4,000, to be expended by the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia, to grade
ana construct the portion of the roadway
within the District and outside of the
PARK. 1t also provides an appropriation of
5000, to be expended by the board of con-
troll of Rock Creek Park for tn, construc
tion OF the bridge, approaches and roadway
within said park. According tn the esti-
mates submitted by the Commissioners
these amounts. s16jOO all told are suff
clent To- grading, shaping, builliag Gull
Verts, constructing the bridge across Rock
creek, with the approaches to the same
Out Is not sufficient to macada nize any
part OF the roadway to be constructed
your committee are of the opinion that
the portion of this road over which there
would be heavy hauling of farm products
from the neighborhood of Linden and For
est Glen. IN montgomery county, should be
HScaQamlZed, or that twanty feet of this
portion of the roadway should be mac
aoamized, but 1t was deemed best not to
increase the appropriation for that purpose
iour committee concur with the Commits
sloners OF the District of Columbia, board
OF control of Rock Creek Park and ths
county commissioners of Montgomery
county Maryland in regarding this meas
ure as desirable and meritorious and pro-
needed. ~
The portion of the District of Columbia
affected by this roadway is of consid,rahIe
extent, including several miles of the nm
per part of Rock Creek Park. none If
winch territory has yet received the hena6t
or internal road construction thus invoIv-
ing loss to the public, as owning the rank
as as well as injury to the local taxpayers
rms hitherto impossible area four miles
long over all Jurisdictions has moranvar
been an obvious and serious Inconvenience
TO the neighboring population within the
District Of Columbia and in the adjacent
portion OF the state of Maryland"
Extension of Street.
On House bill 1887, for the extension of
street, Mr.. Cowherd reports:
Inc section known Belair and Kali
Drama Heights, bordering on Massachusetts
a
been subdivided for over ten years and the
streets and avenues therein dedicated frae
OF cost to the District of Columbia Re
cause OF the barrier offered by the sKaIr
ana Futile tracts, this valuable residence
section has been without access to the ran
10 transit line on Connecticut avenue. The
ute TO the Kali tract passed to its pres
ent owners December 16. 1898 and thew If
fer TO donate about 10000 square feet of
streets provided about 10000 square feet
in lots Al and AZ of the futile tract are
condemned.
THE owner of the lots IL and 40 refuses
to donate any of his land, although owning
large tracts abutting the land sought to he
condemned. 1t is believed the benefits tn
his abutting land will largely offset the
cost of the land to be condemned The in
crease in annual taxation on the land Adult
ting on these streets gained by the accept
ance of this donation win serve to REIN
burse in a short time any outlay made now
The chance to open streets through this I'M
subdivided acreage property lying in the
center of the best residence portion of the