The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-24

the Commissioners. these amounts. $3.50
all told, are sufficient for grading. shaping,
building cuiverts. constructing the bridge
across Rock Creek, with the approaches
TO the same, but is not sufficient 10 macad-
amize any part of the roadway TO be con-
structed
On this bill there was considerable de-
bate, the Democrats generally being on-
posed to the expenditure involved. Repre-
sentative Cannon of Illinois said, from his
personal knowledge, the road should be
built, and the bill was finally passed.
The Avenue Extension.
Another street bill was H. Il. 1859,
for the extension OF Pennsylvania Avenue
southeast TO the District line.
Pennsylvania Avenue is now opened up
and available for travel from the east side
of the Anacos,ia River to Branch Avenue.
From this point TO the Bowen Road the
District possesses title to the street, but
the street has not yet been graded. 1t was
for the purpose of acquiring title 10 the
land necessary to open the Avenue from
Bowen Road to the District line that the
bill was introduced.
The amount of land which will be neces-
sary is only about five and a half acres.
the price per acre for which is believed
TO be not over $780, so that the amount of
money involved for the acquisition of the
territory is quite small. In addition TO the
fact of being the last link in enc of the
main avenues of the District, the extern
sion is very much needed to allow direct
access to and from the centre of the city
TO the people living just beyond the Dis
trict line in Maryland, and by affording
them easier access il is believed that ii
viii contribute greatly to the material ben
eft of the business interests of the Dis
trict, which is in addition 10 the advantages
10 the public generally resulting from the
opening of such a main thoroughfare
Next came substitute House bill 1887,
for extending Street. 1t authorized the
Commissioners to open and extend S,
Twenty-second, and Decatur Streets
through lots Il and ~ of Phelps and Tut
ties subdivision of Connecticut Avenue
Heights, part of Widows Mite, by con-
demnation on condition that the owners of
the KALI tract shall dedicate the neces-
sary land within that tract.
The title to the KALI tract passed TO
its present owners December 16. 1898. and
they offer 10 donate about 10000 square
feet of streets provided about 10000 square
feet in lots II and AZ of the futile tract
are condemned. The owner of the lots II
and AZ refuses to donate any of his land,
although owning large tracts abutting the
land sought 10 be condemned
New Hampshire avenue.
Next was taken up the substitute bill for
the extension of New Hampshire Avenue.
The extension proposed lies between
Whitney Avenue and Brightwood Avenue
or Seventh Street Road, and is TO connect
an already complete section of New Hamp-
shire Avenue, several squares of which are
covered with asphalt pavement, with the
thoronghfares leading from what is known
as Columbia Heights The length OF the
extension is only LOO feet, and involves
the taking of property mostly unimproVed
and of comparatively small value. There
are practically no improvements in the
line of the avenue. although 1t is probable
that in the near future many will be made
as the city is growing very rapidly in that
direction.
The proposed extension will afford a
much safer and pleasanter drive from the
city TO the northern entrance of the Sol
aiers' Home grounds than that which is
used at present, and relieves Whitney
Avenue from the pressure upon 1t when
pleasure driving is at its height, and also
enable vehicles to reach the suburbs with
out using Brightwood Avenue, upon which
the cars of the Brightwood Railway now
run.
The substitute proposed by the commit
tee provides that one-half of the damages
of condemnation shall be paid by owners
of the adjacent property, which is TO be
assessed for benefits. the assessment being
lien upon the property and collected the
same as taxes after the assessment is con-
frrned by the court. The remaining half