Evening star., 1900-06-27
DONATIONS MADE
Proportion of Lands Necessary to
Extension of l6 h Street..
The REPORT 10, COMMISSIONERS
Condemnation to Be Made Of Re-
naming Aortioo.
2
COST OF THE EXTENSION

Mr.. Thomas Blagden. who has been en-
gagged for several years in an effort with
others interested in the project to secure
tn" extension Of 10th street to the District
line. several days ago notified the Com
| missioners that he had in his possession
what appeared to be the donation of more
than the IS per cent of the lands required
by the acts of Congress providing for the
extension of that street. Mr.. Blagden ex-
planned that the donations were from the
following individuals and estates owning
lands in the confines of the street to be ex-
tended: Blair estate, Van RiswickS estate,
James Elverson, A. R. Shepherd. J. D.
Cameron and others. George w. Cooper
and others, John Saul estate and the
Blagden estate.
Holding these Donations wrote Mr..
Blagden, "in trust for the individuals and
estates. as above stated. until the law had
been compiled with and the required amount
of lands obtained 1 feel it incumbent upon
me, with regard to the trust, that L near
from your honorable board if the lands be-
longing to the individuals and estates
named will be sufficient to meet the re-
quirements of the law. Upon hearing from
you in the affirmative l will at once hand
over to your office the maps and papers OF
Donation
Immediate Action.
Replying to Mr.. Blagden's communication
the Commissioners notified him that If the
portion of 10th street within the tracts
named by him are dedicated more than I5
per cent of the land required by act OF
Congress will have been acquired, and that
they will Immediately take steps looking
toward the condemnation of the remaining
tracts Of land within the limits of 10th
street extended, as contemplated by the act
of Congress providing for the extension OF
this street.
Speaking OF the matter to reporter of
The Star today. Captain Beach. the Engi-
neer Commissioner. who has immediate SUI
pervision of the extension of streets said
he doubted whether the condemnation pro-
ceedings can be instituted before Septem-
ber. Not, he said, because the Commits
sioners are not desirous of proceeding in
the matter as soon as possible. but because
they understand the usual summer adjourn
ment of the courts will prevent action be-
fore then. Should it be found possible to
necessary proceedings will be instituted
during July or August. He expects the
possession of no owner Of land involved.
however. to be disturbed before July /,
1901
Work of Securing Donations.
Referring to the work of Mr.. Blagden
In the work of securing the donation Of
the lands lying within the lines Of 10th
street as extended between the Piney
Branch and BlaBdenS 8 Mill roads and be-
tween the Military road and the District
| line, Captain Beach remarked that the
| thanks Of the community are due Mr.. Blag-
den for his untiring efforts in the case.
After securing the required donations In
| the first instance, said Capt. Beach, Mr..
| Blagden subsequently found that many of
| the property owners had changed their
| minds. while others discovered that they
could not afford to make the donation re-
quired of them. Then the law was changed
| so as to require donation Of but 70 per
cent of the lands between the roads men,
! ticned, ard Mr.. .Blagden began the work
! over again. He found that a number of
persons willing to donate held the lands in
| trust for minors or for persons Of alleged
| unsound mind. and 1t was doubtful whether
| they possessed the requisite authority to
| donate the lands of their charges. The
! courts were resorted to for the purpose OF
| authorizing such donations and at last Mr..
| BlagdeE's efforts were entirely successful
| 1t Is believed that the provisions Of the
| bill providing for the extension of Columbia
| road east of 18th street meet all the objec-
| tions referred to by the Court of Appeals In
| its recent decision in the 11th street case,
| and the Commissioners are confident that
| once the proceedings are instituted there
| will be no obstacle to the extension of 18th
street as provided for in the original act.
| from Morris street to the District line. 1t Is
| es timated that the extension will cost be-
/ tween S7tn nN and SSMAD