The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

dered useless by the heavyHgrades: that
most of the street spaces PROPOSED to be
taken have never been opened ore improved,
and that all Of them are bounded by prop
erty which is owned by the company.
Many Streets Closed.
In this connection, the Commissioner
would state that the site proposed by the
bill for the yard and freight station would
close all the streets of Eckington east Of
g. Metropolitan branch. except the fol-
lowing, which would be kept open: T
Street. Sixth Street north of The south line
Of Street. S, SestOn, T, and Thomas
Streets east of Sixth Street. sa
The portions of r and S Streets, and
Sixth Street. between S Street and the
Brentwood Road, proposed to be closed,
are improved streets, having been paved
with asphalt some years ago at private
pense. The other streets proposed TO be
closed are not improved. South OF R Street
the territory involved is traversed by the
low bed of a small stream. 1t is vacant
ground, generally from ten to fifteen feet
below grade, and is used as a public dump
for refuse material; in the natural course
of events, years will elapse before It will
be brought to grade and made service
able.
The streets plated to pass through the
section are not established upon the ground
or improved in any way; they are not deed
ed to the District outright. the public being
granted a right of way over them and II
this right Of way is not accepted. or is
accepted and then abandoned, the street
spaces would be subject TO reversion to the
owner OF the abutting property, who in
this case is the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company. The right of way Of the
Metropolitan branch is owned in fee sim
pie by the railroad company north OF Flor
ida Avenue. The company has permitted
the streets to be carried across without
compensation but these crossing are the
property OF the company, which has not
waived its right to close them when de-
sired.
The streets Of lexington do not run
farther east than the Brentwood Road.
The average distance Of the Brentwood
Road from the Metropolitan Branch is
about 900 feet. So that the closing of the
streets east Of the right of way would
result simply in the line Of subdivi1ed
property being moved about 900 feet west
OF lis present limit. The streets in ques-
ton were dedicated by a private party,
and so far as they have been improved 1t
has been done at private expense. Prac-
llNd4lg SBNahinEf Nlt Wv 4ilANAAh 4ttlo 4ANA
incurred any expense for their opening or
improvement. And the company purchased
the abutting land from the party who dedi-
Gated and improved the streets.
AS the company owns the property in
the section to be occupied, and as the
streets are not opened to the east, the
question OF caring for the local street
traffic is an immaterial one, and as the
local traffic IN the section Will be in con-
nection with railroad business, the com
pany doubtless will provide ample facili-
ties for it,
The through traffic from Brentwood
Road and Patterson Avenue, however. will
have 10 be cared for. This can be done
conveniently and at small expense by III
verting it into T Street. which is to be
kept open. An admirable line Of access
70 the city could be furnished also by way
Of Seventh Street and New York Avenue,
rs laid out on the highway extension plans.
This would involve the extension of Sew
enth Street from Brentwood Road TO the
line Of New York Avenue. a distance Of
about 600 feet; and Of New York Avenue
from its present terminus east to Seventh
Street a distance OF about l.. 400 feet If
the yard is to be located as proposed, pro-
vision should be made for opening these
streets
Objections Reviewed.
The Commissioners then take up the
changes recommended by the lexington
Citizens Association, and after going over
them in detail, say:
As to the property interests locally
affected. Il may be stated as broad prop
OsitiOn that no locality can be found which
is entirely free from objection. No matter
what site or plan is proposed something
can and will be urged against it. The
Citizens Association opposes the first plan
because il would approach near TO the
homes and property OF its members, while
the plan proposed by the association in
lieu thereof would be most bitterly fought
because Il would enter upon a cemetery
and disturb the bodies of the dead. And
the hostile sentiment aroused in the latter
case would be far more bitter and strong
than the material objections urged in the
former. All things considered it is be
lieved that the second proposition would
meet with a more formidable opposition
than the first.
1T is believed that Congress can readily