The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

The Commissioners yesterday trans
mitted TO each Of the District Committees
in Congress their report on the several
bills for the extension OF streets referred
10 them for consideration during the ? es-
en- session. The report deals with The
improvement and extension OF fourteen
separate streets as follows: Kalorama
Avenue. Wyoming Avenue. Colum-
bia Road. lie Droit Avenue and
S street. Fifteenth Street, Seventeenth
Street. Bacon street, Fifth Street Ia
koma. yelling Place. Vermont Avenue.
Street northeast, LyIes Place, Warder
Avenue, etc. Eighth Street or Railroai
Avenue.
Maps are enclosed with the reports
showing the locations OF the yaIio1s
streets named I'D the different Hills. TIE
larger number OF them. the Commissioners
saw. lie in the so-cslle3 "misft sub
divisions Immediately north OF the city.
Probably 90 per cent Of the money to lie
expended on account Of the extensions
now authorized by Law ard those named IN
these bills is proposed 10 be used in
territory less than 3 per cent Of which is
covered by the plans for the permanent
system of highways. A table is also trans
which it is proposed to extend, the esi-
mated cost OF each, and the aggregate
cost.
Most of the highways named in tie
pending bills correspond in location, TIE
report states with the streets proposed
20 be extended as originally laid down On
the plan for permanent system OF high
ways. first section. The highways outside
OF the first section correspond, with one
VII "a he
now laid down for d permanent system OF
highways.
The Commissioners say that an accurate
estimate has not been made for the grad
ing Of all the streets but il can roughly
be stated that 100000 viii be needed Tor
this purpose on the highways named in
the pending bills. The grading Of the
highways whose condemnation has already
been directed by acts passed at the last
session OF Congress viii amount to much
more than the above sum, and no applo-
priation has, as yet. been made for grading
these newly condemned streets. with
single exception.
Some Of the pending bills, the Commits
sioners explain. do not contain the clause
which provides for levying assessments
against abutting property which may be
benefited for a portion Of the cost Of the
condemnation Of the streets. II is be-
lieved that this provision should be in
cluded in each Of these bills. as it has
been found one Of the greatest safeguards
against extortionate awards by juries.
Sharing the Cost.
The Commissioners feel that the portion
OF the cost not paid by assessments should |
be ehargeable one-half to the District Of 1
Columbia and one-haf to the United |
States.
Continuing. the Commissioners observe: I
Report was made some time ago upon the 4
bin for the extension of Columbia Road. /
which has passed the House. Considerable /
care was expended in the preparation Of 4
modification OF the bill by a subcommittee I
Of the House District Committee and the I
Commissioners. so as TO have il form. If 4
possible q model bill for street extern
sions. This bill is, therefore not included |
among those returned at the present time.
II is believed that If the bill becomes a
law in It's present form il may be made 10
apply to pending and subsequent street
extension bills and thus greatly simplify
them. and much more rapid progress
might be made in cases now before she
court than is possible at present.
The estimated cost Of the extensions 4
proposed by pending bills is S74S 03S. Ow- /
ing 10 the large amount called for by these
bills and 10 the fact that the District reve-
nues prior to July I, 1901. may not be suf-
fcient to meet all expenses, the Commits
siOners feel that while the opening Of /
these streets is a matter Of great public 4
importance. such action cannot be accom-
plished unless Congress adopts some
method by loan or otherwise OF raising
the funds necessary to meet the additional
expense involved.
a separate report on each Of said bills
is submitted. as follows.
House bill 1876 For the extension Of
kalorama Avenue
The main advantage Of this extension I
is the connection Of Kalorama Avenue in
the Commissioners subdivision Of Wash
ington Heights proper. The point Of
ground between Columbia Road and Nine
teenth Street now projects in such man
Der that kalorama Avenue east Of Column
bia Road is practically cut of from Kalo-
rama Avenue west OF Nineteenth Street !
an AWKWARD detour with a very sharp turn
having to be made to pass from one por-
tion OF the avenue 70 the other.
The cost Of the land to be taken is
about S25.500; the grading TO be done is
very slight. The nature Of the improve
ment is very similar to the one Just ac-
complished at Wyoming Avenue. included
in the act passed at the last session Of
Congress for the widening Of Nineteenth
Street.
House bill No. 1915. For the extension
Of Wyoming Avenue.
There is low no connection between
Champlain Avenue ard Eighteenth Street