The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
EXTENSION OF STREETS
The Commissioners Submit Reports
on Fourteen Highway Bills.
The Proposed improvements in "Mi>-
Fables aud Maps showing Routes
and Estimated Cost - Plans in
Detail An Interesting Exhibit.

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
TO them for consideration during the es-
ent session. The report deals with the
improvement and extension of fourteen
separate streets as follows; Kalorama
Avenue, Wyoming Avenue, Column
bia Road. lie Droit Avenue and
S Street. Fifteenth Street. Seventeenth
Street, Bacon Street, Fifth Street, Ia
Soma; yelling Place, Vermont Avenue NJ
Street northeast, Lyles Place, Warder
Avenue, etc, Eighth Street or Rail1oad
Avenue.
Maps are enclosed with the reports
showing the locations OF the various
streets named IN the different bills The
larger number OF them, the Commissioners
say, lie in the so-called 'misit sub
divisions Immediately north of the city.
Pro 5ably 90 per cent Of the money to tie
expended on account OF the extensions
now authorized by Law and those named in
these bills is proposed TO be used in a
territory less than ; per cent OF which is
covered by the plans for the permanent
system of highways table is also trans
mitted, showing the names of the streets
which il is proposed to extend, the est
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
TO be extended as originally laid down Tn
the plan for permanent system of high
ways, first section. The highways outside
of the first section correspond, with one
exception, Lyles Street. with the plans
now laid down for a permanent system OF
highways.
The Commissioners say that an accurate
estimate has not been made for the grad
ing of all the streets. but it can roughly
be stated that s1O0, eco will 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 will amount to much
more than the above sum, and no appIo-
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. 1t 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 iuries.
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
Columbia and one-half to the United
States.
Continuinp the Commissioners ote,r1e.
Report was made some time ago upon the
bill for the extension of Columbia Road |
which has passed the House. Considerable |
care was expended in the preparation Of
modification Of the bill by sub committee
Of the House District Committee and the (
Commissioners so as TO have il form. If /
possible, a model bill for street extern
sions. This bill is, therefore, not included |
among those returned at the present time. |
It is believed that if the bill becomes a !
law in its present form it may be made to |
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 the |
court than is possible at present.
The estimated cost OF the extensions |
proposed by pending bills is $74S. 03S. Ow- 1
ing 10 the large amount called for by these /
bills and TO the fact that the District reve-
NUTS prior 10 July l. l5Ul. may not De SUI I
ficient TO meet all expenses, the Commits |
sioners feel that while the opening CT |
these streets is matter of great public |
importance, such action cannot be accom- |
plished unless Congress adopts some 1
method, by loan or otherwise, of raising
the funds necessary to meet the additional /
expense involved.
- separate report on each of said bills |
is submitted as follows:
House bill 1O46 For the extension OF |
Kalorama Avenue
The main advantage Of this extension
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
ner that kalorama Avenue east of Column
bia Road is practically cut off 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 to the other.
The cost of the land to be taken is I
about 25,jO0; the grading 10 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.
''Hcuse bill No 1O45. For the extension
of Wyoming Avenue
There is now no connection between
Champlain Avenue and Eighteenth Street |