The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-22
A AFORTY-MINUTE session
The House Briefly Engaged With
Affairs Of the District.
4 Resolution Calling for Information
Concerning enc Right by Which
Government Adopted-The Six
tcenth street Extension Bill Passed

The attention Of the House OF Represen-
tatives was taken up today by the consid-
Grafton OF District o: Columbia business.
After the disposition Of some routine mat
ters I1r. Babcock. Chairman of the Dis
trict Committee, called up n resolution
recently introduced by Mr.. Ball Of Texas.
The resolution directs the Commissioners
to furnish the House full specific, and
definite information as to the right and I'll
tie by which any railroad corporations oc-
cupy and use Government grounds. or
what is commonly reputed 20 be Govern
ment property. within the District Of Co
umbia. and what. if any. rental is being
paid for the use OF said property The res
oluJion was adopted.
House bill G111. relative to the widening
OF Sixteenth Street. was then taken up
The bin provides that the Commissioners
OF the District Of Columbia be authorized
and directed. With nthirty days after the
dedication TO the District or - pvr-gHrum
Of the LANDS lying within the lines o. Six
teeuth Street northwest. as extended ac-
ccrding to the highway plans. between the
Piney Branch and the Blagden Mil Road.
and also between the Military Road ard
| the District OF Columbia boundary lire, TO
institute proceedings 10 condemn the land
necessary for the extension Of Sixteenth
Street from Norris Street 10 the District q
Columbia boundary line with a uniform
! width OF loo feet. under the terms
and provisions OF an act entitled An act
20 extend ) Street in the District Of Co
iumbia and for other purposes" u is
provided that OF the amount found due ana
awarded as damages for the land con
demued for the extension OF Sixteenth
Street not less than one-half thereof s'aU
I De assessed by the jury in proceedings
against those pieces or parcels OF ground
situated and lying on each side Of Sixteenth
/ Street northwest between Morris Street and
| The Blagden subdivision. and between the
/ Blagden Mill Road and the Rock Greek or
/ Nilkhouse Ford Road and between lots :
/ .. and T. Of 4. r. shepherds subdivision
/ TO the depth Of go feet. or TO such greater
depths as the benefits may be found by the
/ jury 20 extend. measured on each side
/ thereon from the building lines Of Sixteenth
/ Street rs extended
In section two the bill provides that the
Supreme Court OF the District OF Culum-
bla, sitting as an equity court shall have
} authority TO empower. order. and decree
I the committee or guardian Of any person
I trustee Of any infant, owning or having
an interest or estate i'm any land within
the limits above described. 10 dedicate 10
. the District OF Columbia for and as a part
I OF said Sixteenth Street any land or part
/ thereof owned iy such person of unsound
mind or by such infant. or in which they
may have an interest or estate f. UuU 4.
/ the application of such committee guar
. dian. or trustee. and after the testimony
. Of Witnesses shall be taken and such other
D proceedings had as the court may deem
3 proper the court shall determine that such
/ dedication viii De 20 the interest and ad-
I vantage Of such person OF uusound mind or
such infant.
The report on the bill says.
! Congress. by act approved March 8.
( 1883. entitled "An act 90 extend 3 Street,
. in the District Of Columbia, and for otner
I purposes. authorized the Commissioner 10
/ institute condemnation proceedings for the
/ extension OF Sixteenth Street within thirty
/ DAYS after the dedication TO The District OF
| Columbia 81 the lands lying within the
| lines Of Sixteenth Street as extended az
/ cording TO The highway plans between the
Piney Branch SId he Blagden Mill Read,
| and also the Military Road and the District
l boundary line. Ii has been found impOssi-
ole 10 secure the dedication OF al Of the
| lard within the limits described above. Gs
| one or TWO parties declined 20 dedicate.
T and IN one case the ownership IS such that
/ legal dedication cannot be made.
The Commissioners believe that the
I opening OF Sixteenth Street is a matter Of
much importance 10 the general public on
account Of its relation to Rock Greek Park
| and that 'he work can be done now with
| less difficulty and expense than II left to
I the future. and they requested the intro
duction Of the joint resolution Senate No.
| 6l which is Identical TO the bill reported
by this committeel TO provide for the wild
| ening and extension Of the street In ac-
cOrdance with the terms and provisions OF
| the act Of March .. 1899. upon the dedi-
/ cation of - per cent OF the land instead OF
all the land within the limits before stat
ed. as provided by the original act
/ The second section OF the resolution
will enable the dedication OF a portion of
the land in question which at the present
time cannot be dedicated on account OF la
gel incapacity Of the owners TO dedicate.
Mr.. Pesrre was recognized 20 explain
the bill. He said it was Identical with
! Senate bill 81, introduced by Mr.. McNn-
| Ian The bill. he said was designed 10
! correct and arbitrate some of the difficult
ties growing out OF the passage Of a bill IN
the last Congress providing for the oXten-
| sion Of Street. The explanation was yat-
| isfactory and the bill was passed Nr.
| Babcock said he bad no further business
| to bring up and on motion Of NJ Payre
the House at 1910 adjourned until torIor-
row.
.--rrr rNrcrnrn- ,