The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-22
The WATER hAIN TAXES
RspOc. n a B I Affecting Bright
o. WoOa AVen Assessment.
The Engineer COmmIssiOner Recon-
meHds Changes in the Titles of the
Hardship Imposed Upon Residents.
The Other Commissioners Concur.

The Engineers Department OF the mu-
nieipaI government has had under con-
sideration for some time past eSnate bill
3s53 and House bill eSI1. both entitled To
cancel the assessment Of water main taxes
on BrightwoOd Avenue in the District OF
Columbia" Now. after careful study Of
the subject in ali its bearings, Capt. Ian
sing H Beach, the Engineer Commissioner.
has recommended TO his associates the
following report on the two bills:
The title OF the bills should il is be-
lieved, be changed so as 10 read To pro-
vide for the reassessment OF water main
taxes on BrightwOOd Avenue IN the Dis
trict Of Columbia as the object is 10 can
eel the water main assessment levied IN
der former law, which made the assess
ment payable from date OF notice. and
provide for its reassessment under the
present law, which does not make the as
sessment due and cOllectible until water
has been introduced into the premises
The water main in question was laid
during the summer OF 1885 1t runs from
the Reno reservoir along country reads 20
Brightwocd, and thence along B ightwood
Avenue, until IL turns eastward toward
Takoma. The portion along the roads vest
OF BrightwoOd was not assessed against t-e
abutting property. as TIE main VS. re- del
through that section as a trunk main. z
subject TO be tapped by the proper.y-owl-
ers without special permission
The assessment is corre-t and regular.
and was levied in all respects in a. Q. dance
with law. IL vas made against fo-tv-nine
parcels Of land. the names CT the persons
assessed, the amounts pad, etc. being
given in statement accompany the re-
port By an examination CT the amolrts
OF the assessments in the individual c seS
It will be seen that the ground is in large
holdings. and may be really considered as
agricultural land.
The Commissioners believe that the
main should have been regarded IS a
trunk main for TakOma Park and that il
was an error Of judgment OF the office 20
make the assessment. The amounts OF
the assessment being as large as they are
and such small proportion of the assess
ments having been paid, and those being
mainly the smaller ones. the Commission
ers believe that it is but equity 10 grant
the parties Interested an opportunity 20
delay payment Of the assessments until
such time as the land is cut up into small
er holdings and used for other than agri-
cultural purposes
They have carefully investigated the
matter, and do not believe that any simi-
lar case exists in the District as the
other country roads upon which mainE
nave been Iald nave either escaped assess
ment from the fact that the main was re-
garded as trunk main or the holdings
were Of such small sizes and the locality
so built up that the land could not prop
erly have been termed agricultural land.
They do not believe that there is any other
case where a hardship has been imposed
as in this case, and under all the circum-
stances OF the case they would recommend
that favorable action be taken on the bill"
1t is understood that the other Commits
sioneTs will concur Al the recommended
tions OF Captain Beach in the report he
has suggested 20 be sent TO Congress.