Evening star., 1900-05-12
OUT SIXTEENTH STREET
BILL TO EXTEND METROPOLITAN
LINE REPORTED.

Representative Pearre has submitted to
the House his report from the District OF
Columbia committee in favor Of the pas
sage Of the bill for the extension Of the
Metropolitan railroad on old 10th street. as
amended by the committee.
The report says:
'The lines Of the Metropolitan company
now stop at the corner of 18th street and
Columbia road Columbia road is built up
beyond this point. Old 18th street is fast
being built up, and at the north end Of the
latter street there Is now a large settlement
of substantial houses, whose occupants
have been pressing for an extension of
street railways to accommodate the traffic
The demand Is one which should be met at
the earliest possible date.
"The bill provides for widening Columbia
road to make 1t conform to the width of
that part of the thoroughfare now occupied
by the street railroad, and also for widen
ing old 10th street. One-half of the cost of
such widening Is to be paid by the railroad
and the remainder by the property abut ling
on the street. But in case the jury finds
the benefits to such property are not equal
to one-half the damages, then this proceed
ing shall fail and the act be void"
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill, as reported. provides that the
Metropolitan Railroad Company be author
lied and required to extend by double
tracks the lines of It's underground electric
railroad from its present terminus at the
intersection Of 18th street and Columbia
road easterly along Columbia road to the
present 10th street northwest, thence north
along 10th street to Park street: Provided,
streets after the expiration of two years
from the passage OF this act
Awarding Damages.
Tho ap,o,,pt found dIe and awarded aa
damages for and in respect of the land con-
demned for the extension Of Columbia road
and the present 10th street, as in this act
provided, not less than one-half thereof
shall be assessed by the jury in said pro-
ceedtngs against the Metropolitan Street
Railroad Company and collected as special
assessments are collected, and the remain
against all those pieces and parcels Of
ground situated and lying on each side of
those portions OF Columbia road and 10th
street northwest that are to be
two hundred and fifty feet, measured on
each side from the building lines of said
highways as widened; and in case the jury
should find that the damages SO assessed
against the said property exceed the ben
efits accruing to the same by reason of the
widening of said street. then this proceed
ing shall fail and this act shall be null and
void.
of any piece or parcel of ground shall be
condemned. the jury in determining its
value shall not take into consideration any
benefits that may accrue to the remainder
thereof from the widening of said streets,
but such benefits shall be considered in de-
termining what assessments shall be made
on or against such part Of such piece OF
parcel of land as may be taken as hereinbe-
fore provided.
Payable in Installments.
Section provides that when confirmed by
said court the assessments on lands as
aforesaid shall severally be a lien on the
land assessed, and shall be collected as
special Improvement taxes in the District
of Columbia, and shall be payable in four
equal annual installments. with interest at
the rate of per centum per annum until
paid.
Provided. That payment Of the sum or
sums of money adjudged to be due and pay
able for lands taken under the provisions
cf this act shall be made by the treasurer
of the United States, ex-ofiicio commissioner
of the sinking fund Of the District Of CO.
lumbia, upon the warrant Of said Com
missioners. out Of the revenues Of the Dis
trict of Columbia: and sufficient sum to
pay such judgments and awards is hereby
out OF the revenues Of the
District