The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-15
TO Value TIE PROPERTY
The Commissioners Will Appraise
Land South of the Avenue.
The Mcmillan Resolution Unanimous
ly Adopted by the SENECA
scheme of Municipal Improvement
of Lnrgc Proportions-Thc blocks
to Be Taken for the Purpose.

a resolution was unanimously agreed Il
in the Senate yesterday directing the Dis
trict Commissioners to ascertain the value
OF the property on the south side of i'enn-
sylvania Avenue. between Fifteenth Street
and The Botanic Garden. The res1 Ition
has in view the acquisition of the prop
erty now occupied by private buildings
within the limits specified by the United
| States, TO be used as a reservation on
which 10 erect public buildings in the
future. The resolution was introduced by
Senator Mcmillan. and reads as follows:
Resolved That the Commissioners Of the District
! Of Columbia he. and they are hereby, directed to
report to the Senate, the approximate values OF
the squares on the south side Of Pennsylvania
/ A,cnue from Fifteenth Street 10 the Botanic
same.
The District Commissioners were deeply
engaged yesterday over their estimates for
the next fiscal year when the news of the
passage OF the Senate resolution was con-
veyed TO them. They expressed great in
terest in the matter. however. and sig
nified purpose TO take up the matter i'm
mediately and take steps TO carry out the
behests of the Senate.
The plan for municipal improvement, TO
which the above resolution is preliminary.
is familiar in its general features to the
readers of The Times Now and in future
years considerable space will be required
somewhere 10 accommodate the public
buildings which the growing needs o. the
Government will necessitate. Il has been
proposed TO return TO the original ideas of
those who first laid out the city and place
such building south of Pennsylvania Ave
become necessary TO acquire the property
south of that thoroughfare. between it and
the Mall. and hold il as a Government res
ervatior
The scheme, of course, will require the
wiping out of considerable area n. build
ings. including business blocks, hotels.
manufacturing plants. and private houses.
In justification of the project il has been
urged that the improvements TO property
in the locality described are less valuable
than in other parts of the city. and IL is
alleged that these Improvements are less
essential TO the public good than a sim
liar tract elsewhere would be. II is main
tanned even by some advocates of the plan
that by returning TO its owners fair
value for the property no hardshps could
ensue
To the advantages OF the plan the at
tention of the readers of The Times has
been directed. In the first place. the &c
QUESTION of the property by the Govern
ment, the removal Of the buildings. and
the restriction of the tract TO a public |
park would of itself add very greatly TO |
the beauty of the Capital City. Then by |
erecting within this park. as occasion may !
require, public buildings of imposing size. |
similar TO the Postofice Department build
ing with ample space between. still great |
er attractions will be added to that por- /
ton of the city.
In another view of the proposed improve
nent II is maintained that the wiping out |
IF the private buildings in the section COW
cred by the Senate resolution would result |
n removing certain Objectionable features
Of city life which are alleged TO thrive in
hat locality. Coming from the east end
u the section westward are several blocks
II small business places. restaurants,
hotels. and boarding houses. While many
If these are unobjectionable. they are not
essential. sey the friends of the movement,
o the well being Of the city, and could be
)rofitably removed in the pursuit OF the
higher purpose sought. Reaching the
depot. it might be allowed to
tand, or be replaced by a more imposing
tructure.
Centre Market would give way with the
blocks of wholesale business around II.
Above long line of alleged disreputable
Houses, with few business places thea
res, lumber yards, and manufacturing
'lants would be blotted out and the space
hey occupy be set apart and added to the |
government park to the southwark.
The scheme embraces an Improvement of
asst proportions and one which would in
olive considerable cost. But the question
ctuatlng the public is how best TO secure
he Government reservation required and
II the same time give to Pennsylvania
,venue the surroundings and dignity Of the
rst thoroughfare in the land