The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Commissioners Report on Ex-
tension Of Seventeenth Street.
A Thorougbfare Needed East of Zoo
logical and Rock Creek Pnrks-Es-
timnted Cost of the. improvements
The Rebuilding of the Aaueduct
Bridge - Orders and Proposals.

Bridge Orders and Proposals.
The Commissioners have considered
House bill 1868 and Senate bill 56O6. For
the extension of Seventeenth Street to the
Walbridge subdivision of Ingleside. -
which were referred to them for consider
alton end report. The Engineer Commits
sioner has drafted q statement in regard
to these bills which was yesterday ap-
proved by the board It is set forth in this
statement that bills for the extension of
Seventeenth Street were introduced in the
present Congress at.the first session and
were referred to the Commissioners for
examination and report It is stated fur
Their that under date Of April II 1900, the
Commissioners made a report of which
the following WAS part;
"This extension is more particularly a
widening out of an existing street and the
connection of isolated portions of a street.
About year ago an estimate was made
of the cost of the condemnation of land
which amounted to $l66. GOO. This estimate
has been revised by certain parties inter
estimate being $102, 500 and another $123,-
oOG
There is a large amount of grading nee
essary to place the proposed highway in
passable condition. at one point the cut
being in excess of forty feet. The esti-
mated number of cubic yards of grading
is $1,000, which would cost in the neigh
borhood of s22.O
THE opening up of this street would. it
is believed, do much to develop the entire
section through which it passes, espe-
cially the portion at the northern end. 1t
is a section which from it's position and
the corfguration of the ground. is des-
tined to become a good residence section
and owing to the proximity of the Zoo
logical and Rock Creek parks it is be-
lieved that il will attract the better class
of buildings. 1t is believed that the ex-
pense involved in the opening would soon
be returned to the District in the in
creased taxation resulting from the ap
probation Of real estate values
The statement says further that the re-
ferred bills are not similar in form to the
Highway Extension act recently approved
by Congress, nor does il contain the usual
requirements recommended by the Com
missioners, and they cannot, therefore,
recommend favorable action upon ii in its
present shape.
The Commissioners have transmitted to
the House and Senate Committees on the
District of Columbia reports upon House
bill 1897 and Senate bill 526S, ITO provide
for the rebuilding of the Aqueduct
Bridge" In their report the Commission
ers state that the object of the bills is to
rebuild the superstructure of the Aque-
duct Bridge sufficiently to allow the plac-
ing OF a single track electric railway
thereon, and to permit the Great Falls
and Old Dominion Railroad Company,
Virginia corporation, to run its cars to
and across said bridge into the city of
Washington. The line of the said rail-
road, the Commissioners say, is to ter
inmate at the north end of the bridge
within easy reach OF the lines of the Cap
ital Traction and Metropolitan companies.
The Commissioners inform the commit
tees that the crossing of the bridge by
the proposed electric line would require
a modification of the present superstruct-
ure at an estimated cost of SIS. 900 or $780,
600. This cost, in the opinion of the Com
missioners should be borne by the COM
psny for whose benefit largely the changes
are made. and the bill so provides. The
Commissioners believe that a street rail-
way across the bridge is generally desired
by the business men of West Washington
d
way would result in a public benefit. Con-
tinuing the Commissioners say:
The bill as introduced is believed to
be defective in several particulars, and
the Commissioners have prepared a sub
stitute measure, upon which favorable ac-
ton is recommended. A copy of this draft
has been shown to the officials OF the
Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad
Company. who have expressed themselves
as being entirely willing to accept the
provisions and requirements thereof.
"A clause has been inserted in the sub
stitute bill authorizing the Commissioners
TO use police power to prevent the passage
OF cars over the bridge in case the COM
pany should neglect or refuse to comply
with its charter or regulations regarding
the use OF the track upon said structure
This was inserted for the reason that the
track will be used by Virginia corpora
ton which may have no Office or officers in
the District of Columbia. and 1t might
otherwise be difiuclt to reach them by
legal process in case of any infraction OF
the law. While the Commissioners have
no reason to believe there will be occasion
20 exercise this power while the company
is In the hands of the present officers il
is deemed wise thai they should have
such power In case the company should
fall into the hands Of parties not careful
TO observe the Law"
The Commissioners yesterday ordered
that the following work be done under
the provisions of the assessment system
the same having been duly advertised:
To set new curb and lay cement side
walk on the north side OF p Street north
west from Fifteenth Street to Sixteenth
Street. al an estimated cost of 81, i23 TO
be assessed against lots in square 1874
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