The Washington times., 1901-10-16
AFFAIRS OF The DISTRICT.
A Petition to Close Alleys for a
Railroad Depot.

Preliminary steps to Possession OF
Several Squarcs Near II. n D. sta
tIon improvements Asked for
the Northwest suburban section.
Wayne MacVeagh and f. D. MeKenney,
attorneys for the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company, recently forwarded to
the Commissioners a petition of their
clients for closing certain alleys in
squares 267, 29S, 537 695 and west of 6sS.
The attorneys state that their clients de-
sire to use all the ground in these squares
for the purpose Of erecting buildings. and
for other purposes. and that the alleys i'll
question are IL longer necessary to the
accommodation of the public. They say
that the alleys constitute a serious OBJ
struction to the contemplated improve
ment of these squares. and that they are
detrimental to the business of the COM
pany. The request is lased upon the
act of Congress approved July &. 1882.
which they claim vests the Commissioners
with authority to close all the alleys in
dicated.
A report from the Surveyors office
states that the alleys referred to agree
with the records.
Capt. II. C. Newcomer. assistant to the
! Engineer Commissioner. in charge of the
! Surface Division. in reporting upon the
! matter, referred to the report of the Sur
veyor which shows that some of the al
| leys are private. and require no action.
Some of them We're shown to be alleys
created by s1fbdivision, and that others
were portions of original alleys, the title
of which is vested in the Government Of
the United States.
Captain Newcomer states that the clos
ing of the alleys is not considered detri-
mental to the public interests. and he
recommends that the request of the at
torneys be complied with.
At the instance of the Engineer Com
missioner the Board referred the mat
ter to their Attorney for an opinion to
their authority in the premises.
The Commissioners are in receipt of
communication from C. c. Lancaster, who
transmits to them for their cOnsidera-
tion list of the improvements that are
desired by the Citizens Northwest Sub
urban Association, for the northwest sec
tion of the city. 1t is the custom of this
association to publish each year a small
pamphlet or book of estimates OF i'm
provements for their locality This book
is used by them in furthering the work
of Improvement by submission to the
Commissioners, and in their conferences
with the House and Senate District Com
mittees when Congress is in session.
The list calls for continuation of the
work of improving Arizona Avenue, for
the construction in part of a trunk sewer
on the west side of Rock Creek from p
Street northwest to the District line. for
the construction in part OF a trunk sewer
at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue |
and Flint Street, through University |
Park, to the Potomac River, and for the |
construction in part of a trunk sewer on |
Albemarle Street, from Wisconsin Avenue !
to the west side of Rock Creek For these |
four objects s4oO,0 900 is asked The list also |
includes improvements to the county |
roads at a cost Of $50. 600 and repairs to |
county roads to the amount of $50 600
The sum of $500 is asked for the exten-
sion OF electric street lights; 500 900 is
asked for continuing the work on Con-
necticut Avenue bridge and S31 500 for re-
pairs and for new school buildings.
James D. Richardson, Grand Com
mander of the Supreme Council of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Free Masonry for the Southern Jurisdic-
ton of the United States, has written to |
the Commissioners, announcing that the
statue of Albert Pike. standing near the
corner of Third and d Streets northwest
will be unveiled and presented to the Dis
trict at 2:45 p. m. on "Wednesday, October
q. Mr.. Richardson further invites the
to be present on that oc-
casion and to occupy seats specially re-
served for them, to participate in the ex-
arcises. He states that Frederick Webber
will present the statue in behalf of the |
Supreme Council, and he asks that the
President of he Board OF Commissioners
viii accept the same on behalf of the Dis
rict.
1t is expected that Commissioner Mac
arland will deliver a brief address on
he occasion, in accepting the statue, as .
The Commissioners have acted upon the I
recommendation of Major Sylvester in the 5
ase of Private w. ]. Trussell. of the
'olice force. Some time ago Private
russell was brought before the Trial
board charged with intoxication while on !
uty. The case was thoroughly investi- I
ated and in forwarding the case to the q