Evening star., 1901-12-04
OFFICIALS IN CONFERENCE
IMPROVEMENT OF 10TH STREET
UNDER DISCUSSION.
Action of Commissioners In With
holding Approval of Awards Ex-
plained-Approval Expressed.

The District Commissioners have had an
informal conference with Senator Mcmillan
chairman of the District Senate committee,
and Representative j. w. Babcock, who, 1t
is generally understood, will again be chair
man of the District committee in the House,
with regard to the verdict of the jury of
condemnation in the widening and extern
sion Of 10Th street. The Commissioners
stated to these gentlemen that they had
withheld their approval Of the verdict until
they could place the matter before the
committees of Congress, because of the fact
that the award of damages amounted to
s735, ,245.S7, while the benefits assessed were
but a little over 100000, or about one-seV-
enth the amount of damages.
The low under which the extension of
18th street was ordered prescribeS that II
the benefits assessed are not equal to oo per
cent of the damages awarded the Commits
sioners could, at their discretion, decline
to approve the verdict. In the case of 10th
street the Commissioners stated that the
award of damages and the assessment OF
benefits were at such wide variance with
the rule prescribed by Congress that they
did not feel justified in approving the ver-
dict and so had filed their exceptions in
court to hold the matter in statu quo until
Congress convened.
Commissioner Macfarland stated that the
Commissioners regarded the provision of
the law giving them power to withhold ap-
proval in certain contingencies as indicat-
ing the wishes of Congress on the subject
and had hesitated to take contrary action.
Their Course Approved.
Senator Mcmillan and Representative
Babcock both assured Mr.. Macfarland that
they believed the Commissioners had pur-
sued wise course and had done what Con-
gress had intended they should do in such
a case. They further stated that they would
take the matter up informally with the
members of the respective District commit
tees and discuss 1t. Commissioner Macfar-
land urged that whatever was to be done
should be done quickly, as the citizens were
urging the matter upon the Commissioners
very diligently.
Mr.. Macfarland went over the whole sub
ject of the 10th street extension and ex-
planned to the chairmen of the committees
just why the verdict Of the jury had been
50 seemingly out of all proportion compared
to other thoroughfare condemnations. He
recited the expressions of the citizens as
Commissioners to all interested during last
June. At that time 1t was stated that the
assessment Of benefits was small because Of
the fact there was but little land eligible
for assessments. Along a greater portion
OF the thoroughfare the streets running
parallel thereto had already been opened
and improved, and therefore the sphere Of
benefit had been very considerably lessened.
1t was also stated that great deal Of
the land had been dedicated outright to the
District, and furthermore that the needs IF
the land at the upper end of the street did
not call for street of the width of 100
feet as prescribed for 10Th street.
Matter of Expense.
AT the hearing it was further urged that
the extension Of 18th street was proposed
in large degree for the purpose of estab-
fishing national boulevard and drive to
Rock Creek Park, and the cost of the ex-
tension should therefore be betrayed by
tho national government, instead of being
wholly saddled onto the District Of Column
bia-
AS result of the conference today It
was arranged that at an early date the Dis
trict Commissioners should appear before
the District committees of the Senate and
House and present the matter formally
1t Is furthermore expected that the citizens
interested may desire to be present for the
purpose of urging Congress to grant the
Commissioners permission to approve the
verdict. The citizens believe that better
verdict cannot be obtained. They say a
competent jury of prominent business men
spent several months in taking testimony
and inquiring into the value of the land
anected by the extension, and had given
their best Judgment in the matter