Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-26
DONORS LAND HEARD
Extension of Streets Subject
of a Conference.
NEW METHOD PROPOSED
MR.. BLAIR LEE PRESENTS VIEWS
OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
Residents Will Conditionally Donate
Residents Will Conditionally Donate
Right of Way for 18th and
18th Streets Extended.

scented new method of street extension
procedure. Mr.. Lee explained the method
in detail. He stated that the owners of 81
per cent of the land necessary for the eX-
tension of 18th street and 50 per cent neces-
sary for the extension of 18th street are
willing to donate their property upon con-
dition that they be relieved from assessment
for the small percentage of land to be con-
demned, and that money be appropriated
for the immediate opening and improve
ment of the street.
The old method, Mr. Lee said, was for
the District to pay 80 per cent and more
OF the cost of Il paper right of way for
street extensions. In this manner the land
was secured. 1t was years afterward,
however. before the physical improvement
of tie street actually was undertaken. In
this way the juries would not assess high
benefits for the very good reason that the
benefit. contingent upon the improvement,
was so remote as to amount to little benefit,
If any, at the time of the proceedings
The new method, it was explained, was
for the property owners to donate the land
necessary, for the right of way, or a very
large percentage of 1t, upon condition that
the Commissioners would ask for an appro-
priation for the immediate physical opening
and Improvement Of the thoroughfare. The
new method would cost the District no
more for actually opening the street to
public use than the old method did for Sc
curing the actual right of way. Mr.. Lee
declared that last year the Commissioners
approved bill appropriating more than
$33, 900 to secure the right of way on 14th
street for only 1875 running feet. Since
then the citizens have agreed to donate
eignty-seven per cent of the land neces-
sary. An expenditure of $4,000 on the con-
ditions set down by the donors would give
not only right of way but an actual street
one mile and over in length.
Refers to Commissioners Report.
The Commissioners recently renorted 70
the Senate district committee on the bills
providing for the extension Of 18th and
14th streets, recommending the opening Of
the streets as being desirable, but not rec
ommending the appropriation Of any money
for the physical improvement. Mr.. Lee de-
clared the only argument advanced In the
report of the Commissioners is that they
committed to the old method and
not in fairness to other streets depart from
it. He said the new method had not been
suggested in regard to the other streets
and that the Commissioners had already
spent in securing the bare land in those
cases, more than the people on 18th and
14th streets ask them to eXpend in provid-
ing the actual street.
Col. Biddle, the Engineer Commissioner.
1t is understood, takes the ground 1t would
be manifestly unfair to ask Congress for
an appropriation to Immediately improve
18th and 18th streets, the extension of
which are Of comparatively recent origin,
and not to ask appropriations for physical
ly opening the various streets wherein the
right of way has already been secured by
condemnation He cites, for instance, the
case of 10th street. He says the property
owners there have been working for the ex-
tension for years. ana the right of way Is
about to be procured at last. To leave this
street, and other unimprOved, and to go to
work and Immediately open 18th and 14th
streets, Notwithstanding the donations, he
is understood to regard as bad policy.
Mr.. Lee argued to overcome this view
a, hp int no MAJ he niScin
assured him, would be thoughtfully con-
sidered.
Others Interested.
Mr.. Lee represented also the trustees of
the Washington City Orphan Asylum, and
there were present at the hearing, besides
himself, Mr.. Thomas ]. Blagden Mr.. Louis
p. Shoemaker, Mr.. Wilton J. Lambert, all
of whom spoke briefly on the subject, and
Arthur S. Mattingly, w. H. Saunders, Will
liam j. Rhees. DR.. A. B. Jamison, B. Fran
els Saul and John A. Saul.
The Commissioners have been asked to re-
consider their reports on the two pending
bills and to ask Congress to meet the condi-
tions precedent Of the donations of right of
way.
Mr.. Lee said he had been appointed agent
to collect and hold absolute donations for
the rights of way of 18th and 14th streets
This action was taken two years ago, but
he found it impossible to secure any dona-
tions without protecting the donors in two
particulars. First, the donors desired that
they should be exempted from assessments
which might arise in connection with tax
ing other land not donated. This position
has heretofore been conceded as reasonable
by the Commissioners and committees Of
Congress.
1.-The land on 18th street." continued Mr.
Lee, lis very valuable and in some of the
tracts very large amounts are called for:
moreover, the donations begin immediatey
where the town now stops and are con-
tinuous, with small exceptions, through
very valuable property, for a mile and one
third adjacent to the city. So many rights
of way have been condemned and left I'M
improved mere paper streets, that it was
found impossible to secure donations on
18th street and 18th street unless in ac-
cepting the donation Congress should prove
willing to at least start the Improvement
of the streets in the direction they are in
tended to go. Thus it happens that in a
contract controlling the delivery of the alb
solute donations it is provided that the do
nations are not to be presented unless the
donors are exempted as above and Con-
gress shall also proceed to start the physi-
cal improvement of the street. to an ex-
tent left entirely discretionary with Con-
greSs.
Per Cent of Land Obtained.
I'm the course of two years 81 per cent
of the land on 14th street for mile and
one-third of It's length Immediately ada
cent to the city, and 80 per cent of the land
on 18th street for mile of it's length i'm
mediately adjacent to the city, have been
thus secured.
about year or more ago bill was in
troduced in the Senate, which met the ap-
proval of the Senate District committee and
the Commissioners, which proposed to ap-
propriate S33, 76O to secure the right of way
through the first three pieces Of land on
14th street extended, next adjacent to the
city. covering distance of 1875 running
feet. No physical Improvement was pro-