Evening star., 1902-04-04
ADVERSE REPORT.
Commissioners Oppose Senate Bills for
Extension of 18th Street.

The District Commissioners Yesterday
afternoon submitted an adverse report on
Senate bills 1860 and 3432. similar In pur-
pose. both providing for the extension of
18th street. The Commissioners say:
THE Commissioners, while they believe
in the opening up of property in the midst
OF an improved section. as in Meridian Hill.
cannot recommend the passage of these
bills on account of the great expense, of the
condition of the District finances and the
relatively more important street extensions
now before Congress.
These two bills are similar in purpose
except that the former provides for the ex-
tension of 18th street as far north as the
Walbridge subdivision OF lngleside while
the latter provides for it's extension only To
Columbia road. Seventeenth street now
ends at the high hill at Florida avenue A
little to the north, almost in direct prolon-
cation of 18th street, is Central avenue
whose width is only fifty feet, which ex-
tends far as Columbia road. To the
west of 18th street Ontario avenue has been
opened, but has not yet been improved to
Superior street. Its grades, however. are
much better than the grades could be on
18th street, as the ground is lower in that
direction. From Columbia road north TO
near Kenyon street there is no road. but al
that point 18th street begins again and con-
tinues to Pney Branch road.
The estimated cost of the Improvement
is as follows: South of Columbia road. IOI.-
600 square feet OF land, at 81, l01 600: north
OI
land. at 30 cents. $4,000; grading of S7.oOa
cubic yards. or S21, 100 and macada MIXING
$4,000 The cost from Florida avenue TO
Columbia road is estimated to be for land.
S10l 900. and for grading, SIG, 40, making
a total of $l1S.3
1T is claimed by parties interested In the
property that the necessary Land south OF
Columbia road can be obtained for 30 cents
per foot. instead Of 81, as estimated, and
that the land north Of Columbia road can
be obtained for 40 cents per foot instead Of
50 cents. as estimated. Judging from the
experience In condemning land for the eX-
tension of 10th street, however. IL would
seem that the above estimates are more
nearly what the jury would assess. The
land south Of Columbia roai has all been
subdivided: most Of that TO the north Is
still rated as agricultural land.
1.-The object Of opening up this street il
to develop this property, and il is claimed
that it will Immediately be built up. Me-
ridian Hill now has but few houses. al
though 1Ith street to the east and 18th
street to the west are improved beyond
Florida avenue TO a considerable extent.
That the opening would help building up in
this section seems probable, although on
account Of the deep cut that will be nee
essary just north of Florida avenue the
property between Florida avenue and Su-
perior street would be expensive to put
upon the market. 1t would therefore seem
desirable that this street should be opened.
the cost of which will be probably less now
than il will be in the future. The property
having been subdivided into lots. IL will not
be possible to secure many donations. IL
any.
AS thoroughfare from one part of the
city to another it Is not probable that this
street would ever be much used between
Coluunbia road and Florida avenue, as on
account of the steep grade vehicles would
make use of either 10Th street. Ontario or
Champlain avenues. The extension 10 the
north of Columbia road would have the ad-
vantage Of giving direct communication
from the different streets leading from it.
and would TO that extent be general inn
provement"