Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-11

east to connect there with the great Bound
airy street sewer, the largest in the city,
and one Of the largest in the world.
These. with many connecting trunk sew
ers In the country, are part Of the great
system referred to. l refer to these large
works on sewers and also to the great
work now commencing at the foot of N5w
Jersey avenue; where the great pumping
plant is to be located, to illustrate the act
i've work being done by the engineer de-
partment of the District. A perusal of
your committees report will show statistics
which will surprise many members of this
board.
Street Extension.
Your board has made its intentions clear
on the subject of street extension. and the
consequent high charge made against the
revenues of the District by Congress refus-
ing to share the cost half and half. Tween
tyfour street extension bills were intro
duced at the last session of Congress; no
legislation was had thereon. and none will
be had If the temper of your board con-
tinues along the lines it has indicated in
recent years.
No change of front will be made by this
board from that taken by 1t deliberately in
its refusal to accept the decision of Con-
gress to charge the full cost of condemna-
ton proceedings and condemnation judg-
ments for land taken by streets which eX-
tend through the city into the suburbs a3d
which adds to the nations ownership Of
streets in the District OF Columbia. The
nation accepted ownership of the streets in
the original city from the original pro-
prtetors. Now that the remaining pro-
prietors will not donate streets it ought to
follow that the United States, being the
governing power in the District of Column
bia, should pay for streets extended, thus
charging the boundaries of the city of
Washington. And If successful argument
be produced to prove that the citi-
of the District should pay one-half of
the cost Of the land necessary for the ex-
tension Of the boundaries of the city of
Washington 1t might be conceded, but no
reasoning that has been brought to bear
upon this subject can convince a disnter-
ested party that the District of Columbia
should alone pay for the extension of the
owner of large tracts of land to which and
through which many Of these streets and
avenues extend or pass through, and re-
ceiye as much, IL not more, from extension
than the citizens or property owners gener-
ally do. Any action Of the Commissioners or
Congress in accepting the verdict Of the
condemnation committee having charge of
the extension of 18th street Is commended
by your committee, and 1t recommends that
this principle be applied to all future street
condemnation proceedings Extension OF
the city limits should no longer be a ques-
ton. The limits Of the city and the Dis
trict should be co-equal. The naming Of
streets throughout the whole District Is one
commanding attention Of citizens and Con-
ton is called and action is urgently desired.
The closing Of some streets, the opening of
new streets, the change in grade and ave-
nues, consequent upon the elimination OF
grade crossings. Is giving your committee On
streets and avenues considerable thought.
1t is watching carefully the legislation and
efforts toward legislation and will report TO
this board from time to time the result.
The New Assessment.
The new assessment and taxation follow
ing has contributed largely to the anxiety Of
property owners in the District of Column
bia for the past six months and eliminated
on the 31st of October. at which time the
citizens right to examine all valuations
made and appealed therefrom ceased. These
appeals are now being examined. and from
information received feel justified in say
ing that the increase in valuation of real
estate throughout the whole District will be
satisfactory to very large majority Of
citizens thereof.
The board of assessors have been in
very unfortunate position for men to be
who have the interest OF their feIlow-citi-
zens at heart. I appreciate highly the
qualities of mind and heart Of the men COM
posing that body. and feel pleased that 1t
has been their Intention from the commence
ment of their valuation labors to place upon
each piece Of property In the District
fair valuation. And they, prior to the LIST
Of January, 1902. placed just such valua-
ZION upon property. Aiter their laD0rS end
ed and within three months succeeding the
list Of January. 1902, they were induced to
change the valuation placed upon property
when they viewed 1t and made practically a
horizontal raise of 83 1-8 per cent within
the city limits and q very much greater In
crease In the suburban, county and business
sections of the District. This tremendous
and uncalled-for increase In the valuation
OF property here was so unjust that 1t
caused very large number OF appeals to
be made and showed to the satisfaction and
fear Of the assessors that they would be
deluged by such an avalanche of protests
and appeals that 1t was impossible for them
to determine the valuation OF property
The assessors after much thought deter
mined to make q very large reduction from
the increased valuation. The board of d.
reetors authorized its president to appoint
a special committee on this subject. This
committee had numerous interviews with
the assessors ard watched with care the
work they were doing and were convinced