The Washington times., 1902-03-08
Commissioners Believe 1t
Would Be of Benefit to
Property.
FURNISH NECESSARY DATA
Senate Committee Informed That 1t Is
Now Most Important Highway I'm
provement Under Consideratiol-To
Cost Many Thousands.

The District Commissioners yesterday !
sent to the Senate committee their re-
port upon Senate bill No. 1882, which |
provided for the extension of Fourteenth |
Street 1t is stated in the report that the |
Commissioners consider the extension of |
this street the most important highway
Improvement now under consideration
They are of the opinion that the sec !
tion through which it passes will be rap
idly built up alter its opening, and that
the Fourteenth Street ear line will be ex-
tended with the street thus affording
rapid transit for those seeking homes in
that quarter and providing easy communi-
cation with the proposed municipal hos
pital.
Change in Northern Limit.
The report recommends that the north
ern limit of the obligatory extension of
the street be changed from the 'Piney
Branch Road. near Brightwood' TO the
northern limit of the Saul tract" for the
reason that the property directly to the
north of this tract is not among those
for which dedications have been prom
ised, and the estimated cost of $4,000 ad
ditional for the condemnation of land
necessary to extend the street to the
Piney Branch Road. and $4,000 for grad
ing and macadamizing, the Commission
ers say, cannot well be spared at this
time.
The Commissioners call attention to the
fact that outlets to the Piney Branch
Road on the west, and 10 Brightwood
ha oh fai cd
through the Saul estate, which, they
think, will fulfill all present require
ments.
Estimated Cost of Opening.
The cost of opening the street to the
northern limit of the Saul tract, con-
tinues the report, lis estimated at $685.
600 for the land and $4,000 for grading
and macadamizing. 1t is stated in the
bill, however. that dedicaticns are pre-
pared and ready for delivery on certain
conditions, and it is understood that these
dedications cover about 81 per cent Of the
land necessary to extend the street to
this point
If these dedications are made the esti
mated cost of the land will be reduced
to about $40. 900, of which part. if not all.
will he assessed against the surrounding
property. the assessments being payable
in four equal installments.
Cost of Original Plan.
The cost of opening the street to its
northern terminus as laid down in the
street extension plans, which the bill
authorizes the Commissioners at their
discretion to do, is estimated at $4,000
for land, and $50 900 for grading, and $780,.
OOO for macadamizing, but of course the
amount of land already offered, If dedi-
Gated, will reduce this item for land by
s5s.OOO. and it seems probable that other
land would be dedicated farther to the
north.
THE bill itself is based on the approved
form of street extension bills. There are,
however, two points of Importance in
which it differs from such bills.
Exemption From Assessments.
First, it provides for the exemption |
from assessments for the opening, con-
demnation, grading and macadamizing OF
property from which a portion has been
dedicated for the opening of the street. |
1t is not the rule in the District to
charge land with the expense Of grading
and macadamizing, SO that this provision
would reduce itself simply to the cost
Of condemnation
The general proposition to exempt land
from which part has been dedicated from
assessment would not seem to be abso-
lutely just, as it might operate very
unequally upon the different people, ac-
cording to the amount dedicated and the
area Of the tract from which it is taken, |
and it is believed 10 be better policy to
leave such matter to a jury.
I'm this instance, however, if all the |
land offered for the opening of the street |
is given, il would not seem unfair to eX-
empt the remaining ground OF parties SO
dedicating from assessments for con-
demning the balance of land necessary to
extend the street
Appropriation for Opening.
Second the lands are proposed to be
dedicated on the further condition that
an appropriation shall be made for the
physical opening of the street, the amount
being left unstated.
There is no question that as a rule,
If the appropriation is made for the open
ing dedications can be more readily Sc
cured, and also that assessments for ben
efits by the jury would probably be great
er.
In this special instance the physical
opening of the street should be under
taken as soon as possible. At the same
time. however, it has always been the
policy of the Commissioners to recon
mend that an appropriation for grading
and macadamizing an extended street be
not included in the bill for its opening
Such a provision might be unjust to other
streets which have been condemned, but
which have been waiting for some time
for an appropriation for their physical
opening.
Commissioners Recommendations.
"The Commissioners, then, would rec
ommend the extension OF Fourteenth
Street TO the northern limit of the Saul
tract. provided that not less than 10 per
cent of the land necessary is dedicated
and they also recommend that the bill be
amended so as TO require at least this per
centage TO be dedicated before condemna-
tion proceedings are begun.
''The bill also provides that the cost
Of eondemning the land and the expenses
incident thereto shall be borne entirely
by the District of Columbia and while
in this instance the cost will not be great
If the land is dedicated the Commission