The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-21
SIDEWALK ENCLOSED,
PROTEST UNHEEDED
Exigencies of Occasion De
termine Rule in Each Case.
COLONEL BIDDLE'S ATTITUDE
Regulations to Be Set Aside When Pub
lie Convenience Calls for
Such Action.

Engineer Commissioner Biddle today
placed a significant Endorsement on GER
tain papers containing complaints from
Connecticut Avenue merchants. who re-
Gently protested against the method of
erecting the new apartment house on
the corner of Connecticut Avenue and NJ
Street northwest. Colonel Biddle re-
fuses TO grant the request. which is
signed by Charles. Rauscher. Stumph &
Lyford. John H. Shugrue. George NJ
Oyster. jr., Charles A. DAILY. the Wal
ker-Gordon Laboratory Company, and
many others, prominent in the affairs Of
the District. Their request follows:
I'VE, business men and taxpayers,
doing business on the west side of Con-
necticut Avenue. between K and NJ
Streets, have to respectfully protest
against the re-erection of a building on
the immediate sidewalk on the corner
OF Connecticut Avenue and NJ Street,
said building interfering and preventing
the usual promenade. thereby causing
each of us financial loss. In our opin-
ion The building can be erected on a
less freQuented street and a covered
bridge could be erected over the pave
ment, as is done by every builder in
more progressive cities. thereby caus-
ing no individual loss and not interfer-
ing with the general rights of the pub
lic."
Colonel Biddle's Endorsement.
The complaint was originally referred
to the Building Inspector for report.
This was approved by Captain Chester
Harding. who forwarded it TO the En-
gineer Commissioner. Colonel Biddle
has the following to say:
Respectfully forwarded to the Com
missioners, recommending that The
writer's be informed that the arrange
ment for the occupation OF the sidewalk
and parking in the case of the new
apartment house. corner NJ Street and
Connecticut Avenue, was arrived at AFTER
considerable consideration. and the plan
adopted was thought to be OF the least
disadvantage to the general public and
to the owners of stores on that side Of
the avenue. The building regulations
allow the deposit OF material on streets
in which there is a car track 10 half
way to the track and require that tho
sidewalk be kept openly building an
overhead structure II necessary.
ION account of the considerable traffic
on Connecticut Avenue It was considered
Instantaneous TO allow any building
material TO be piled on the street, and
therefore permission was given the
builders to build the walk FIVE feet out
from the curb and enclose the parking
and sidewalk with a 6-foot fence. allow
ing no openings whatever on Connecti-
cut Avenue.
No Material in Roadway.
In this way sufficient room is given
on the street between the sidewalk and
car-track No material whatever will
be piled in the roadway and no wagons
loaded with material will unload at that
point Openings for wagons in the in
closure will be on NJ and Eighteenth
Streets.
I'm this way much dust. dirt, and
worry. IL was thought, would be saved
the people who use Connecticut Avenue.
1t has not considered practicable to
move this fence In sufficiently to per-
NIT the existing sidewalk TO be used be-
cause on account OF areas and of the ex-
listing trees. which IT is desired 70 pre-
serve. sufficient room would not have
been left for piling material
THE whole building will be inclosed
by 6-foot fence. and the Office believes
that in this way much less Inconvenience
will be caused the public than would be
caused by the issue OF the ordinary per-
NIT for piling material in the street.
Every effort viii be made to reduce all
inconvenience to a minimum