Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-17
URGE PASSAGE OF BILL
APPROVAL OF MEASURE FOE THE
OPENING OF HIGHWAYS
Proposed Enlargement Of Facilities for
Reaching Geological Park-Re-
port Of Commissioners.

| In a communication forwarded to the
ehairmen OF the Senate and House commit
| tees on the District of Columbia today the
| Commissioners request the passage OF the
| bill providing for the opening of connecting
| highways on the east and west sides OF the
| Geological Park. The highway on the east
| ern side of the park will connect the north
| end of Adams Mill road in Lanier Heights
| with the south end of Park road In lngie-
| side. while the highway along the western
boundary of the park win connect Cathedral
| avenue with Klingle road. Each highway
| is to be fifty feet wide. The estimated cost
Of these improvements is $4,000, part OF
which will be made up in assessments for
| benefits.
The report OF the Commissioners with re-
gard to the proposed bill contains some IN
| teresting information. The authorities say
TT has not been the policy OF the oo m
ward the opening or extension OF streets IN
| the District of Columbia. SO many extern
sions and openings are necessary in order
| to provide through highways that the Com
| missioners have never felt at liberty to rec
| ommend the large sum involved Tor the
general purpose, and have not thought IT
| advisable to take up specific cases. When
| bills for the extension or opening OF spe-
cif1c streets have, however. been referred TO
them by Congress they have expressed
| themselves regarding the matter.
Reasons for Supporting Measure.
I'm regard to the highways proposed to
be opened by the inclosed bill, however, the
main idea advanced is that in the several
localities to be traversed by the proposed
highways houses at the present time can
and probably will be built adjacent to the
Geological Park boundary, with the back
part of them toward the park, TO the great
injury of the park while with the boundary
street proposed these houses would be re-
quired to face the park instead OF backing
upon 1t. A secondary consideration. OK
course is the ease of travel in reaching
park entrances as well rs access to certain
subdivided land. The Commissioners beIleve
that the public necessity that these mgh-
ways be opened is such as to demand I'M
mediate considera ton.
1.-The Geological Park, which extends from
where Connecticut avenue crosses ROCK
creek to the southern boundary Oh the Ma.
tional or Rock Creek Park, has length OF
boundary of about two and one-half miles,
more than half OF which is skirted by
boundary streets or roads. Some Of these
boundary highways existed when the PARK
was purchased, others were LAID out IN the
course Of subdividing lands, and others
| have been provided under acts of Congress.
The object Of the inclosed bill is to connect
these highways by opening snort piece OK
a highway on the east and one on the west
side of the Geological Park, the former
south OF Quarry road and the latter in the
vicinity of the present west entrance.
Similar to Highway Plan.
1.-THE proposed highway on the east side
is matter that has been considered by the
Commissioners for a number Of years, and
is somewhat similar to a plan that was in
corporated in the first section of the high
way plans. 1t not only would be of i'm
mense benefit to the Geological Park, but
would also form outlet from 18th street,
along the eastern boundary, to the National
ID .l4rt foil
give access to and improve subdivision
which needs such highway at Its north
ern end The width of the proposed high
way is fifty feet, which will be an ample
width, as there will be houses but on one
side of it. The location has been chosen as
close to the line of the Geological Park as
the contour OF the ground allows. The es
timated cost of acquiring the land for this
highway is S35, eco No buildings will have
| to be condemned.
ION the west side of the Geological Park
Cathedral avenue passes along Its border
! for half the distance north of the inter-
section OF Connecticut avenue with Rock
creek, the northwestern border of the park
| having now no bounding highway. 1t has
| been suggested at various times that Con-
| necticut avenue be made such boundary
| by having Congress purchase the consider
able tract of land lying between the present
| park and Connecticut avenue.
Regarded as Expensive.
| ''The Commissioners believe this would
| be rather too expensive, and, besides q
| highway little to the east Of Connecticut
avenue is believed by them to be preferable
in location, as 1t would connect more direct
ly with CATHEDRAL avenue and would form q
! feasible grade connecting with the Kline1e
ford road, thereby furnishing another route
| TO the National or Rock Creek Park The
estimated cost of this western highway is
| $4,000, which is for land only, there heinz
no houses in the way. The total cost of
! the opening proposed by the bill is there
fore. estimated at $4,000. The bill pro-
vides for assessments against private prop
| erty of any benefits that may accrue 10 II
| by reason of the opening of these highways
| between the present boundaries of the
Geological Park and the highways pro-
posed there are small pieces or parcels of
| laud which it is intended shall be aco1Iired
by the geological Park. and the Commits
| sloners are Informed that the authorities
] Of - oAtHOI .tlC9