Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-25
ent ~ reply to Mr.. Sower-

made statement - reply to Mr.. Sower-
butts. He said:
THE policy of the Commissioners Is not.
as you state. Mr.. Slverbutts, to narrow the
widen the roadway Of streets when the
volume of traffic % them demand 1t, and
to narrow the roadway OF others when the
traffic on them ane is 9t sufficient to Justify
width There has ven no discrimina ton in
carrying out this 7plcy of regulating the
streets to accommodate the volume of traf-
fic. In the northwest section of the city
the roadways of some of the best improved
residential streets have been narrowed to
less width than the streets in Northeast
asasd for a6e meovn hs y cy
streets, and the H6use committee has
ported only SIS, GOD Eor5thiS purpose. with
the appropriations nade ny Congress it is
impossible, to maiutain the roadways of
certain. streets at 3heir present width In
proper condition
No Interference With Car Lines.
Col. Biddle said further that the narrow
ing of the roadways at this time will not in
any way Interfere with the construction of
street car lines in the northeast. should
authority be granted for the construction
of the lines. In the event the construction
of car line is authorized on any of the
streets the roadway may be wfdened again
at small cost. Col. Biddle said that If the
COHSlIuCtiOu VI 81 street car line dlOHS dizzy
of the streets Is imminent he does not be-
lieve 1t would be wise to narrow the road
way. but If the car line is only a remote
possibility for the future he thought that
phase of the question is entitled to little
consideration at this time
Mr. Tucker argued that 1t would not be
advisable to narrow the roadways of q,
It'll or Sth streets. He believed 1t would in
terfere with the growing volume OF trahc
on the streets. Mr.. Tucker believed that
but little money would be saved the Dis
trict by the execution of the policy. II 1t is
found necessary later to widen che streets
to the original width. ~
Mr. Holster argued that the narrowing
of roadways would interfere with the at
tractive appearance of the streets and ne
urged the Commissioners to maintain the
streets at the present width. At the close
of the hearing Col. Biddle intimated that
in view of the possibility of the construc-
ton of street car line along Sth street 1T
might be advisable to defer narrowing
the roadway of that thoroughfare for the
present.
Transfer Of Ground Requested.
With reference to the bill granting the
authorities of Congressional cemetery
the right to sell the parking of certain
streets within the cemetery for burial
sites, Attorney Maurice Rosenberg and
superintendent Earnshaw Of the ceme-
terry reiterated the arguments presented
several days ago at the first hearing on
the matter. They told the Commissioners
that the bill merely gives the cemetery
the right to sell certain lots which have
been reserved for burial sites for MEM
bers of Congress and government off,
Gals, but which have not been used for
this purpose since 1869. The bill, they
stated, does not give the cemetery au-
thorities any additional rights with re-
spect to closing any streets and they de-
clare that no objections were made to the
passage of the bill by any property own
ers east of the cemetery.
Mr. Rosenberg requested the Commits
sioners to report on the bill as soon as
convenient in view of the fact that only
few more District days remain during
the present session. The Commissioners
indicated that If the measure does not
contemplate the closing Of any streets,
thus cutting off access to any private
property they will have no objection to
its paSSage.