Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-26
EXTENSION Of AVENUES
Commissioners Report on
Two Thoroughfares.
SUGGESTIONS MADE
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE TO DIS
TRICT LINE.
Improvement Recommended on Condi-
tions-Adverse Report on Boundary
Avenue-Text Of Report.

The Commissioners report ON the bill for
the extension and improvement of Massa-
chusetts and Boundary avenues, which has
been awaited with considerable interest by
large number of property owners and
residents along the line of the avenues, was
forwarded to Congress late yesterday after
noon. The Commissioners approve of the
extension of Massachusetts, avenue to the
District line upon conditions. but they
think the extension of Boundary avenue is
not advisable at this time.
The recommendations of the Commission
ers relative to these projects of improve
ment are summarized as follows:
THAT an extension of Massachusetts, ave-
rue to the District line should be taken up.
if some method is provided by Congress to
appropriate for extraordinary expenditures,
such as street extensions involving large
sums of money
THAT the Improvement of the avenue
from Wisconsin avenue to Nebraska avenue
is desired at present.
THAT the Improvement from Wisconsin
avenue to the District line would probably
result in larger assessment of benefits
and thus produce greater ultimate economy,
but that this Is not so urgently needed In
comparison with other street improvements
That the extension and improvement of
Boundary avenue is not advisable at the
present time.
That the improvement proposed by the
bill will be of little benefit unless Massa-
chusetts avenue is macadamized east of
Wisconsin avenue at an. estimated cost of
$4,000. which Is not provided for In this
bill, but which the Commissioners have es-
timated o000 In the District appropriation
bill.
That while the bill. as far as above
stated, Is favorably considered by the Com
missioners, they invite attention to many
street improvements recommended by them
previously to Congress. and regarded as
equal In importance and immediate neces-
sity to this proposed extension"
Draft of the Report.
Engineer Commissioner Biddle, in drafting
the Commissioners report on this bill, di-
vided the subject into two parts First, for
the extension and Improvement of Massa-
chusetts avenue from Wisconsin avenue to
the District line, and second, that relating
to the extension and improvement of Bound
airy avenue from Massachusetts avenue to
Connecticut avenue. The text of the report
Is in part as follows:
1.-THE extension of the principal thorough
fares and avenues In the city of Washing
ton to the District line has been one which
has been recommended by the Commission
erS and several Of such extensions have been
authorized by Congress, namely. Pennsyl-
vania avenue southeast. 18th street north
west, Rhode Island avenue and Connecti-
cut avenue. This is the general line Of the
trict within easy reach OF the center OF the
city. The extension of Boundary avenue
however. is an entirely different question,
its value street being more as a local
highway or a park driveway than an inn
proved thoroughfare or avenue Of approach.
Value of 10th Street.
I'm view of the fact that 10th street has
been purchased and its Improvement would
be of much greater value as thoroughfare
Antfn ..-:kt.
Park. and also of the fact that other ave-
nues and streets which have been opened
for public purposes are yet unimproved the
Commissioners do not believe 1t advisable
to extend and improve Boundary avenue at
the present time.
THE extension of Massachusetts avenue
from wisconsin avenue to the District line
may also be considered as two propositions;
first. the extension from Wisconsin avenue
to Nebraska avenue. and second from that
point to the District line.
1.-THE position has been taken by the Com
missioners that in the case of streets and
avenues extended by condemnation or pro-
posed to be dedicated, they should be con-
demned and the improvement follow or
they should be dedicated Internationally
and the matter of the improvement taken
up later in the estimates of the Commits
sioners to Congress. Though this policy has
been recommended by the Commissioners.
an exception was made in the appropria-
ton bill for last year where Congress di-
rected an extension. and Improvement at
the same time. OF 18th street northwest, to
Spring road, the consideration Of this being,
it Is believed, that the benefits which would
be assessed against the abutting property
would be much greater If the street were 4
improved at once than IL 1t were simply
condemned and the improvement await
future appropriations
with this precedent In view. the coupling
OF the Improvement with the extension
would seem to be i'll accordance with the
policy of Congress The Improvement of
Massachusetts, avenue to Nebraska avenue
would bring the American University with
in easy connection with the city and the
avenue would probably be made use of at
once~as a thoroughfare.
From Nebraska avenue to the District
line the extension and improvement would
be of particular advantage to the residents
of American University Park. but, except
perhaps for a pleasure driveway, Ii would
not be further used to any great extent.
The Commissioners do not believe that the
Improvement of this part Of the avenue is
relatively as important as the improvement
Of many streets already acquired by con-
<7<rr. k4nx. 49,.