Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13
STREET EXTENSION BILL
REPORT EXPRESSING DIsFAvoR
FILED BY COMMISSIONERS.
Amendment Suggested Regarding
Thoroughfare in Anacostia-An
Appropriation Recommended.

In the form of a report which they have
| prepared for submission to Chairman Bah
cock of the House District committee the
Commissioners in degree express dis
favor Of II. r. 1871, and they suggest
! either of two counter propositions. The
bill provides for authorizing and direct
ing the Commissioners of the District of
Coiumba-t to extend Monroe street, in Ana
costa, and construct a bridge or yiaduct,
and provide for the assessment of certain
costs of construction and repair" and 1t
provides also that the entire cost of the
viaduct, and of the approach, and of main
tenance of the viaduct, after construc-
ton, should be borne by the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, with the exception
of such benefits a jury may assess
against abutting property.
The counter propositions advanced by
the Commissioners are that the bin be
amended 50 as TO carry necessary appro-
priatun of $4,000 to provide for the cost
of the work, or that a new bill be pre-
pared along the lines of the union station
act of February ~, 1903. providing that
half the cost OF any viaduct, carrying any
street or highway over or untier railroad
tracks in the District, shall be borne by the
railroad and half by the District of Column
bia and the United States.
Some legislation to arrange for the ex-
tension of Monroe street SO to form the
approach to the new Anacostia bridge, it
is stated, is extremely necessary at this
session of Congress because. under the
act Of April n, 1894, the bridge must be
completed by June 30, 1907.
Union Station Act Cited
Attention is called to the fact that Con-
gress, in Section 10 of the union station
act not only legislated regarding exist
future streets and highways crossing lines
Of steam railroads and directed the man
ner in which the costs should be borne.
This is one of the strongest arguments in
favor Of one of the counter propositions.
and it is explained that to require the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad to construct
the viaduct across the tracks of its old
Alexandria branch. crossing the line of the
proposed new Monroe street, would about
equal One-half the cost OF getting the
street over the railroads. right of way. At
the time the original plan was drawn for
an approach to the new Anacostia bridge it
was believed that the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad would abandon its tracks on the
line of the old Alexandria branch but
since then a new. industry, the Firth-Ster-
ling Steel Company, has been established
on the river front and it is stated that the
tracks viii be considerably used by freight
trains, so that the crossing over the tracks
by viaduct is necessary.
Appropriation Required.
Whatever decision Congress reaches in
the matter it is pointed out an appropria-
ton Of about $1,000 will be required so
as to permit the Commissioners to bear the
expense Of condemnation proceedings and
the subsequent opening of the thorough
fare. If the railroad is to be required to
bear the total cost, such cost cannot be
collected from them until the work is com
pleted. The new bridge is about 200 feet
distant from the present structure, and the
new approach will carry Monroe street in
a straight line to the line of the railroad
tracks where it viii make a symmetrical
curve onto the bridge, the new street and
the bridge approach to have a width Of
sixty feet.
Another suggestion is made concerning
the wording of the bill, the Commissioners
calling attention to the fact that since the
measure was introduced Congress has
passed an act providing for condemnation
proceedings for the opening of streets and
it is recommended that the method of pro-
cedure therein established be followed in
this case.