Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-12
FOR STRAIGHT ALLEY
Citizens ProtestAgainst Change
of Plans.
ASK FOR DEFINITE POLICY
Declare Proposed Action of Commits
sioners to Be Unjust.
SOME QUESTIONS OF EQUITY
Objections Made to Establishing
Crooked and Marrow Thorough
fares on Columbia Heights.
SOME QUESTIONS OF EQUITY


ceived communication signed by Mr.. Chas.
| F. Kern and Mr. Amos Hadey, protesting
| against the opening of a crooked alley of
| variable width in the block bounded by
| Harvard Girard, 18th and 18th streets. CO.
| lumbia Heights. The petitioners ask that
| the alley be opened according to the plans
| that prevailed until a recent change was
| made with the expressed view Of lessening
| the cost.
ut is with regret that we learn they
write, that the engineer department of
| the District government has abandoned its
| plans for opening an alley through block
! 80. Columbia Heights. bounded by Girard,
Harvard. 18th and 14th streets, and that in
place of q straight alley of uniform width
| of sixteen feet it has been decided to pro-
coed to condemn land for crooked alley,
| a part of which will be sixteen feet wide
| and a part twelve feet in width. 1t is a
| misnomer to refer to such 4 proceeding as
| the Opening of alley. as it will merely
legalize the temporary alley provided by
lot owners until it should be properly
| opened.
| According to this revised plan, it is pro-
| posed to take all the land for the twelve
! foot alley from the rear of property racing
| on Harvard street and while that property
will be given an alley of sufficient width. 1t
! is proposed to tax it for nineteen-foot en-
| trance from Harvard street and for a six
| teen-foot alley through the balance OF the
| block
Alleged Saving.
1T is sought to justify this plan by the
statement that it will save $500, which is
| said to be the difference in the cost of
straight alley of uniform width and a
| crooked alley of varying width. The sup
position that that saving will be effected Is
based wholly upon the idea that the jury
will ignore the serious damage that would
be inflicted by such change OF the time
honored plans for a straight Slsey sixteen
feet wide But 1t is believed that there
will be no difficulty in showing by expert
| testimony that the actual damage to each
of the Harvard street houses that are In
iuriousy affected by this change of plan
will be from $500 to 81 900. and it is not be-
lieved that the jury will ignore such dam
ages. 1t would be unfortunate II the crook
ed alley should prove to be more expensive
I than a straight alley.
I'VE beg to call attention to the action Of
Congress in legislating in recent years for
the widening and Strengthening or minor
streets and alleys and to suggest that whlle
seeking to correct mistakes that have been
committed in the past 1t Is not wise to ere
ate the same kind of evils now. A broad
and general view of this proposition to pro-
vide a permanent alley in this block should
prevail and it should be opened as orig
inally planned. That original plan was the
ba sis on which the owners Of property pur-
chased their present holdings. and change
Is not justified by the possibility OF saw
ing of 81, 500 which is but one-half OF l
per cent of the value of the property en-
braced in the entire square. or not more
| than three weeks rent of any house anecteo
and but one weeks rent OF some or the
houses occupying single lot.
Not Demanded by Owners.
1.-The change of the plans adhered to
until within the last few weeks was not
demanded by any sentiment Of owners of
property, very few Of them being aware
oh contaminated
until it was announced in The Evening Star
of the Sth instant. The legal notice of the
proposed appointment of jury. which has
been delivered to owners of property in
this block, contained no reference to the
change. The plans of the engineer depart
ment su omitted to the jury about two
months ago provided for straight alley OF
uniform width. and all those who had
knowledge Of that proceeding supposed that
the plan was unchanged. the proceeding at
that time having been brought to a close
by the death OF one of the jurors
aside from the general aspect OF this
proposition, a 12-fOot and crooked alley Is
unjust in a particular way to owners OF
property abutting on the narrow portion of
the alley. While they may be In the minor
ity they have equitable rights which the
authority vested in the Commissioners is
sufficient to protect. The doctrine of the
greatest good to the greatest number can
not be invoked to inflict damage upon a
minority. and If in the Judgment of your
honorable body the jury is not likely to
award us the full amount of the damages
that will follow from the execution of this
plan there is additional reason for the ex-
ercise of care to prevent injury II the
doctrine of the greatest good to the great
est number can be invoked to justify such
injury. it can be invoked to justify direct
confiscation of property. We do not know
of a single owner of property in this block
| who objects to having straight alley on
account of the expense involved and as
has been said, 1t is questionable whether a
| crooked alley will not cost more than a
straight one.