Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-01
STREET EXTENSION HEARING
GEORGETOWN RESIDENTS IN
TEREsrED IN VOLTA PLACE.
Argument For and Against Before
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
on the Bill.

A bill introduced in the House recently
by Represent alive Hayes of California
and referred to the Commissioners LOT
report. which provides for the extension
of Volta place northwest from 3oth street
to the Conduit road, was the SUBJECT OF
public hearing before the board of Com
missioners this morning. This extension
propdAes to go through a portion of the
grounds belonging to the Georgetown
University and the grounds of the Sisters
of the Visitation. and which extension is
bitterly opposed by the officials of those
institutions. On the other hand. the ex
tension is being sought by the citizens
who live in that section of Washington
west of the grounds of those institutions.
which section now has only the Conduit
road and the Canal road to the south as
a means of going to and from the city.
The public hearing was. requested by
Representative Hayes. who introduced the
BILL and Representative Julius Kahn. his
colleague. but Attorney Creed M. Fulton
acted as the spokesman for them and the
citizens and property owners interested IN
the extension. In asking for the Com
missioners favorable report upon this
proposed legislation Mr.. Fulton declared
that 1t is question of whether the
Georgetown College and the Sisters of the
Visitation should surrender few hun
whether the public of Washington should
be Inconvenience and public sentiment
ignored. He said that the public policy
Of this country is just as great in the in
terest of the building of homes as It is in
the interests of educational and religious
institutions. and that the question OF SEN
timent I'm this matter should not be taken
into consideration. and that this street as
a matter of right and justice should be
opened.
On the Old Plats.
Mr.. Fulton pointed out that on the ola
plats of the municipality of George
town Volta place was extended through
the grounds of the institutions in ques-
ton, and that by a resolution OF the board
of aldermen permission was granted to
close the street in the interest of the In
situations, until that time arrived when
the public interests demanded its open
ing" I'm this respect. Mr.. Fulton said.
the closing of this street was only priv
ilege. and that that privilege should now
be surrendered. He said that both OF
these institutions have more ground than
is necessary for their use and good man.
agement. and the space occupied by the
proposed thoroughfare could easily be
spared. He made it clear that there Is
no intention on his part or that of his as
sociates or neighbors who are advocating
or to encrOach upon their sacredness or
privacy but the territory west of them Is
building up and the conditions are such
that additional and more direct thorough
fares into the city are absolutely neceS-
sary. and they do not believe the George.
town University and the Sisters of the
Visitation should stand in the way OF
progress and public Improvement.
Attorneys John w. Yerkes and w. n.
Gordon appeared before the Commission
ers to protest against this proposed legis-
lation. The former addressed the Com
missioners as the representative of the
university, and the latter as the repre-
sentative Of the convent
Attorney Gordon informed the Commits
sioners that the enactment Of this law
extending Volta place would mean abso-
luts contiscation to the institution repre-
scented by him. which was founded in
order. He explained that to cut street
through the property would mean that
the walks and grounds used by the nuns
and the students for exercise and. recrea-
ton would be ruined as well as the good
and successful maintenance and the pri-
vacy of the place. He said that it has
always been the policy of the Commits
sioners to encourage the establishment
and maintenance of educational institu-
tions in this city. instead of entering into
agreements to confiscate them.
Plea Of Georgetown University.
Attorney Yerkes, speaking in the inter-
est Of Georgetown University. said he
thought the bill as it is now 'worded would
prove Unconstitutional if enacted into law.
He declared that the expense of making
this street exte- sion would be very great
and that the gain derived from the i'm
provement would be very limited, He
pointed out that If the Commissioners
agree to the opening OF Volta place they
will be establishing a precedent which
will be followed UP by demand for the
opening of other streets. namely. p. NJ.
n, O and Dent streets. He declared that
there Is no public exigency for the pro-
posed extension and that the extension
would prove extremely detrimental to the
institution represented by him.
The hearing was concluded by an ap-
peal by Father Buel. rector of the uni
versity, for an adverse report. Father
Buel declared that the extension would
prove q great loss and inconvenience to
the university and to the convent that
joins it.
At the conclusion o. the hearing the