Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
Land May Be Condemned.

Congress.
Land May Be Condemned.
The first thing that will be done by the
Treasury Department will be the drawing
of map showing in detail the property
ard the owners thereof. with the assessed
valuations The Secretary will then deter
mine what in his opinion is a fair price
for the various holdings. He will next
communicate with the owners and ask
for their bids. II the owners want more
than the property is worth. In the opinion
|of the Secretary, condemnation proceed
inss will be begun, as authorized in the
act.
This much can be done regardless of the
amount of money carried in the act for
the property mentioned. If. however. the
Secretary should decide that $. 10000
will not buy the property, or. if condem-
nation proceedings should disclose. the
whole matter will be held up until Con-
gress can appropriate the additional
amount.
AT the latest the purchase of the entire
five blocks cannot be reasonably expected
tn be delayed longer than two years. II
will doubtless take much less time than
that even though another appropriation
is necessary.
First Step in Important Work.
BY inserting this provision i'm the pub
lie buildings act this year Congress took
a long step toward carrying out the plan
of Senator Hepburn of Idaho for the
purchase of the entire south side OF Penn
svlvania avenue from the Capitol TO 10Th
street northwest and south as far as the
Mall On account of the fact that the
appropriations for other objects were es-
specially large this year the enactment
of this section is regarded as OF unusuai
significance. 1t means that Congress has
at last awakened TO the fact that the
Heyburn project is a good one. II Should
only be a question of time IT is SAID, untli
the entire tract is purchased
But the man who is really responsible
for the step taken by this Congress last
week is Senator Scott of West Virginia.
chairman of the committee on puniic
buildings and grounds of the upper branch
of Congress Feeling certain that the
Heyburn bill which has been favorably
reported from his committee and passed
by the Senate. would die In the House.
he secured the passage of Dill giving
s3O0o.ooo for the purchase OF tne n.e
ments mentioned. This went through
the Senate all right, but showed signs OF
going to sleep in the House. for the re-
mainder of the session
Scott Saves the Situation.
Senator Scott thought something ought
to be done at once. He secured the adop-
ton in the Senate of an amendment 10
the sundry civil appropriation bill pro-
yidinc for the purchase of these squares
and an amendment TO the public buildings
bill giving 100000 to begin the erection
of one building to cost when cornpieted
s. JC0.O0t
When il became apparent t!lat the ITEM
in the sundry civil bill would not be re-
tanned by the confereos he hursuaded the
conferees on the public buildings nill 10
retain the section he had put on the lat
ter measure in the Senate. changing II.
however so as TO make the S2.,sb,stp
available at once for the purchase OF tie
land Mr.. Scott WAS one of the conterees
on this BILL in fact. the most influential
Senate conferee, and he had little trouble
in accomplishing his purposes
The future will see the destruction OF
many Interesting landmarks within the
limits Of these five blocks. and number
OF important business establishments vii!
have to seek other quarters. The Emer-
sency Hosnitai. al the corner OF 10Th
street and Ohio avenue. will have 70 go.
AS will also Chase's Theater. and the
other substantial business buildings fac
ing on PENNSYLVANIA avenue between l4th
and 18th streets. including Grand Army
Hall and the Regent Hotel. on the corner
of the latter street.