Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07

Der OF meters tested last year Is an In
crease of 81 per cent over the number
tested in 1901. with no increase In the
permanent inspection force of this Office
during this period There has been an in
crease, although not to the same extent.
In the demands made on this Office along
other lines. The Indications now are
that the demands for meters during the
I, current year will exceed all past records.
as thus far there have been weeks when
the gas company set meters three times
as fast as they could be tested: fortu-
nately there had accumulated during the
dulier months small stock of sealed me-
tiers which met this emergency. Many
days during last year it was necessary
to omit some of the gas inspections in
order to meet the demands on the meter
end of the Office
| This increase in the demands made or
the office Is not due to any unusual rush
| for short periods, but Is due to the nat.
| ural growth in the population Of the Dis
! trict of Columbia. 1t is believed that the
work will continue steadily but surely tc
| increase. Without more help 1t will be
increasingly difficult to carry on the work
OF the office as contemplated by the law.
The amount OF fees collected for meter
Inspections during the last year was
So, O43.5O.
Anacostia River and Harbor Front.
The commissioners renew their recon-
mendation in favor of the Improvement
of the Anacostia River basin and VII
submit early in the coming session q
report upon the questions of land title.
which is being prepared under an ap-
preparation granted by Congress at the
request of the commissioners for an IN
vestigation and report on that subject.
1t is hoped that this information, ascer-
tanned by special counsel who represent
q n mi In a - "A G
litigation, and who has special qualif1-
cations for the task. will be so satis-
factory as to lead to early action by
Congress. which has been awaiting such
information before taking further steps
In the matter.
The argument for the improvement in
the interest of the health and beauty
and commerce Of the capital frequently
set forth by the commissioners ID
stronger with every year.
Elimination of Grade Crossings.
The work Of eliminating grade cross
ings authorized by acts Of Congress APP
proved February II. 1901. and February
%. 1903. has been completed with .he
exception of a bridge over the Phiia-
delphia. Baltimore and Washington
Railroad Company's tracks at New Jer-
Sey avenue Sc. The construction OF this
bridge is in progress, and when COM
pleted there will be left to be done in
connection with this project the acqui-
sition of new street across the plaza
from North Capitol and D streets to the
west fountain in front of the Union Sta
ton. and the paving of the streets IN
the plaza and the intersecting streets
with permanent material. Negotia =
tionS for the purchase of the land for
this new street are pending; The paw.
Ing of the streets on the plaza cannot
be done until the fill upon which the
plaza was constructed has had suffi-
cient time for settlement.
The acts of Congress above referred to
provided for the elm nation of grade
crossings within the city limits and for
small piece of territory lying to the
north thereof. There still exists, how
ever. a number of grade crossings on
much-traveled highways, such as Ben
nings road. Cedar street in Takoma
Park, Pennsylvania avenue extended.
and other less important streets. 1t Is
estimated that to provide for eliminat-
ing the grade crossings at these points
will cost $450.O00, and the commission
erS believe that this work should be
classed as a permanent Improvement
project to which reference has been
made in another part Of this report. No
grade crossings should exist within the
limits of the District of Columbia.
Grade Damages.
The Work OF the grade damage clalHis
commission in ascertaining the damages
to private property caused by changes In
the grade of streets and alleys due to the
location of the Union Railroad Station
and the elimination Of grade crossings Is
still in progress. There were 50 claims for
damages heard and determined, involving
146 pieces Of realty. In 46 Of these cases
damages were awarded landowners
amounting to $685. 100. while in q OF the
cases the commission awarded no dam
ages for the reason that they considered
improvements made. offset whatever
damage had accrued. Thirty-s.x cases
were appealed from the awards Of the
commission by the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia. or the property
owners, and juries asked. A number OF
cases were compromised, and in this way
the District OF Columbia saved 81, 80. this
sum representing the aggregate ference
between the awards OF the commission
and the amounts for which the claims
claims filed before the commission since
it was organized is about 800.
Street Railways.
The extensions of the street-railway sys-
tenn to the Union Railroad Station author
izeI by act of Congress approved March
%, 1908, have been completed, and the
cars are in operation.
The commissioners have jurisdiction
over the construction of street railways,
but only as to the police power over the
operation of the cars. The operation OF
the railways, so far as it concerns the
travelling public, was placed by the act
above quoted under the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which appointed to
act in the matter a body known as the
District electric-railway commission"
BY act of Congress approved May 20.
1908, the Baltimore and Washington
Transit Company. corporation Of Mary
land which had a line of railroad in Ia
koma Park. suburb of the city. was
authorized to extend it's tracks along
Colorado avenue to the tracks of the
Capital Traction Company on 14th street
extended. These new tracks are now
in process of construction.
arrangements are now being made by
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company to bring cars from Baltimore
and Annapolis over its Columbia line to
18th street and New York avenue north
west. This will give a through electric
street railway between Washington and
Baltimore and Annapolis. These cars
have heretofore been operated to 18th and
II streets northeast. and the new ar
rangement will bring them to the bust
ness center of the city.
The commissioners believe that the 14th
street line Of the Capital Traction Com
pany should be extended via Kennedy
street to and into Rock Creek Park for
the purpose of affording Transportation
facilities to those desiring to make use
of this park. While the details of this
plan have not been worked out the COM
missioners hope that during the next ses-
sion of Congress they will be able to pre-
sent plan providing for such extension.