The Washington herald., 1910-02-18

Chairman Smith. of the House District
Committee, had an opportunity yester-
day TO get passed a few Distrist meas
ures, and availed himself of II. Although,
it had been agreed after two postpone
ments of District day." that Washing
ton affairs were to occupy as much time
yesterday as the rivers and harbors bill
did on Tuesday. which was I'VE hours.
only three hours were consumed when
the Indian bill was called up. Conse-
quently. little Of Importance was done.
Much Of the time given to District
affairs was consumed In a purely tech
nical wrangle over the legal aspect OF
the bill to authorize the opening of
road along the Anacostia River, and there
was a large cloud of explanation and
quotations Of laws before the measure
was allowed 10 pass. This was done with
an amendment which provides that the
land 10 be condemned shall be for a
public highway and park purpose.
Under the language Of the bill as amend
ed il will not be possible 10 erect build
ings on the ground between the proposed
highway and the river, nor will II be pos
sible to build wharves or docks alonS
the water front The amendment stlpu-
lates that the purpose Of the bill Is 10
create a highway and parkway. and the
latter feature will, doubtless, meet with
the approval of most Washingtonians.
Route of the Highway.
The land 10 be condemned is along the
Anacostia River, and bounded by the
river from Monroe street extended to the
outfan sewer at Poplar Point. and from
the southwest corner Of the grounds OF
the Government Hospital for the Insane
along the river to Giesboro Point, near
the western terminus of Memphis street.
The benefits TO be assessed under the
bin are estimated at s4.0J0 and the total
cost Of making the highway is estimated
To cost about 5000 No provision was
made in the amendment for the expense
OF creating a parkway. this. apparently,
having been overlooked.
A bin TO permit the extension Of the
underground system of the city and
Suburban Railway Company on North
Capitol street was also passed. Under the
2
lied to install its underground electric
system on that part Of its suburban
route on North Capitol street between
the present terminus OF its underground
system thereon, near T street, and
point TO be approved by the Commission
ers north of and within 800 feet of the
north building line OF V street. The
work IS 70 be completed within six
months. under penalty. AS at first drawn.
the bin provided that the line should
be built TO within 100 feet of V street
This was amended yesterday to read
within 800 feet.
Payment Provision Left Out.
A debate was precipitated over the bill
providing for the extension Of Massachu-
setts avenue northwest 1t was found
that the bill was drawn without provi-
sion that owners OF the lots adjacent TO
land east of Hamilton Circle. lying be-
tween the south line of Massachusetts
avenue northwest. as dedicated. and the
south line OF the avenue, as established
by the Districts present official plot,
should pay for the ground which the bill
provided should revert to them. Under
the biH, the Commissioners were author
lied TO abandon this ground. and il was
provided that the ground should revert
to the owners of these adjacent lots.
numbered 1 to 8, inclusive. in square 1876.
Representative Stafford tried TO have an
amendment inserted that these property
owners should pay a reasonable price
therefor" but the House was restive Tn
der the debate, and Representative Mad
den moved to strike out the whole section
about the District abandoning the ground
east of Hamilton Circle, and this was
done and the bill passed The bill now
provides that Massachusetts avenue shall
be extended and widened from Wisconsin
avenue TO the District line with a width
of 16O feet.
The bill TO widen Sixteenth street north
west at Piney Branch was defeated
Representative johnson, Of Kentucky,
spoke against the bill and referred to the
depression in the ground at Sixteenth
street and Piney Branch of about four
and a half acres, which it was desired
under the bill 10 acquire. as "a hole in
the ground" and he said he was op-
posed to throwing money into holes in
the ground.
Several other street extension and
minor bills were passed. Among these
were a measure 20 prepare a new high
ways plan for the streets and land lying
between Georgia avenue on the east, Six
teenth street on the West Kalmia
street on the north. and Butternut street
on the south Mr. Cox explained that
the object of this bill is to provide for
the abandonment as a highway OF North
Dakota avenue between these limits.
Now Mcpherson Place.
The House also passed the bill to
change the name of the west side of
Fifteenth street northwest, between and
| K, TO Mcpherson place. Under this bill
the street on the east side Of Mcpherson
| square viii be known as Fifteenth street
and on the east side as Mcpherson place
| Under II. r. 1885, passed yesterday, the
| recorder of deeds OF the District is d.
rected TO keep an index to recorded in
struments by lots or tracts. This is in
| tended to promote accuracy IN searching
titles
/ The Commissioners bill to acquire land
in the vicinity of the Connecticut avenue
bridge was also passed. This bill was
passed by the Senate on Monday and is
for the purpose Of extending Belmont
| rood ~ "a I1rart ctreet 70 coppact the ~