Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-13
SOME Tine; NOT NOW
Senate Committee Declines to
Extend 18th Street.
BUT ADMITS THE NECESSITY
State Senator Blair Lee Urges I'm
mediate Action.
OUTLINES EXTENSIVE SYSTEM
Suggests District Highway to Con-
meet With Maryland Road Soon
to Be Completed.
BUT ADMITS THE NECESSITY
OUTLINES EXTENSIVE SYSTEM

A plan to link up the highway system
of the District of Columbia with the new
highway system of Maryland, upon which
S6,OO0.mO is being spent-with prospects
Of further expenditures in the near fu-
ture-has been outlined before the Senate
committee on appropriations. and the
committee was asked to amend the Dis
trict appropriation bill to provide money
to make tho connection.
The plan was laid before the Senate
committee by Blair Lee. Maryland state
senator Of Montgomery county. He pro-
posed that 18TH street be extended to the
District line, about two and a half miles
bevond its present terminus, at a cost OF
$4,000
Mr.. Lees Proposition.
Il stand here primarily representing
the desire of my. neighbors of Maryland
to connect our Maryland state road sys-
tenn (Which is costing us $6.0oO,oOo) with
this street ti6th street," Mr.. Lee told
the committe during recent hearing on
the matter. I'm my lifetime there has
not been a single new street or avenue
put out to the District line between the
valley Of kock creek and as far east as
the Catholic University. The old plank
road which was Brightwood avenue now
Georgia avenue) was there when I was a
baby, and that is the only through street
that exists today macadamized to the
District line The population has in
creased many fold and the pressure OF
traffic on Brightwood avenue is very
large.
AT very slight expense we can connect
our Maryland state road system with 10th
street by an overhead crossing OF the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. We have
pra ctically arranged to do that if You
will extend that street to connect with
our Maryland road. We have pursued a
very liberal policy in Montgomery county
in endeavoring to connect with the road
system of the District of Columbia We
have converging there to connect with
18th street twenty-five miles Of one turn
pike, twelve miles of another turnpike
and four miles of new state stone road,
which brings to Georgia avenue the great
est traffic in merchandise and agriculture,
I'm light traffic, automobiles and vehicles,
that comes into any street in the District
of Columbia, without exception. An we
ask that this he connected with 18th
street"
Increase in Assessment.
care there any buildings along the pro
posed extension?" Senator Gallinger asked
Mr.. Lee.
mo, sir. but there Is a very heaVy
assessment. replied the Maryland state
senator THE assessment of all the
agricultural acreage along that street has
been raised $500 an acre In the last few
years, because that street has been indi-
Gated there. The people who own land
are now carrying at least $4,000 year
in increa sed assessment, because this
street is pointing at them, and they have
not the slightest chance Of a municipal
until they get the street
/ happen to know, and advised the Com
missoners by a letter that was in my
hands. that one concern has bought
$500 600 worth Of property there tthe old
Shepherd property, which is 400 feet
above sea leveD. and proposes to make,
all told, half-million-dollar investment
there in subdivisions. The half-milliOn-
dollar investment in subdivisions will
come into immediate competition with
all other land offered for sale in the
District 1t is 400 feet above the sea
level. and it will give an opportunity
for people to raise their children in the
summer time in a healthy elevation,
which does not exist here on the level
of the city. That Is one of the reasons
why my forefathers moved out into that
part of the country
We want an open-door policy, gentle
men, on street extension matters. We do
not think streets should be kept closed for
the benefit of any particular real estate
investment. The open-door policy on
streets means competition in values and
reduced cost to the ultimate purchaser
of lots