Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-22
object TO PROVISIONS
IN ANAC0ST|A PARK BILL
Citizens Say the Expense
Should Be Borne by En-
tire District.

That the cost of cOndemninS land along
the Anacostia river for highway and
park purposes should be borne by the
District as whole. and not assessed
against any property in the immediate
neighborhOod, was the gist of arguments
presented to the Commissioners of the
District today by representatives of the
North Capitol and lexington Citizens
Association, who opposed the enactment
in its present form of the bill for acqui-
sition of river territory.
The representatives of the association
who appeared at a hearing in the board
room Of the municipal building were DR..
Edgar Thompson, president and w. G.
Henderson. The bill which was the sub
ject of the protests was prepared by the
Commissioners and introduced several
weeks ago in both the Senate and House.
One of its provisions defines the assess
ment area for providing the cost of the
proposed condemnation.
Condemn Assessment Principle.
According to DR.. Thompson and Mr..
Henderson, portions of the area thus de-
fined are so far removed from the To-
cation Of the improvements contemplated
that they should not be assessed for the
cost more than other sections of the Dis
trict should be. Both representatives of
the association declared that they are in
favor of the object of the bill, but that,
in their opinion, the principle of the
proposed assessment is wrong, the cost
being one that the entire District should
bear.
Engineer Commissioner Judson stated
that the estimated cost of the land
to be acquired approximately is $4,000.
He said If the citizens and citizens organi-
cations in the territory affected would
stand behind the bill Congress would
have less excuse for controversy, and
there would be a better chance of the
desired Improvement being secured.
The opposition of the North Capitol and
lexington association to the bill, as at
present drawn. is not the first to be de-
yelored since the measure was introduced
in Congress. AT Il meeting of representa-
tives of number Of citizens assoc1a-
tons in the northeast section of the city,
which was held week ago. 1t was de-
cided to appoint subcommittee to draw
up a different method from that proposed
in the bill for assessing the cost of
building the Anacostia roadways and
parks. This committee will report to-
morrow night.
Area Outlined in Bill.
The assessment area named in the
Commissioners bill, which is the only
provision thus far that has been the sub
ject of protest, is as follows:
Beginning at the point where the
high-water line of the Anacostia river
intersects the northeast boundary line
between the District of Columbia and
che state of Maryland and running
northwest along said boundary line to a
point where the southerly building line
of Rhode Island avenue extended, as pro-
jected, would intersect said boundary
line; thence along said southerly build
ing line of Rhode Island avenue to the
easterly building line of New Jersey ave-
nue.: thence. following the easterly build
ing line of said New jersey avenue, to
the Anacostia river, at a point
where said easteriy building line
If projected, would intersect the
high water line of said Anacostia
river: thence, following the high-water
line Of said Anacostia river in q north