Evening star., 1914-07-28
PUTSBURDENUPON
DISTRICT CITIZENS
Benefits to Be Assessed for
Improvement of Anacostia
Flats.
NO PROPERTY IN CITY
EXEMPT FROM CHARGE
Law Gives Jury Wide Latitude in
Determining Resultant In
creases in Values.

creases in Values.
Property owners OF the District of Co
lumbia will be called upon to bear large
share of the cost of the Improvement o1
,Anacostia fats, as result of the inser-
tion in the District appropriation bill o1
an assessment for benefit clause as a part
of the method for carrying out the mann.
moth reclamation project
Adopted in conference, this departure
from the original plan, which contem-
plated no contributions whatever by
citizens. is another blow at the half
and-half' principle. It is not believed
that many citizens are vet aware of the
change made in the law.
Under the original scheme the Anacos-
tia development was to have been paid
for through appropriations made by the
United States and District governments
on the "half-and- basis.
Wide Latitude for Jury.
While it is expected that residents OF
the eastern section Of the city will beal
the brunt of the assessment charges. the
new provision stipulates that assessments
may be made on land abutting or ada
cent to the improvement area OF ground
anywhere in the District which jury
shall determine has been benefited by
reason of the reclamation and develop
ment.
Assessments under the new method are
not to be made with reference to the
cost, but rather with respect to the ex-
tent Of benefits For example. If GER
tain piece of ground should be considered
to have increased $500 in value on ac-
count of the improvement the owner
Of the property would be required to pay
$3.50. the law requiring that the assess
ment shall equal one-half the value OF
the improvement.
Project to Cost 100000.
1t is stipulated that the reclamation
work shall be done in sections and assess
ments levied accordingly. In view of the
fact that property owners were not re-
buried to contribute directly to the acqui-
sition of Rock Creek and other large
parks. the new plan calling upon citizens.
especially those of the eastern section,
10 stand portion Of the cost Of the con-
version Of the Anacostia fats will. it is
expected, meet with wide disfavor.
No estimate can be devised at this time
of the extent to which assessments may
be made District officials, however. are
of the opinion that the amount will be
reclamation project. which will be in the
neighborhood of 100000.
The Law requiring the levying of assess
ments, as carried in the current District
appropriation bill, is as follows:
Provisions Of the Law.
There shall be assessed as special
benefits for the reclamation of Ana
costa river and fats from the Anacos-
to hrid n
line upon the aforesaid plans such sum
or sums as the jury hereinafter pro-
vided for may determine on such lots
and pieces or parcels of land abutting
the area of improvement, and adjacent
thereto, and any other lots. pieces or
parcels of land in the District Of Co
lumbia that such jury shall determine
are specially benefited by reason of
said reclamation and development, in
the manner following. that is to say:
IT shall be the duty of the Secretary of
War. for the purpose OF said assessment.
as he may deem best. the entire area
OF improvement: as soon as practicable
after the reclamation and development
Of each section is completed. he
ers of the District of Colum-
bia a plat of such section showing the
area reclaimed and developed. and there
upon it shall be the duty of said Com
Court of the District Of Columbia. sit
ting as district court, by petition, a
proceeding in rem for the assessment Of
benefits. The proceedings i'll such case
shall be under and in accordance with
the provisions of subchapter one of chap
ter fifteen of the Code OF Law for the
District of Columbia. in SO far. as the
Same are applicable. II shall be the duty
of the jury provided for in said proceed
ing to find as special benefits the in
crease in value which such reclamation
and development has added to each lot,
piece or parcel Of land abutting such
Improvement and adjacent thereto. and
any other lot, piece or parcel of land in
the District of Columbia. which 1t may
find will be specially benefited by reason
Of said improvement; and Of the amount
which said jury shall find such lots.
pieces or parcels Of land SO benefited 1t
shall assess one-half thereof upon such
lot, piece or parcel Of land.
. Directions for Jury.
"In determining the amounts to be
assessed against said lots, pieces or
parcels OF land the jury shall take
into consideration the respective situa-
lions and Typographical conditions of
said lots. pieces or parcels of land. and
the benefits and advantages they may
specially receive from such reclamation
and development; and where any par,
of any lot. piece or parcel of land has
been dedicated for the purpose of such
reclamation and development .he jury
in determining whether the remainder
of said lot. piece or parcel of land is to
be assessed for benefits and the amount
Of benefits. II any. to be assessed there
on. shall also take into consideration
the fact of such dedication and the
value of land so dedicated.
Tho said assessments shall be levied
and collected under the provisions OF
said subchapter one of chapter ffteer
OF the code of law for the District Of
Columbia, and shall be paid into the
Treasury of the United states, to the
credit of the United States and of the
District of Columbia in equal parts
and when finally ratified and confirmed
by the court shall severally be a ier
upon the land assessed and shall b.
collected as special improvement take.
in the District of Columbia. and shal
be payable in five equal annual install
ments with interest at the rate of
per centum per annum from and afte]
sixty days after the confirmation of tn,
verdict Of the jury Where not other
wise herein provided for. all of tn.
provisions of said subchapter one o.
chapter fifteen of said code of law fol
District of (So1,,p,h;a hill l..