The Washington times., 1915-10-20
MQnifeStS Nations
Will in Every Way

The act further authorized the Com
missioners in preparing such plan ITO
lay out at the intersections of the princi-
rul avenues and streets thereof cir
clcs or other reservations. corre-
soondinE in number and dimensions
with those now existing at such in
bsn in ,h city and Or dv
fed by tho Commissioners the map
was to be delivered to commits
sion. consisting of the Secretary of
War. tho Secretary of the Interior.
and tho chief of engineers. who were
authorized to make such alterations.
IT any, in the map as they deemed
advisable. The map when completed
and approved was to be filed and re-
corded in the office of the Surveyor
of the District. The act provided
that thereafter:
mo further subdivision of any
land included therein shall be ad-
mittcd TO record IL the office of
the surveyor of said District or In
the office Of the recorder of deeds
thereof unless the same be first
approved by the Commissioners
and be in conformity to such
map"
Finally. the act provided that after the
map should have been so recorded the
Dublic authorities should not assume
any responsibility with regard to any
abandoned highway within the area
tpN'itu DN lilt suDulu not
accept or assume any responsibility in
regard to any highway that any owner
of land In such area should thereafter
attempt to lay out or establish, unless
the land owner should first have sub
mittcd to the Commissioners n plat of
such proposed highway and the Com
missioners should have found It TO be
In conformity with the map and APP
proved 1t and caused 1t to be recorded
In the office OF the surveyor.
In npcprHpnpn win, hn Ia q, nj ipp nI
provision a map was prepared and ap-
proved. in four sections. the last Of
which was filed in the office of the sur
veyor of the District on the 10th day Of
May, 1900. 1t extends many OF the prin-
cipal avenues of the original city to the
District line. provides for other new
great avenues, and in all other respects
manifests the Will of the nation that
the grand plan of the city which Wash
ington founded shall embrace the entire
District of Columbia.
This act OF 1893 as thus carried into
effect was necessary and splendid
proceeding for the proper development
OF the National Capital. But for 1t tho
original city would have been "cribbcd
cabined. and confined by n surround
ing belt of subdivisions with narrow
streets fitting in neither with the exist
ing city streets and avenues nor with
one another. Numerous such subdivi-
sions had previously been planned and
recorded in the Surveyors Office in ac-
cordance with the laws then existing.
Many Of them had been covered with
urivatc dwellings. Over and across
These subdivisions and over and across
all the lands and buildings in that part
of the District outside of Georgetown
and the original WASHINGTON the maps
filed In the Surveyors Office under the
act of 1899 Sast n shadow which, as to
most Of the land. remains TO this day
Ancient streets and other highways in
the county were abandoned and the au-
thoritics of the District We're expressly
forbidden to keep them in repair.
buildings already erected on the line OF
the projected highways were rendered
their real value. Small holdings were
so cut up by the proposed streets and
avenues that what was left could not be
prOfltAblY utilized for anY purpose.