Evening star., 1915-11-18
Property Owners on Wisconsin
Avenue Appear Before Dis
triCt Commissioners.
SOME MAKE OPPOSITION
TO SUGGESTED PROJECT
Many Famous Estates Will Be At
fected by Proposed Improvement.
Width May Be 100 Feet.

Large and small property owners on
Wisconsin avenue, from Edmunds
street to the District line, appeared
before the District Commissioners to-
day for a public hearing called by the
Commissioners on the question whether
this thoroughfare shall. be widened to
120 feet in the neighborhood mentioned.
Some opposition to the Improvement
developed, but the majority of the
property owners who spoke expressed
themselves as being in favor of pro-
ceeding with the project at the earliest
possible moment.
One of the outstanding features of
the hearing was an attack made upon
the street car service of the George
town and Tenleytown line. otherwise
known as the Wisconsin avenue line. S.
r. Bowen, representing the street rail-
way, urged that the improvement be
delayed, mentioning the present dis
turbed fiscal relations of the District
of Columbia with the federal govern
ment as one reason for a delay, al
though on the whole. he said, he favor
ed a great public improvement, such as
that contemplated. The project includes
the placing in the center of Wisconsin
avenue the tracks of the street rail-
way which are now on the east side of
the avenue along the route mentioned.
Mr.. Bowen thought it would be all
right to go ahead with the improve
ment at once. provided the railroad
company was not obliged to move it's
tracks at once.
Arthur Carr, resident of Cleveland
Park. and Isr. J. Russell Verbrycke, jr.
declared themselves in favor of pro-
ceeding with the improvement at once
but opposed to it unless the tracks of
the street railway company are CEN
tered at once.
IF there is any chance of this So
called railroad sliding out of it's part
of the bargain" Mr.. Carr said. II am
against the improvement instead of
for it, This is not railway, but
track and a few cattle cars, and we
who live along Wisconsin avenue get
the most Indifferent car service of any
community in Washington
Plan Calls for Widening.
The Commissioners announced that
the highway plan of Washington pro-
vides for widening the avenue to 120
feet, and questions were asked tending
to bring out whether the property own
ers want 100-foot width, to gain
which it would be necessary, under the
law, to have the highway plan changed.
Commissioner Brownlow presided and
Maj. Kutz was the other of the two
Commissioners present They were as
sisted by Melvin c. Hazen, District sur
veyer.
The proposed improvement, it deveI-
oped. will cost in the neighborhood of
100000, and under the highway act
the owners of property will be granted
damages for property taken and as
sessed benefits by jury of condemna-
tion. The point at which the proposed
widening shall begin is between Mas
and extends to the District line.
Small property owners objected to
widing the avenue if their houses are
TO be taken without compensation. 1t
was pointed out that jury must de-
eide that question.
The Commissioners pointed out that
it is necessary 90 settle the question
soon whether the avenue should be
widened, so that permits may be grant
ed for many proposed permanent i'm
provements. such as sidewalks, curbs,
cutters, etc.
Many famous pieces of property will
be affected by the proposed improve
ment. among them Friendship. the
country home of John R. Mclean.
whose stone wall and fountain would
have to be removed Highlands Manor,
the old colonial estate of the Nourse
family, would also be affected. Mr.. Nc
Lean is understood to have filed let
ter making no objection to the inn
provement.
Henry B. F. Macfarland appeared at
80 herring for. but did not disclose
Peter and Paul, the Cathe-
dral School for Boys. the Cathedral
...ool Tor Girls, and ST. Alban's
Church, which would also be affected
b~half. opposing the improvement in
Tenleytown, where he owns houses.
Suburbs Affected.
Among the suburbs affected would
be. Massachusetts Avenue Heights.
Cathedral Highlands. Richmond Park.
Cleveland Park, Wisconsin Avenue
Heights. Fairview Heights and others.
Commissioner Brownlow pointed out
'hat there is great danger to school
children in Tenleytown by reason OF
close TO the sidewalks. Many citizens
associations were represented at the
hearing and among those who spoke
adjoining the Nourse estate; A. Y.
Cray. J.. W. Eugster. ]. ]. Boobar, Mrs
Cora T. Heider, William Claybaugh,
Mrs. s. < Carey. Mrs Anna R. Shoe
Mandler. A. E. Shoemaker. and others.
DR.. Chappeil told of some of the diff
fculties of the citizens of the Dis
:.,,s1, ssiet as brought s out at the recent
that the Improvement be postponed
until Congress repeals the highway
act, which he called iniquitous, In that
its provisions assess benefits for i'm
provements on property owners
Mr.. Bowen. in behalf of the street
railway company, declared that the car
line runs through a district that is not
congested with population and that an
be fair to require the company to re-
lay its tracks in the center of the road
way.
The commissioners will study the re-
port of the hearing and decide later on
what they Will recommend to Congress.
AZ a'bill must be passed to provide for