Evening star., 1918-01-25
SUGGESTS REPEAL
OF D. c. ALLEY LAW
Surveyor Hazen Offers Plan to
Avoid Making Homeless
5000 by July !.
MINOR STREETS, HIS IDEA

Necessity of making homeless by
July 1 more than 5000 persons who
dwell in Washington's alleys will be
removed if the District Commissioners
and Congress approve recommends
ton just made by Melvin C. Hazen. Dis
trict surveyor, to abolish this provision of
the so-called alley law and convert
alleys into minor streets.
Facing one of the most serious prob
lens yet confronted in their admin
istration of District affairs-that or
turning out this number OF persons
from their abodes to look for homes
at a time when dwellings are SO
scarce-the Commissioners recently
as to the most practical solution of the
problem.
In his answer, which is one of many
plans that have been suggested to
the Commissioners, the surveyor urges:
First. repeal of that portion of the
law Of September 25. 1914. which pro-
hibits use of buildings in alleys as
dwellings after next July.
Second. enactment of law reducing
from forty to thirty feet the minimum
width required for an alley before it
can be converted into minor street.
Under this proposed arrangement but
few existing houses would be disturb
ed, as many of the original alleys of
cost of converting the alleys into minor
streets would be reduced to a mini
mum.
In connection with the plan. the sur
veyor makes the following supple
mentary recommendations:
Supplementary Recommendations.
That provision be made for the re-
moval of buildings back to the new
street line where practicable. In many
cases these dwellings could be moved
back to the new line without serious
damage to the houses, which would be
further reduction of the cost.
Excess condemnation where desirable
on account of uneconomical size or
shape of lots, and provisions for the
disposal of same.
In the opening and extension OF
these minor streets many parcels of
land would be left in a very irregular r
practically be total loss to the owner.
These various parcels of different own
ership should be acquired by the Com
missioners, and resubdivided advantag-
eously and sold.
That provision be made that the en-
| tire amount of damages awarded for
the land taken. exclusive of the awards
for improvements be assessed as the
jury may find as benefits.
The principal trouble with minor street
condernnations under the present law has
| been the failure of juries to assess bene-
| fits equal to damages. on account Of the
cost of improvements involved. 1t is moi
| thought possible to fix a percentage OF
| the total damages to be assessed that
would be Just in such cases. The plan
suggested provides for a sliding scale
depending on the value Of the improve
nents taken--the greater the proportion
| Of the awards for improvement the less
the proportion of assessment to the total
| award.
| An appropriation to meet the de-
hciency created by the above PLAN
| In cases where on account of the in
ltricate alley system it is impossible
ito convert alleys into minor streets
lprovision should be made for the con.
ldemnation of the interior portion OF
1.-THE square, with authority to destroy
alter. repair or remove buildings, an6
Ito subdivide the land with proper al.
ley facilities, and to sell the same. Ir
many squares this land could b.
utilized to great advantage in the con.
lstruction of warehouses. garages, etc
This would be the means Of relievinf
the situation growing out of the lack O.
lgarage accommodations.