Evening star., 1921-08-17
APPROVE OPENING
14TH ST. THROUGH.
HOSPITAL GROUNDS
Commissioners Report Fa-
vorabIy on Proposed Ex-
tension at Walter Reed.
MAIN TRAFFIC ARTERY
TO MARYLAND SUBURBS
War Department Concurs, Reserv.
ing Right to Specify
Grade,

The Commissioners today forward
ed to Congress a favorable report on
the House bill providing for the OPEN
ing Of 14th street through the Walter
Reed Hospital grounds.
The bill which the Commissioners
have approved is a new one, intro
duced on August 4. 1t contains the
wish of the War Department for the
closing. at the hospital grounds. Of
all streets except 14th street in the
area bounded by 18th street on the
west. Alaska avenue on the north
west, Fern street on the north, Geor-
gia avenue on the east and Aspen
street on the south.
This bill, II enacted, will be a VIC
tory for the citizens of the District.
who fought for the opening of 14th
street through the hospital reserva-
tion. The people of the District con-
tended that the city needed another
main artery to connect it with Mary
land between Wisconsin avenue and
Georgia avenue.
If 14th street should be closed as a
public highway at the south end of
the hospital. it was pointed out. the
highway between Georgia avenue and
Wisconsin avenue.
Highway Commissfon Approves.
The Commissioners state ia their re-
port that the new bill has the ap-
proval Of the highway commission and
the District Commissioners and lis
understood to be satisfactory to the
War Department. The report Of the
lows:
THE bill referred to is a combination
of H. r. 5579 and H. r. 5824. with an
amendment to the latter bill eliminat-
ing that part relative to the closing
of 14th street through the hospital
grounds.
Because Of the conflicting views ex-
pressed by the War Department and
by the Commissioners as to the ad-
visibility of closing 1+th street
through the Walter Reed Hospital
Erounds gro the mas,sf Was rsg9rtes to
mission held a public hearing on June
%. 1921. and recently. in q report,
recommended adversely an to stie
closing Of 14th street through t6S
hospital reservation: the Secretary OF
War. a member Of the commission,
concurring in this view"
War Department Favera..
H. r. 1884 embodies legislation
which is essential both to the devel-
opment Of the Walter Reed Hospital
and Of the Highway plan in that part
of the District of Columbia. This bill
meets the views Of the highway COM
mission and of the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia. and. it 10 un-
derstood. is favored by the War De-
partment.
Under the circumstances the Com
missioners hope that the bill submit
ted may be reported favorably by
your committee and early action
taken thereon by the House during
the present session of Congress.
"The chairman Of the Senate COM
mittee on the District of Columbia has
been requested to introduce in the
Senate bill similar to H. r. SO84. ~,
Section of the bill provides
that when 14th street shall have been
opened for traffic to the south boun-
street lying within the hospital reser-
vation shall Immediately pass to the
Jurisdiction of the Commissio oners,
the same as all other streets and ave-
nueS.
Will Specify Grade.
The only reservation provided for
ir the bill is that the War Department
shall have the right to specify the
grade at which 14th street shall pass
through the hospital grounds.
In addition to insuring the opening
of 14th street through the reservation
the bill empowers the Commi issioners
to institute condemnation proceedings
for the extension and widening of the
following streets: Fourteenth street
hospital grounds: Nicholson street
from 18th to 18th street: Colorado
avenue from Montague to 18th street;
Concord avenue from 10th street to
it's terminus west Of Sth street: 18th
street from Nicholson street to Piney
Branch road. and Piney Branch road
from 18th street to Blair road.