The Washington times., 1924-03-11
The Extension OF Fourteenth
Street Is Important to D. G.
BY BILL PRICE.

<.
The District committees Of both bodies Of Congress have
favoraby reported bills for the extension and widening Of
Fourteenth street through the western grounds Of Walter
Reed Hospital with the closing Of certain streets and alleys
within the hospital grounds
The plans for this in accordance with plans pre-
pared by the Chief of Engineers the War Department They
likewise in accordance with the Permanent Highway Plan
for the District passed by Congress in 1885, This highway
and Sixteenth streets to the District line.
The extension Of this important District orcugfare has
War Department and army and Of all citizens associations in
that section of the District In letter to Congressman
Commissioner RUDOLPH chairman Of the Board Of District
Commissioners that There is District Legislation
pending that of vital Importance to the develop
ent Of the northern part Of the District than this BILL and
also to the adjacent communities in the State OF Maryland
which being developed so rapidly
The House committee in its favorable report the BILL
points that Georgia and Fourteenth street are
the only two direct lines of rapid transit provided for north
Wangton and that Georgia is the only street that
has been extended to the Maryland line This u.s. the
report states cvercrowded with trolley and automobile
traffic. and the extension Of Fourteenth street as second
line Of rapid transit is public necessity.
Sixteenth and Fourteenth streets and Georgia avenue
the only north and south possible between the
side Of Rock Greek Park and the west side Of Soldiers Home
reservation which, matter of fact that they
the only north and south streets between Connecticut
leading Chevy Chase and Rhode Island avenue leading to
Hyattsvile
The Highway Plan recognized Fourteenth street
the rapid transit street line adjacent to Sixteenth
street and diverted Fourteenth street west to the
line Of Fifteenth street at point north OF the
present Fourteenth street barn. that the car line
Fourteenth street would furnish the general public of Wash
ington with street transportation to the upper half Of
Rock Creek Park.
For about twenty years Fourteenth street and Thirteenth
street remained closed immediately north of Park road after
both Of these streets fully improved to their northern
ends About 1910 the board Of trustees of the Washington
City Orphan Asylum. which institution owned property
Fourteenth street north Of Pny Branch organized effort
to extend the street that the Orphan Asylum could sell its
property This effort successful through the assistance
Of Senator Allison who wrote the extension Of Fourteenth
street into general appropriation bill This extension was
for mile and sevenghhs to the present end Of that street
During the ensuing ten years, the and seveneghths
miles has been completely built up with moderate priced brick
houses Of good type and small apartments This develop
has extended to Fifteenth street the west and
east as Georgia The Improvement Of this section
has furnished homes to families during twelveyear
building period than has the development Of any other
ton Of the city during equal period
The Districts undesirable and deporabe position Of being
without representation in Congress accounts for the failure Of
Congress to put through many local bills that would be Of
value to the entire community.
There nobody in Congress sufficiently interested In the
District to press these matters The District committees Of
Congress perform their duties reporting bills there the
activity usually The members Of these committees have
much other work to do and their constituents to look
after It is merely human nature that their constituents
should first and the people Of the District last