Evening star., 1926-02-26
ACTION DEFERRED
ON CROSSING BILL
Opposition of Property Own
ers on Michigan Avenue
to Be Heard.

Action on the Michigan avenue
grade-crossing bill was deferred by
the Stalker subcommittee on streets.
highways and traffic Of the Hous.
District committee today in order tha.
opportunity may be given a large
number of protesting residents to b.
heard.
Chairman Zihlman of the House Dis
trict committee emphasized that this
is one Of the most expensive and con
tentious Of the Embarrassing meas
ures. Engineer Commissioner Bel
said that the opposition comes from
the property owners along Michigan
avenue whose property Will be greatly
damaged and who feel that they are
without hope Of adenratn cnmponSa
ticn from condemnation jury.
The subcommittee ordered a favor
able report TO the full District com
mittee on the bill for widening First
street northeast between G and
Myrtle streets.
Reasons Explained.
Surveyor Hazen explained TO the
committee the reasons for the pro-
posed legislation and the efforts that
have been made in the past which
have been prevented by the fact thai
there Is not sufficient private property
abutting against which even half o.
the costs can be assessed. This street
| Is now 40 feet wide, and the bill pro
vides for widening II TO 60 feet. AZ
HaZen said that no opposition has
been heard and that only q few cheap
buildings are affected, but that more
permanent structures are soon 10 he
erected.
Representative Gasque, Democrat
of South Carolina, said, IF we are
ever going to widen streets, we
should do It now" The subconmit
tee deferred action on the bill Ia
open up a small street betweeE
Georgia avenue and Ninth street
| until a hearing could be held. A pro
test has been received from the
Washington Railway and Electric
Co. asking to be heard.
The Rittenhouse and Quackenbos
| street bills were also discussed and
action deferred. Engineer Commits
sioner Bell explained that Congress
has provided for an under grade
| crossing of the B. & o. tracks al
! Van Buren street and that eventual
| ly there is to be a similar under
grade crossing at Quackenbos stree
according to highway plans.
No Immediate Need.
There is no immediate or pressing
! need for a third crossing between
these two at Rittenhouse street,
which he considers would be super
! flous. He also pointed out that the
| grade is not right for sewerage at
Rittenhouse street.
| Col. Bell contended, and the sub
committee agreed with him, that the
elimination of existing grade cross
| ings Is much more urgent than 70
put crossings where they are not
now needed. The Citizens Advisory
Council has notified the District com
mittee that ii favors the proposed
crossing at Quackenbos street.
Commissioner Bell said that, while
he probably has authority to make
these undergrade crossings when ne
thinks they should be done, yet he
prefers to get specific authority from
! Congress for any grade crossing. so
as to give undisputabIe position in
assessment Of damages ;gaint rail
| roads.
Chairman Zihlnan questioned Col
/ Bell regarding the rracticahility of
| supplying a sewerage system 10 tn.
I Eastern Star Home, and was told
| that at present he development Of
that section of the District did TO.
make sewerage service to the Eastern
Star Home practicable.