Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-23
STREET WIDENING
| PROJECTS BALKED
BY MAP OMISSION
D. C. Supreme Court Decision
May Delay Work for Year,
Hazen Says.
LACK OF DIMENSIONS
IN PLANS TO BLAME
Sewer and Water Main Laying in
New Sections Also May
Be Tied Up.

The recent decision Of the District
Supreme Court holding that the hign-
way plan OF the District is defective.
due to its failure to show the boun-
daries and dimensions Of each new
projected street, probably will delay
for year at least the proposed widen
ing and extension of a number Of
streets and roads, involving an ex-
penditure Of more than $1,000, 900, It
was revealed today by Melvin C.
Hazen, District surveyor.
The serious ard far-reaching effect
Of the decision already has been con-
sidered by the Commissioners, and
they have instructed Corporation
Counsel w. w. Bride To note an ap-
peal despite his personal concurrence
in the opinion of the court. Mr.. Bride
said he did not see how an appeal
could result in any other ruling, but
the Commissioners feel that the gen.
eral implications involved might lay
the foundation for successful resist
ance to all future condemnations for
street openings.
Taylor Street Involved.
LIS COLuSIIlHdllOIl case Oh WHICH
the court based it's opinion involved
property needed for the extension Of
Taylor street between Georgia avenue
and Thirteenth street. The District
carried the case to the District Su-
preme Court, but 1t was dismissed on
the ground that the law creating the
highway plan requires the boundaries
and dimensions to be recorded on
maps and that it had not been done
with reference to Taylor street or any
other street in that section Of the
District.
Mr.. Bride in his formal opinion on
the case said 1t was impossible for
the District to justify its disregard OF
the provisions of the statute. "It
would be feasible as matter Of law"
he declared, ito have the surveyor
complete the plan by supplying the
omissions in all sections of the high
way plan and to submit the same to
the National Capital Park and Plan.
ming Commission for approval. eBut
we are informed by him that such
action is next to impossible with the
present personnel of his office. In
his opinion the work of rs men over q
period Of a year would be needed to
supply thu omissions and missing com.
putations to any one Of the four Sec
tions Of the PLAN"
Would Amend Act.
Mr.. Hazen thinks that instead Of
delaying the condemnation cases by
further litigation the Commissi Jners
should remedy the situation by ap-
pealing to Congress to amend the act
authorizing the creation Of a highway
plan passed in 1893 in such way as
to make the boundaries and di,uen-
Sions unnecessary.
Aside from the potential delay in
extending and widening highways, Mr..
Hazen pointed out that he decision
Of the court in the Taylor street case
also is likely to cause postponement
in the laying of sewer and water
mains into newly developed sections
as 1t Is necessary sometimes to con.
denim land for this purpose.
The land involved in the condem.
nation cases now pending in court for
the widening and extension of streets
and roads, Mr.. Hazen estimates, Is
valued at more than $1.O0O,OO0.
Conduit Road Included.
The most important of these pro-
jects provided for converting Conduit
road into a monumental boulevard be.
tween Fcxhall road and the District
line and the opening of the territory
in the vicinity of Walter Reed Hospi.
tai between Georgia avenue and Four.
teenth street.
The other projects which Mr.. Hazej
fears will be delayed follow: The
widening of Reservoir road from Con-
duit road to Thirty-fifth street; the ex-
tension of Albermarle street west Of
Wisconsin avenue; the extension Of
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
from Montague street to the Walter
Reed Hospital reservation; the exten.
sion Of Concord avenue from Georgia
avenue to Rock Creek Park; the ex.
tension of Piney Branch road from
Thirteenth street to Georgia avenue;
the extension and widening OF Idaho
avenue and Thirty-ninth street north
Of Massachusetts avenue; the exten.
sion Of Thirty-eighth street southeast
from Pennsylvania avenue to Alabama
avenue; the widening Of Suitland road
from Bowen road to the District line;
the extension of Franklin street SOUTH
east and the widening of Madison
street northeast from Concord avenue
Ha toy