Evening star., 1927-05-16
STREET WIDENING
HALTED BY FIGHT
ON TREE TELLING
Citizens Launch Firm Pro-.
tests Against Destruction
of Beautiful Naples.
PROJECT IS HELD UP
PENDING DECISION
Commission Bell, However, Feels
That Wishes of Congress
Should Be Respected.

The major portion of the Districts
1927 street widening program was
halted temporarily today by order of
the Commissioners as result of the
continued and vehement protests
against the destruction of the beauti-
full shade trees about 140 of which al
ready have been felled on Fifteenth
street and Connecticut avenue.
Whether the Commissioners plan to
abandon the street widening projects
in order to save the remainder OF the
273 trees which were condemned TO
the ak to make way for wider streets
was not made known.
Engineer Commissioner j. Franklin
Rell said that further activities on the
street widening work would be held in
allowance until it can be definitely de-
termined what should be DONE" ex-
cept for Fifteenth street on the west
side of Mcpherson Square, between l
street and Massachusetts avenue
where the trees already have been cut
down.
Hopes for Solution.
'I have nothing definite in mind at
present." said Commissioner Bell.
Congress directed the widening OF
certain streets this year and it seems
to me that it's wishes should be re-
spected. However, it may be possible
to reach another solution.
"Street widening is one of the most
trying things with which the Commits
soners have to deal. 1t means the
destruction of trees, and /. like many
others in Washington. most certainly
do not like to see the trees go"
There were indications at the Dis
trict Building that q public hearing
might be held at which the opponents
and proponents of street widening
would be given another opportunity
to express their views.
In fact. Commissioner Bell said.
public opinion was not ascertained on
the proposal to widen Connecticut
avenue between Dupont Circle and
Florida avenue, as this project was
inserted I'M the District appropriation
act by the House District committee
in lieu of a recommendation for the
widening of lower section of Con-
necticut avenue between " street and
Dupont Circle.
Norway Naples FelIed.
When the order for the suspension
Of the street widening work was is
sued the tree choppers were at work
on Connecticut avenue between Du-
pont Circle and Florida avenue, which
Is lined by 95 Norway silver and
sugar naples. Clifford Lanham. su-
perintendent of trees and parkings,
estimated that about one-half of these
trees have already been cut down or
damaged to such extent that they will
have tn be removed completely.
The 81 Norway, naples which stood
on Fifteenth street between l street
and Massachusetts, avenue, cut down
last week so the work of widening
this thoroughfare will proceed as
planned.
The other streets slated for widen
ing on which the trees will be saved.
temporarily at least. are Thirteenth
street between / street and Massa-
chusetts avenue. and Twelfth street
between Pennsylvania avenue and L
street, as we'll as the trees remaining
on Connecticut avenue between Du-
pont circle and Florida avenue.
There are 72 Norway naples on
Thirteenth street in the section desig-
mated for widening and nine en-
Twelfth street.