Evening star., 1950-08-28
Street Extension
Would Run Into
School Stadium
Commissioners Hear
From Catholic Leaders
Over North CopitoI

A proposal to extend North
Capitol street would route the
thoroughfare through the stadium
being built for the new Carroll
High School in Northeast Wash
ington.
This was called to the attention
of the Commissioners today by
representatives of the Catholic
Archdiocese.
Plans call for North Capitol
street to be extended from Michi-
gan avenue across the Soldiers
Home property to Claremont drive
on the north. This stretch is ap-
proximately mile long.
School Being Built.
The northern portion of the pro-
posed roadway would cut through
the stadium site of the Catholic
school. The school is under con-
struction on property adjoining
the National Cemetery at Soldiers
Home, at Fort drive and Half
place NE.
w. B. Jones. attorney for the
Archdiocese, said the $1,750, 900
project is so per cent completed
and that the stadium site has
been leveled and graded at cost
of $4,000. The school is expected
to open September /. 1851, he
added.
Mr.. Jones said the Archdiocese
"was not protesting the putting
of the road in, if the District
thinks that is the proper location"
He said. however. the Archdio-
cese wants assurances that 1t
would have to suffer a f1nan-
cial loss through the necessity of
relocating the stadium. He told
the Commissioners enough land is
available there for the stadium to
be placed on another site, but
estimated that moving it would
cost possibly as much as 5000, 900
because a tremendous fill would
be necessary.
Irving Bryan, assistant Cor
poration Counsel. told the Com. |
misisoners the District has no way
to take land for highway purposes
except by condemnation. In other
words, he explained, no agree
ment could be given by the Dis
trict and the matter would have
to go through condemnation pro-
ceedings.
Time Element a Factor.
Mr.. Jones said the time element
is of concern to the Archdiocese
because it wants the stadium COM
pleted by the opening of Carroll
School. He pointed out that even
if condemnation proceedings are
undertaken, the District might
abandon the North Capitol street
project and leave the Archdiocese
stuck for the bill entailed in NOV
ing the stadium.
The proposed routing of North
Capitol street received the ap-
proval of Soldiers Home, the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the General
Services Administration, which
operates the home.
D. S Brinkley, District High.
way Department planning engi-
neer, testified the nav section of
the thoroughfare is needed to
clear up one of the worst traffic |
problems in the District. He
pointed out that five streets run
into-or stop at-the south boun-
dairy of Soldiers Home. Traffic |
must detour around the property
and congestion and confusion
prevails. he said.
House majority leader McCor-
mack appeared at the hearing on
behalf of the Archdiocese, asking
that the Commissioners consider
the plea that the Archdiocese not
be subjected to financial loss.
Also present were the Rt. Rev.
Msgr. James E. Cowhig, chancellor
of the Archdiocese, and the Very
Rev. Msgr. John S. Spence, direc-
tor of schools.
Recruiting of the proposed North
Capitol street extension at the
point it cuts through the stadium
site has been rejected by planning
officials because it would send the
roadway through the National
Cemetery at the Soldiers Home.
This would involve the disinter-
ment of bodies and other prob
lens.