60TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2d Session. EXTENSION OF STREET FROM NINETEENTH STREET NW., NEAR U STREET, TO COLUMBIA ROAD. FEBRUARY 15, 1909.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. SMITH, of Michigan, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 26825.] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 26825) to extend a street from Nineteenth street NW., near U street, westward to Columbia road, report the same back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass, when amended as follows: Strike out of page 1, lines 3, 4, and 5, the words "of sections four hundred and ninety-one a to four hundred and ninety-one n, both inclusive." Strike out of page 1, line 6, the word "sixty," and insert in lieu thereof the word "ninety." Strike out of page 1, line 7, the words "passage of this act," and insert in lieu thereof the words "dedication to the District of Columbia of not less than fifty per centum of the land necessary to open a street through lots eight hundred and eleven, eight hundred and twelve, eight hundred and thirteen, eight hundred and fifteen, and twenty-six, square twenty-five hundred and thirty-five." Strike out of page 1, line 11, the word "for" and insert in lieu thereof the words "to complete.' Strike out of page 1, line 11, the word "a" and insert in lieu thereof the word "said." Strike out of page 1, line 12, the words "near U street northwest." Insert in page 1, line 13, after the word "twenty-six" the words "eight hundred and eleven, eight hundred and twelve, eight hundred and thirteen." Strike out of page 2, line 1, the words "to be not less than fifty" and insert in lieu thereof the word "sixty." Strike out of page 2 all of lines 4, 5, and 6, and add the proviso in lines 7, 8, and 9 to the end of line 3, to stand as a proviso to section 1. Strike out of page 2 all of lines 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, being section 3 of the bill, and insert the following to stand as sections 2 and 3: SEC. 2. That there is hereby appropriated from the revenues of the District of Columbia an amount sufficient to pay the necessary costs and expenses of the condemnation proceedings taken pursuant hereto and for the payment of amounts awarded as damages; to be repaid to the District of Columbia from the assessments for benefits and covered into the Treasury to the credit of the revenues of the District of Columbia. SEC. 3. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to amend the first section of the permanent system of highways plan by eliminating from said plan the proposed extension of U street from Nineteenth street to Columbia road. The above amendments are intended only to make the bill conform to the usual form of street-opening bills and to correct errors in description. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia approved the bill in its amended form, as will appear from the following letter: OFFICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to submit the following report on House bill 26825, Sixtieth Congress, second session, "To extend a street from Nineteenth street northwest, near U street, westward to Columbia road," which you referred to them for examination and report. A plat is inclosed on which the proposed extension is shown in red. The area of land proposed to be condemned is about 27,100 square feet, and the cost of condemnation is estimated at about $40,000. The commissioners believe, however, that in order to reduce the cost of proceedings at least 50 per cent of the land necessary for the street should be dedicated before condemnation proceedings are instituted, and are informed that the owners of a portion of the land are willing so to dedicate. The commissioners recommend that the bill be amended so as to make this dedication a condition precedent to opening of this street. If this percentage is dedicated, it would reduce the estimated cost of the ground to be condemned to about $25,000. The opening of the street will afford the residents on the east side of Nineteenth street from Florida avenue to Columbia road a shorter route to the cars on Columbia road, and divides the west front of Nineteenth street about evenly. This frontage is about 1,000 feet, and the Columbia road frontage of the same block is about 1,450 feet and there is no cross street within this length. The opening of the street will also be of advantage to the private property in the square in that it will permit it to be utilized for building purposes. The bill provides that the total cost of the opening shall be assessed against property benefited. The grading of the street when opened is estimated to cost about $5,000, but this grading is not provided for in this measure. The bill as drawn is not in the approved form of street-extension measures, and there are also errors in description. The commissioners have therefore prepared, and inclose, an amended bill which they recommend be substituted for the bill under consideration. The highway plan provides for the extension of U street through this block, as shown by dotted black lines on the plat. If the street proposed by this bill is opened this extension of U street should be abandoned, and the commissioners have included in the amended bill a provision authorizing them to abandon this street. It is highly desirable that the street as shown on the present plan should be abandoned, as there is an apartment house now located in the direct line of the extension, and the grades of the street under the highway plan would be very steep. The street proposed by this bill will serve all the purposes proposed by the extension of U street. The commissioners believe that the measure is a worthy one and recommend favorable action on the amended bill, which they inclose. Respectfully, Hon. S. W. SMITH, HENRY B. F. MACFARLAND, President Board of Commissioners District of Columbiɑ. Chairman of Committee on District of Columbia, House of Representatives. PROTECTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS SOJOURNING IN RUSSIA. FEBRUARY 15, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. CAPRON, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. J. Res. 235.] The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to which was referred House joint resolution 235, concerning and relating to the treaty between the United States and Russia, which requests the President to renew negotiations with the Government, of Russia to secure uniformity of treatment and protection to American citizens sojourning in Russia, having carefully considered the same, respectfully reports it back to the House with amendments, and recommends that as amended the joint resolution be passed. The amendments recommended by the committee are as follows: Strike out all of the preamble down to the last "Whereas," which is amended by inserting after the word "Whereas" the words "it is alleged that" and by striking out the word "persistently." On page 3, line 1, strike out the word "directed" and insert the word "requested," and in line 7 strike out the words "and to demand and insist" and insert the words "including a provision," and, beginning with line 12, strike out all of section 2. Strike out of page 2 all of lines 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, being section 3 of the bill, and insert the following to stand as sections 2 and 3: SEC. 2. That there is hereby appropriated from the revenues of the District of Columbia an amount sufficient to pay the necessary costs and expenses of the condemnation proceedings taken pursuant hereto and for the payment of amounts awarded as damages; to be repaid to the District of Columbia from the assessments for benefits and covered into the Treasury to the credit of the revenues of the District of Columbia. SEC. 3. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to amend the first section of the permanent system of highways plan by eliminating from said plan the proposed extension of U street from Nineteenth street to Columbia road. The above amendments are intended only to make the bill conform to the usual form of street-opening bills and to correct errors in description. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia approved the bill in its amended form, as will appear from the following letter: OFFICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to submit the following report on House bill 26825, Sixtieth Congress, second session, "To extend a street from Nineteenth street northwest, near U street, westward to Columbia road,” which you referred to them for examination and report. A plat is inclosed on which the proposed extension is shown in red. The area of land proposed to be condemned is about 27,100 square feet, and the cost of condemnation is estimated at about $40,000. The commissioners believe, however, that in order to reduce the cost of proceedings at least 50 per cent of the land necessary for the street should be dedicated before condemnation proceedings are instituted, and are informed that the owners of a portion of the land are willing so to dedicate. The commissioners recommend that the bill be amended so as to make this dedication a condition precedent to opening of this street. If this percentage is dedicated, it would reduce the estimated cost of the ground to be condemned to about $25,000. The opening of the street will afford the residents on the east side of Nineteenth street from Florida avenue to Columbia road a shorter route to the cars on Columbia road, and divides the west front of Nineteenth street about evenly. This frontage is about 1,000 feet, and the Columbia road frontage of the same block is about 1,450 feet and there is no cross street within this length. The opening of the street will also be of advantage to the private property in the square in that it will permit it to be utilized for building purposes. The bill provides that the total cost of the opening shall be assessed against property benefited. The grading of the street when opened is estimated to cost about $5,000, but this grading is not provided for in this measure. The bill as drawn is not in the approved form of street-extension measures, and there are also errors in description. The commissioners have therefore prepared, and inclose, an amended bill which they recommend be substituted for the bill under consideration. The highway plan provides for the extension of U street through this block, as shown by dotted black lines on the plat. If the street proposed by this bill is opened this extension of U street should be abandoned, and the commissioners have included in the amended bill a provision authorizing them to abandon this street. It is highly desirable that the street as shown on the present plan should be abandoned, as there is an apartment house now located in the direct line of the extension, and the grades of the street under the highway plan would be very steep. The street proposed by this bill will serve all the purposes proposed by the extension of U street. The commissioners believe that the measure is a worthy one and recommend favorable action on the amended bill, which they inclose. Respectfully, Hon. S. W. SMITH, HENRY B. F. MACFARLAND, President Board of Commissioners District of Columbia. Chairman of Committee on District of Columbia, House of Representatives. |