Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-19
SOUTH wAsHINGTON'S COMPLAINTs
a Committee of One Hundred Citizens
to Urge improvements.

L
MEETING LAST NIGHT AT THE JEFFERSON
| BUILDING-MR. CHURCH MAKES A STATEMENT
| OF GRIEVANCES, TO WHICH SOME MEMBERS
| oBiECT-THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMIT
| TEE.
| One OF the rooms of the jefferson school build
| Ing was well filled last night with property
owners OF South Washington. It was not q
| night school, but School Trustee Ros A. Fish
said that ii was a gathering for educational
| purposes. as 1t was proposed to teach Congress
ana the District Commissioners what the needs
| of South Washington are. This meeting grew
| out of IA movement which began In August
looking to the formation of "a COMMITTEES OF
| one hundred taxpayers of South Washington
| TO take action TO obtain improvements for
| south Washington commensurate with the
share of taxes paid by that section of the city.
| AT the preliminary meetings held privately at
the houses OF citizens general program has
Teen mapped out, and the following officers
/ chosen: Z. b. Church, president; A. +. Barker,
| n. Gray, financial secretary, and A. Archer,
| treasurer. An executive committee was ap-
pointed, composed OF these officers and the fol-
lowing members of the general committee: J.
i. Petty. >. II. Wimsatt, j. Il. Morgan. W. T..
Walker, Z. Cauldweil, e. NJ. Faris, j. K. F. Car
| lin. j. Whit. Heron, j. w. Birckhead, X. A.
| Walker, DR.. ID. Ill Hazen, L. Gardner. j. O. Yer
| million, VIM. H. Baum. w. A. III. Church, ThOs.
| IL. Walker, ROs A. Fish, Judge Gray, Dr. r. b.
A.
night the first meeting OF the general commit
Tee of one hundred was held, and nearly every
member attended.
SOUTH wAsdINGToNs GRIEVANCES.
Mr.. Church, in calling the meeting to order,
made an address, in which he said The condi-
ton OF affairs in this section of our city, affect.
ing most iuiuriously our welfare and comfort,
and depriving of rights guaranteed to every
citizen OF this District, cali Tor more united and
determined action towards securing SUCH
remedial and beneficial legislation as may be
just aud equitable. You, gentlemen, have been
convened association OF taX-pay ers
selected from every precinct embraced within
the limits of tie section known as South Wash
ington To consider and decide upon such q
and proper.
Four Things demand immediate and prompt
atteDtion: First The streets, some of which
were SO badly constructed. III the first place,
that they are now become dangerous, not only
tor horses and vehicles, but to pedestrians as
well. The sidewalks, too, in many places are
sadly i'll need of repair, and we'll merit some
consideration at the hands of District
authorities. Several of the highways also.
leading into this section should he looked AFTER
Noticeable among these is the Long bridge.
That viaduct, by AN act of Congress, passed in
1871, was turned over to the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad company, on coud ton tn 1t
Is should AT all times remain a Tree bridge tor
pubic use, ana DE maintained i'll good repair
ior ordinary travel. 1t is now greatly out OF
repair.
Second. The sewers. The manner in which
very large part OF the sewerage Was constructed
by the contractors under the late board OF pub
lie WORKS was sucn AS 10 endanser The health OF
many oI U.S. In some cases tue roots vi trees
have grown into and chOked up The entire
sewer, thus throwing all the sewage, with its
IouI odOrS, back into the houses. In several in
stances tue very IoundatiOnsU f the houses nave
been thu Undermined. TINS subject calls tor
immediate attention.
Tnird. Tue water supply. For some I'M
Known Cause the water supply has by degrees
been iii a great measure cut off from this Sec
ton, until vi late IL Is almost IMPOSSIBLE TO get
water even ON the ground floors, between s
% nj Cow in,
ming. How this happens Is mystery, Tor ii
would seeln that there should be scarcity OF
water i'll this portion of the city. But this no
doubt can he renedied soon as the cause is
discovered by little care and attention on
y our part.
Fourtn: The railroad. But by far the most
potent factor affecting the growth and prosper
Ivy oi TINS section OF Inc city Is the continued
blockade OF several oil our streets and avenues
oy the Baltimore and Potomac railroad COM
ptny. Maryland and Virginia avenues have
become The principal freiy at yards and depots
vi THIS company. Most "a its bulk freight is I'M
loaded on me streets, and its ears are shifted
ana trains lltUe uD almost every nOur day and
night. Mary Land and Virginia avenues are so
INSTRUCTED all the time that IL frequently i'm
possible To cross them at all, even at the trans
verse streets. The accidenL TO Messrs Hayener
ana GoulIck yesterday evening in attempting
10 cross Mary land avenue was owing in Il great
measure 40 tne large number OF box cars parked
on tine avenue. These cars MD from view the
approaching engine aud train. The accident
Could readily nave been avoided If our gov
ernorS would only execute the laws as laid
uo"h py our courts, bearing upon the use OF
Maryland avenue for freIgnt yard pur-
poses. Inc company does not need the judg-
nents and warnings of the courts, but the Com
miSsloncrs should, SO soon their attention is
called 10 them ny a ns-suffering community.
Street distractions should be removed In
south Washington as ELSEWHERE, and equal pro-
tectlon ny the Jaw guaranteed ~ all sections OF
the city alike. Sucn Indi SnILIes are neaped
upon us would not be tolerated in any other part
oI the city. Let US see ii by some united ac ion
We may not be aoie 10 accomplish something of
real benefit III this matter. These, gentlemen.
constitute the principal grievances you are
Called upon To set right, and 1 have every
reason ~ believe that marked Improvements
viii follow Intelligent and united action On
our part
Mr.. hall objected to the statement regarding
the Long briuge, say ing that il was IL grievance
whlcn was no" oel.lg reinedied, AS tine railroad
company Was making repairs and macadamlz-
Ing The roadway.
THINGS MIR. CHURCH SUGGESTED
MI. Barker objected TO the statement in the
address In reference to sewers and sewer gas.
He said that wniie South Washington needed
improvements, il was hardly the right thing to
picture IL as an undesirable locality. South
stsnInStO was no worse THIS respect tn;,n
other SECTIONS oil tile city. Tie tnougL Tue stale
nient about sewers eNt.Scr lied, and That it was
uiiWiot 10 MAKE puDiic sucn Il description Oh
South " ashInston. Il am telling people every
day, SAID Mr.. Barker, "wi.,t IL beautiful spot
South W ;tsnluyton Is.
Mr.. George nIIe said he did not like to see
that statement spread before the public. Suci,
matters might ne submitted 10 the Commits
ton, Claims ior inIprov emenLs.
Nr. Cnurcn urged that these matters were
We'll known 10 ali citizens.
II ncNe suffered from roots in the sewers
remarhed Mr. W mite.
Mr. Hal. >..id lie did not think they should
fear any publicity oi the matter at all. A pub
lie discussion would result in good
Another member oil the committee thought
they should not give prominence TO grievances
which they suffered In common with the ciIi-
Zens of Otuer sections.
After further discussion it Was decided, upon
motion oil DE-. Donaldson, TO refer the tour sub
Jects brought out In the presidents address 10
coin mlttees, which the president was author
lied to appoint at his convenience.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
The committee was formed into permanent
organization and steps taken to raise funds to
deiray expenses. During the discussion OF the
question OF funds Rev. Mr.. Meador remarked
mat they may need funds, after dispo,iny OF
The nrst three subjects alluded To by air
Church. there was something still ahead that
required tugsIng. "InaL Is the Railroad" said
Mr. Meador. - he railroad has come To stay
The committee adjourned to assemble at the
call oi the president.
MI Barker and Otuer gentlemen speakinp tn
SiAR reporter after the meeting, protested
against the sewer clause IN Mr.. Cnurch's ad-
uress as giving an erroneous impression. They
halu been put To great Inconvenience and eX-
pense on account OF the faulty construction of
sewers, but this grievance was not d common
grievance.
sUB-CoMMIrTEES APPOINTED.
Mr.. Church, the president, alter the meeting
adjourned, made up the following as the list OF
committees he Was authorized 10 appoint:
Streets and nighways-Ros. A. Fish J.
| Han, IL. h. Gray, jonn Miller, w. +. Walker