Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-03

I'll L AMI DlSIRICI.
SOUTH WASHHNGTON.SG GRIEVANCES
Bill OF Complaint Drawn Up by the
Taxpayers' Committee.
PROPOSITION TO OBLITERATE THE "DIvISIoN' By
OPENING AN AVENUE THROUGH AND ERECTING
PUBLIC BUILDINGS THERE-REMEDIES PROPOSED FOR
VARIOUS EVILS COMPLAINED OLA PROPOSITION TO
SETTLE THE RAILROAD QUESTIONABLE SEWERS AND
THE WATER SUPPLY.
There was good attendance at meeting of the
South Washington committee OF one hundred, held
last night at the Jefferson School building. Mr.
c. b. Church presided and Mr.. o. T. Thompson
acted as secretary. Mr.. Church announced that
the various committees had made reports to the
executive committee, which had approved them
and they would now be laid before the general
committee for its action. The reports were then
read and adopted. The first report read was that
OF the committee on printing, which proposed a
constitution and bylaws providing for the details
of an organization to be known as .'The Committee
OF one Hundred Tax Payers of South Washing
ton, the object stated being to secure Just and
necessary legislation for that section of the city,
the organization to continue in force until the OBJ
Jects for which it is organized shall have been ac
compliShed.
WATER SUPPLY AND LIGHTS
The report OF the committee On water supply
and lights, after describing the nSuficiency OF the
water supply, recommended that the attention Of
the Engineer Commissioner be at once called to the
letter OF recommendation OF the superintendent OF
the water department to Capt. T. w. SymOnS OF
November 30, 1885, 'that ten-inCh main be laid
from PennSy lvania avenue and 10Th street north
west to connect with the fOur-nch and SiX-inch
mains in the southwestern sections The commit
tee expressed the opinion that ii this was done it
would afford the necessary relief. The committee
also urged that action be taken to secure proper
lights for the section south OF street and east OF
Az street, which is now almost in total darkness.
SEWERS.
The report Of the committee on sewerS-MesSrS.
James II. Grant, VIM. II. Baum, A. Archer, j. w.
Barker, Fl. T. Bridwell and F. G. Wheeer-after
reciting evils arising from faulty construction Of
sewerage or insufficient drainage, recommended
that the Commissioners be requested to put into
Their estimates for work to be done an amount
sufficient to remedy these evils, substituting large
pipes for small ones repairing work badly done,
ana putting new sewers on streets where neceS-
slty now demands them.
THE STREETS OF SOUTH WASHINGTON.
The committee on streets and highways, Messrs.
Ros. A. Fish, w. F. Walker II. X. Gray, John MIL
Ter and j. B. Hall, presented report of consider
able length which was listened to with much in
terest. After referring to streets either not paved
at all or On which the pavementS are in very bad
street to 18th street is demanded The street
| is now occupied by the grounds OF the bureau OF
and of P 4he Is yne on
street from their legitimate ingress and egress to
their homes. Fifteenth street to Water street and
Water street to 10Th street should be opened,
| thus giving access to the Washington monument
| grounds to those coming from the country by
| way of the Long bridge.
Virginia avenue from 10th street to the Washing
| ton monument should be opened without delay,
as it is the only direct approach to that beautiful
| beautiful drives and greatly enhance values in
oar section OF the city. The water front, border
| ing especially on the Eastern branch near the
arsenal. demands attention. II this section was
improved by the opening OF streets leading TO the
| river, as population is tending rapidly in that
| direction, the enhanced value of property would
soon pay back the expenditure in the increase of
taxes. This portion OF our city Qn the neighbor-
hood OF the arsenaD is filling up with industrious
themselves homes. and 1t behOOveS our authorities
to see that the streets are well paved, clean and
amply severed for the preservation OF health and
morals OF the people, especially OF class who are
| compelled by their circumstances to be so much
| Out OF doors after the work OF the day is done.
| THE wHARvEs
| The great need OF wharf privileges forces itself
upon the consideration OF every one in all parts
OF the city, as the supply for our markets is
hampered by lack OF wharveS, and the expense OF
living increased. Good wharves and landings are
quite as necessary good country roads. Every
section of the city has been adorned by erection
In the public squares, intersections, OF statues
to the iilustriouS, great and good men OF pa
ton, while our spaces and public squares are
used as storage Or dumping grounds noticeably
the beautiful space between Maryland avenue,
street, 7th ana 9th streets. This, which should
be beautiful park, is now filled up with paving
stones and railroad tracks. Our beautiful parks
| are cut to pieces by the encroachments OF
the railroads, or built upon by the general gov
eminent.
THE SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS.
| We cannot be too emphatic in our protest
| against any more buildings being put upon the
| Smithsonian and Agricultural grounds. These
| grounds are almost ruined on the south by, these
unSightiy encrOachmentS, and your committee is
| advised that further acts of vandalism are con-
templated by the Smithsonian institution, by ask
ing Congress at this session TO erect another huge
pile at the corner OF Virginia and 18th (B)
street. There have been few Improvements OF
note In our section since those made by the board
OF public WORKS. and for these we were outrage
OuSy taxed that in some cases it amounted to con-
fiscation: nor Is this all We We're called upon not
only To pay these special assessments our own
property, but to pay our proportion to build up
highways leading to other parts of the city.
Strange as this appears, neither the Commission
ers nor Congress have attempted to regulate it,
either by improving streets on the same terms
and conditions as those in other sections OF the
city, or by reundng the heavy assessments levied
on rs for improvements which have never been
| made.
TO DELIBERATE THE DIVISION
Your committee, feeling the Importance of the
| work assigned to them, feel that they should al
| lude to that delectable portion OF Washington
| city known as, THE Division which bounds our
section on the north, and which, in our Judgment,
| is serious drawback our growth and pros
perity. We trust that what law does exist may be
used to suppress and eradicate the vice and filth
| OF ncighb0rhOOd lying between us anti Penn
| Sylvania avenue. The improvement OF this sec
| zion Oh our city lying between 10th and 18th
streets, Pennsylvania avenue and b street, is SO
eXigent and Oh such proportions, that your COM
| mttee recommend the appointment OF a special
committee to make an extensive report on this
subject. The general government has need at the
present time OF hail OF records for the preserva-
lion of It's valuable papers and building suitable
| for the use OF the supreme Court OF the United
| States. The Smithsonian wants a large museum.
| The Agricultural wants a large and secure eX-
position building, and the citizens Of Washington
and the government need Il City Post Office build
| ing and building for its local government.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF BAD NEIGHBORHOOD.
The ground On the south side OF Pennsylvania
avenue to street. between 10th and 18th streets,
should be purchased by the United States, and
would be ample to provide suitable locations for
| these buildings, thereby saving encrOachmentS on
beautilying this section, now disgrace 10 the
tire city.
The Improvement OF the grounds about the mag
nitlcent washington monument cannot be made
without providing suitable approach from the
center of the city by means OF magnificent ave
| nue.. This would be accomplished by opening an
| avenue from the monument In a straight line to
the intersection OF Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street, running directly through the obnoxious
division and Obliterating IL forever. This ave-
| nue. would thus give a beautiful drive to all the
grounds south OF the Avenue, and would be used
| by the government 1Or its public edificeS.
These improvements we think, Will commend
themselves ii properly brought to the attention OF
every one who desires to see our city the pride OF
the nation"
| THE RAILROAD.
/