Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-04

1t Celebrates Its Sixth Birthday With
Much Enthusiasm.

-
AN OK ROAST AND wHIRLIeIss BIZ DAY AND An
ILLUMINATION AND SPEECHES BIZ SIGHT-A
NEW POST OFFICE BUILDING w~ASTED-soME
OF THE ADDRESSES.
Takoma Park is generally considered to be q
suburb of Washington. but yesterday Washing
ton was a suburb Of Takoma. Takoma was six
years old yesterday. and if the neighbors didn't
know it it was the neighbors fault. Takoma was
at home to everybody; the farmers came from
miles around, while carriages and trains
brought constant stream of humanity from
| the city. They brought their wives, they
! brought their sweethearts and they brought
| their children. If they did not have any chill
| dren of their own they borrowed them and
came anyway.
| THE DAYLIGHT FESTIVITIES.
The festivities lasted from early morning
until late in the night. The late addition to
Takoma on the north was the center of interest
during the day. A platform had been erected
in a convenient place for the stoppage OF
trains. Above a large pavilion had been con-
structed. while over a large fire just below a
full-grown OK was slowly roasted to a turn.
Then there was coffee and lemonade and
whirli-gigs and other amusements dear to the
heart of the picnicker. There was no danger
of going hungry at TakOma yesterday, not
while that reception was on duty
and that OK was slowly turned to meet the
roasting flame. In the evening everybody was
there, the picnickers had all remained and
many additions we're made to their numbers.
The city and county had poured a fresh relay
into Iakoma and Takoma seemed to enjoy it.
Another big OK had been sacrificed and took
his turn In being roasted.
ILLUMINATING THE TOWN.
Just at dusk the lanterns which were hung
from end to end of Takoma were lighted. and
as the long lines Of light spread in every di-
rection the effect was more than pretty.
All this time a band had been playing with
vim and a determination not &c be outdone by
any OK that ever chewed a cud
The pavilion was crowded when Mayor B. F.
Gilbert called the meeting to order for a few
speeches and conducted Mr.. b. II. Warner to
the chair.
MR.. WARMERS SPEECH.
Mr.. Warner said he was very sorry Mr. Nc
Comas, who had come out, had been obliged to
return to the city to fulfill and engagement.
MIR. Hemphill likewise had been expected, but
was detained by an engagement with a young
lady, which Mr.. Warner remarked was the only
possible thing which could keep Mr.. Hemphill
away. NJ. Warner then referred to the great
advances Takoma had made. He had been
here before Takona was thought of and he
bad a sort of grandfatherly feeling toward the
town. He remembered when the eight
zenith, nineteenth and twentieth wards were
a stubbie field, and he thought
Mr.. Gilbert was about as insane as it was pos
sible to be when he purchased the ground and
started to snbdivide il. Mr.. Gilbert, however,
against the evil predictions of friends and the
malice of enemies, had conquered every diff
Guilty, and ii there were more such men the
country around Washington would present a
much more populous appearance. Mr.. Warner
then compared Takoma with Chicago, and said
he was not a bit afraid of having additional
territory added to the town.
REPRESENTATIVE COLEMAN.
Hon. II. Dudley Coleman of Louisiana said
his principal hobbies were sugar and parting
his name in the middle. BY the array of beauty
around him he was very well satisfied in the
former respect. but in the latter the committee
had touched him in his most tender point by
putting his name ON the program as plain H.. ID.
Coleman. Mr.. Coleman said he had from the
start been impressed with Takema and had al
ways considered that the town had a great
future before ii. He was also greatly impressed
by the energy of the men who had already
pressed the venture to such a successful issue.
Takoma in the future. with its lovely avenues
and splendid residences, would be one of the
remarkable features of Washington. Other
towns, not possessing the natural advantages of
Takoma, had been stimulated into activity, and
Takoma, with all nature to speak for her, could
not fall 10 nave a great future.
MAYOR GILBERT's RECoLLECTIoSs.
Mr.. Warner introduced Mr.. Gilbert, who was
received with enthusiastic applause by his con-
stituents and friends. Mr.. Gilbert explained
some of the accidents which have happened in
getting up the affair. He then attacked the
proposition that the growth of the new part of
the park would have a harmful effect on the
old park. He held that not until the addition
had been built up and the avenues cut through
and the intervening country developed could
Takoma take her proper position as one of the
leading suburban towns in the country.
Six years ago, Mr.. Gilbert continued. he had
driven into Takoma with his wife,, and bring
ing a cooking stove with him had cooked his
dinner. The population of the park was then
seven. Since then the population had doubled
each year. Advances had been made in every
direction. A double-track road now ran into
the city. churches and school houses had sprung
up and what had been a forest was a blooming
village.
Mr.. George Scott made a great success by
singing several songs.
ANEW POST OFFICE WANTED.
Mr.. Warner then read a resolution calling on
Mr.. Com to use his influence to obtain for
Takoma an appropriation Of S25, 900 for a post
office and the resolution was unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. A. ]. Corey made a short speech. There
were one hundred and fifty houses in TakOma
now, he said. and not a poor one among them.
The railroad received over go, 900 a year for
fares between Takoma and Washington, and
1000 a month freightage was paid at Takoma.
NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY.
Mr.. D.. Gray Purman said when Mr.. Gilbert
opened Takoma he had offered him some corner
lots at II cents per foot; he had refused the
offer, but had since been very sorry. The
great growth of Takoma. he thourht was dine
to the generosity and able management of Mr..
Gilbert. After the speaking dancing was in
dulged in at the stand until a late hour.