Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-24
THE NORTHEAST'S NEEDS
Questions Discussed at the Citizens Asso-
citation Meeting Last Night.
More Public Parks Wanted - Public
Reservations Occupied by Rail-
roads and for other Purposes.

public parks were discussed. Ever since the
organization of the association the question
of public parks has been under discussion.
The parks in the section mentioned are few
and far between 1t was stated that the
only park of any consequence in the north
east section is Stanton square. and that is
very near the line of East Capitol street.
Reservation POI, which is intended for use
park, is occupied by the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company.
When Secretary Hinternesch had finished
reading the minutes of the last meeting, and
President Frlzzell called for committee re-
ports, he stated that the railroad committee
had no report to make. He desired to say,
however, that since the last meeting the
question of the railroad company using
lights on the rear of backing trains had
been discussed by both the Commissioners
and the railroad company. and the company
had virtually agreed to use lights on the
end of cars when backing trains.
Lights on Hacking Cars.
And" said Mr.. w. C. Miller, II have
noticed recently that the lights have been
used. Several times L have been delayed
fifteen or twenty minutes and on the back
ing trains always noticed lights"
Chairman Johnston of the committee on
streets. avenues and alleys had no written
report to make. but he said he had ad-
dressed a communication TO Senator Cor
man asking for a hearing before the sub
committee. In response thereto he received
q letter from the Senator asking him for
written information concerning the needs
OF Northeast Washington, and he wrote a
lengthy letter in reply to this request. In 1t
he set forth the need of improvements reg
ulatinS and grading and called attention TO
the usual $1jO,OOO appropriation for the re-
surfacing and repairing of concrete pave
mo- md aeT-.g
its share of it.
Need of Fire Engine.
Chairman Holstein of the committee on
water. lights and sewers presented the fol-
lowing report:
Your committee on water, light and sew
ers, TO whom was assigned the duty of CO.
operating with the fire department of the
District in the endeavOr to secure an ap-
preparation for fire engine, etc, for the
better protection of the northeastern por-
ton of the city, report that on Saturday
the 9TH instant, they waited on the Senate
committee for the District of Columbia and
presented the matter and were assured that
II would have very careful consideration.
The Commissioners Were present, and your
committee was informed that they had al
ready urged on the committee the necessity
for the desired engine"
The Question of Public Parks
When the question of report on the
public parks was called to the attention of
the association, President Frzzell said he
knew the committee had a report to make
but with the indulgence of the association
he desired to call the attention to a letter
received from Capt. Powell. Engineer Com
missioner. in 1881, to show that he was
greatly interested in the question of parks.
and said he desired TO read letter received
from President Dewey Of the Langdon CitI-
zens Association, as follows:
In past years the northeast quarter of
the District appears to have been unfortu-
nate, having been neglected in the matter
of public improvements. No section of the
District offers greater natural advantages
for fine residence neighbOrhoOd. and all
citizens have a common interest in adVanc-
ing the public good. The plan for general
extension OF the city streets and avenues
is now well advanced, and il becomes neces-
sary for all associations of citizens to CO.
operate to secure the PARKS and circles, for
which Washington is now so celebrated so
far as the city proper is concerned. Your
association is therefore respectfully invited
to cooperate with us in effort to secure
the location of two or more public parks
in this section of the District
Mr.. Dcwey's Remarks.
Mr.. Dewey was present in the meeting and
he accepted an invitation to make a few
remarks in behalf of the public parks. He
commenced by referring to the proposed
northeast section to Soldiers Home. Under
this proposed arrangement there would be
exactly three grade crossings, and this
fact alone should kill the proposed route
and change it to where the railroad would
be bridged.
I'VE want wild wood parks he said: 1--WE
already have enough Louis NV parks.
with keep off the grass signs. The parks
are wanted for the children with no such
signs
The speaker then told of the sand banks
in the parks in the center of Paris. where
children enjoy themselves, and of the ten
acre lots where the boys play base ball and
other games.
There are enough Shareholder parks to
last the balance of our lives" he said,
'and now We want breathing spots for the
benefit of the children. Let the govern
ment buy the land, and will ask for no
appropriation. Give US the woods, as nature
has grown them, cut through some walks
and all Wen want then will be policeman
or two to look after the place. The park
will take care of itself"
DIR. Loomis Speaks.
DR.. Loomis of the Winthrop Heights
Association also spoke He spoke of the
necessity of parks in the northeast. Now
that the streets are to be extended he
thought it the proper time to look after
the breathing places.
This CITY," he said, lis destined to be
the greatest residence city IN tne WOrlu,
Paris not excepted Houses will be built
beyond Florida avenue, and now is the
time 10 get the parks, when the ground can
be bought by the acre.
d.. Loomis said that other cities had fine
parks such as are now wanted here, and
mentioned Paramount Park, Philadelphia;
Watkins Glen. n. Y; Prospect Park,
Brooklyn, and the park at Detroit. Mich.
He said he favored Commissioner Powell
plan for a boulevard and chain of parks,
and he thought ii the duty of the associa-
lions to back him up.
DR.. LoOmis also spoke of the assess
ment or property in the vicinity of Win
throp Heights. He had had occasion to
make an argument before the board of re-
view, and his assessment, he said, was in
creased 5000 per cent. That was because
the ground had been subdivded, because
in the same neighborhood property not sub
divided is taxed as farm land
On motion of Nj. w. c. Miller a COM
mittee of five was appointed to confer with
other associations upon the matter of
parks.
Reservation 2O1 and the ii. and o.
Chairman Hinternesch of the committee
on parks and public spaces made his re-
port concerning the occupancy by the Bal
timoTe and Ohio railroad of reservation poi
This is the triangular space east of IL
street northeast, between the tracks of the
Metropolitan branch on LIST street and the
Washington branch on Delaware avenue
He said he wrote to Col. John NJ. Wilson
for some information to the right of the
faurOad company to use this reservation
with tracks and derrickS, and received the
following response: