Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06
ANACOSTiA CITIZEN S
Important Subjects Discussed at the Meet.
ing Last Night
More Police and Street Lamps Needed
-Inade4uacy of the Force
Pointed Out.

Inc meeting OF the Citizens Association
of Anacostia which was held last night in
Haines' Hall was in many respects the
most important that has ever taken place
since President H. A. Linger accepted the
Craftsmanship of the organization. Mr..
Linger presided and Mr.. H. F. L. Allen was
secretary.
The features of the evening were the re-
ports of Rev. ]. Il. North chairman of the
committee on street lighting, and Rev.
Hugh I. Stevenson, chairman Of the COM
mittee on police The latter was an ex-
haustive and carefully prepared written
statement, showing the urgent need for
more police protection and contained sew
eral recommendations, all of which will be
laid before the District Commissioners,w who
will be earnestly requested to give the re-
lief asked for.
In the course of his address, Mr.. Steven
son said: There are now connected with
what Is called the Anacostia substation
Zine mounted men and three footmen, ex-
elusive of those on duty at the station.
but all of these mounted and footmen are
not on duty at all times. These officers
have to partol a territory comprising about
eighteen square miles, in which there Is
ploperty valued, according to the last re-
turns made by the assessors, at from $15,-
100000 to $1S,OOO.O 600. and it contains popu-
lation of fully 10000 persons.
mo one will assert that SO large a terri
tory can be properly patrolled by SO small
force of men, and justice has not been
done by the authorities at Washington to
the people living on this side of the Eastern
branch Of the Potomac river. The force
should be so increased that perpetrators OF
crime would be apprehended as soon as
and we would not then be fearful of the
fair fame of Anacostia on account Of crime
committed beyond her boundaries.
1T Is the duty" said he, continuing. "of
thn ctrfo cf0v, To ayI6 Of 1no ct
tw elve additional policemen to the Ana
costa station, so that the territory under
Sergeant kerby's charge can have the
proper supervision; to provide better sta
ton, where the men can have the comforts
they deserve and prisoners be given the
opportunity to observe the laws of decency,
which they cannot always now do, and
there should be protection from damage
at once remedy as much OF the existing
trouble as lies in their power, and either
lease or erect building suitable for police
and fire department purposes"
The report was unanimously adopted.
More Lights Needed.
Rev. ]. B. North, chairman of the COM
mittee on street lighting, also made a most
interesting report, reciting the efforts he
had made to have street lamps placed on
Minnesota avenue. which, however, he has
been Unable up to this time to secure and
lie created 4 sensation when he said IT
have known young girls to be knocked
on Minnesota avenue, and there have been
instances when a terrible crime has been
narrowly averted on that street, and the
attempt at violence was entirely owing to
the absence OF proper lights at night
believe that the excuse given by the Dis
tr1ct Commissioners in their reply to my
last communication that there was no
money at their disposal under which they
could furnish the lamps we desire, was
blind, and 1 propose to press the matter
egain.''
Mr.. North's report was also accepted,
and he and Mr.. Stevenson were requested
to go before the District Commissioners
and state the facts in their knowledge
Mr.. George H. Gray, from the committee
on streets, roads and sewers, also made a
very interesting report as to visits made by
den King and J. w. Barley, to the district
Commissioners, and the assurance of Com
missioner Ross that he would aid them by
all the means in his power to get the street
crossings and other improvements asked
for by the committee.
Mail Facilities.
Mr.. r. B. Buckley called attention to the
fact that an effort was being made to Sc
cure improved mail facilities In Anacostia,
and made an earnest speech on the sub
ject, in which he showed that Anacostia,
although far greater in population than
all of the other suburban towns around
Washington, had less mail service than
any.
Rev. Mr.. North made an address, in
which he used Cby requesD a statement
which Second Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Nelson had yesterday afternoon au-
thorized to be made at the meeting that the
citizens of Anacostia can depend upon let
ter service in the immediate future; that a
collection from the letter box at the corner
of Harrison and Monroe streets will be or
dered at pm. at an early day, to COM
mence probably next week, and that the
other improvements for which petitions are
on file in the Post Office Department will
be acted on speedily and favorably, If pos
sible.
Remarks on the subject were also made
by President Linger, Messrs. George H
Smell and others, and O. committee COM
posed of Messrs. r. B. Buckley, Julius w.
Tolson and George F. Pyles was appointed
to urge the post office authorities to grant
the people of AnacoStia all the improve
ments in their mail service possible.
More Cars.
Mr.. Buckley said he hoped that the COM
mittee on railroads and street cars will
ask President Griswold of the Washingt ton
and Anacostia line to give the patrons of
the road more cars, so that there will be
more frequent communication in this way
with Washington, and Chairman Bryan
said he would do so.
Messrs. r. 3. Buckley, D. E. Haines and
G. W. Fisher were elected additional men,
bers of the executive committee.