Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26
THE CITY'S NEEDS
Vital Topics Considered at the Board
of Trade Meeting.
DEADLY GRADE CROSSINGS DISCUSSED
interesting Report on the Subject
Of City Lighting.
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN

Four score and more prominent and rep
resentative men of Washington gathered in
Willard Hail last night to attend the first
meeting of the season of the Washington
beard of trade. The call for the meeting
al nounced that the subject of grade cross
il gs within the city limits would be the
main matter for consideration, and it was,
but something of sensation was created
Ly the report Of the special committee APP
pointed at the meeting of January % last to
report it's judgment on what should be
fair and suitable price for gas of suitable
quality in the District, and what action
should be taken by the board to the end
that gas should hereafter be furnished at
such price; and also to report whether gas
can be furnished more advantageously by
the District of Columbia or by private cor
pcration. The report was a voluminous
ore, occupying fifteen pages of typewriter
manuscript, but every word of it was lis
ter ed to with close attention, and at its
close Mr. j. II. Ralston, chairman of the
&C mmittee, who read it, was greeted with
much applause. Other important reports
were received from the committees on the
title to the Potomac flats, on civil service
in the District and on the existing con-
diticns in Alexandria county, Va. 1t was
8 o'clock when President B. II. Warner
called the meeting to order, with Secretary
y
Gurley in their places. Mr.. Warner well
coined the members in d few pleasant SEN
fences and announced the business of the
evening. After the minutes of the last
meeting, held May II, 1898, were read and
approved, Secretary Wight read proposed
amendment to the constitution, providing
for the creation OF a committee on schools,
to consist OF five members, which. under
the rules, went over for action until the
next meeting.
He then proceeded with the report Of the
special committee on the condition of af
fairs in Alexandria county. Va, consisting
OF r. l.. Moore, chairman; Berah Wilkins,
j. b. Wilson. NJ. G. Emery and A. p. Far
don, and the reading was listened to with
great attention.
GOV. O'Ferrnll's Responsibility.
The committee stated that Immediately
upon its appointment 1t put itself in COM
munication with the police authorities of
Washington and Virginia and found the
evil existing was in no way overstated in
the press The governor of Virginia was
waited on by a committee composed of
President E. H. Warner, Judge 1. G. Kim
ball, DR.. A. p. Pardon and Secretary John
B. Wight, Ito whom continued the re-
port, The gave the assurance that he would
on our making case that could be safely
brought into the courts Immediately pro-
coed against the offending parties"
The report then stated what the commit
tee had accomplished in the way of obtain
ing evidence and rected that, with the aid
Of Attorneys Thompson and Fraley. the
case was prepared and submitted to the
governor of Virginia.
For MONTHS, continued the report,
gambling was suppressed by the new
sheriff, but it is reported to your committee
that the gambling houses are opening
again. 1t is hoped the, governor will take
immediate steps to try the caSes made by
our detectives and put in legal shape by
our attorneys.
After statingt the total expense to have
been S4240. the report concluded as fol-
lows:
THE committee feel that they did their
work thoroughly. They furnished to the
governor such information as he asked for
and in such a shape as to have been per-
fectly satisfactory to himself and to the
attorney general of Virginia. as they them
selves so expressed it. The responsibility
of 70 further action having been taken in
this matter must not rest with the COM
mittee. whose work has been done, but
with those who agreed to do what more
was necessary after receiving such infor-
nation as the committee furnished"
After the report was read Mr. Warner
said ne had understood yesterday that in
dictments had been found against some of
the individuals against whom the committee
had gotten evidence and paid a high compli
ment to Chairman Moore for his labors in
connection with the committee work. On
motion of Mr. Lambert the thanks of the
board were extended to the committee and
to Messrs. Thompson and Fraley for their
efficient and valuable aid in preparing the
cases.
The Flats to BE Riverside Park.
Messrs. Charles c. Glover, James NJ. john
ston and r. Ross Perry, the special commit
tee on the title to the Potomac flats, re-
ported that in the interest of expedition it
became necessary to secure legislation from
Congress empowering the court in general
term of the District Supreme Court to hear
and dispose of the case of the United States
ast. Morris CT al. After reciting the hear
ing and the decision. which disposed of al
claims TO title hostile to that of the J-ni.e
States, the report announced that an appeal
had been taken to the United States Supreme
Court and would probably be finally dis
posed of at the present term of that court
Continuing, the report said:
THE committee conSratulateS the boa I'd
| of trade and the community on the prospect
of final settlement of this long-standi1g
question.
1T is hoped and believed that such settle
| nent will lead to the complete reclama-
| ton of all this property and the estal,-
! lshment OF another important park for the
use Of the public. With that end in view
Buy Best at Ballantyne's"
IN SIGHT OF THE GODDllSS-A