Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-05
The East Washington Association
Considers Important Matters.
RECLAMATION OF ANACOOTIA FLATS
Proposed Channel for Disposing Of
Sewage.
THE RECORDERS OFFICE

At the monthly meeting of the East
Washington Citizens Association action
was taken cn several matters of public in
terest. preliminary report was made by
the committee on the reclamation of the
Anacostia flats, and n committee was in
structed to draft bill proposing a number
of reforms in the Office of the recorder OF
deeds. Pursuing the usual routine Presi-
dent Babson called the committees for re-
ports, and under this call Mr.. Weller
offered the following:
Whereas, the present alarming condition
of the records in the office of the recorder
of deeds, with its dilanlated indexes.
rapidly decaying record books, with mutt
lated pages. is seriously menaeing all the
titles to real estate in the District of CO.
lunbia; and, whereas, the Anticipated sys-
TEN of recording deeds inaugUrated in the
seventeenth century is totally inapp.o-
pirate for the advanced ideas prevalent at
the dawn of the twentieth: and, whereas.
the necessary reform of this, our most i'm
portaut Office, can only be secured by the
united efforts of all of our citizens. there
fore, be II resolved by the East Washing
ton Citizens Association, in regular month
ly meeting assembled, that our committee
to draft proposed legislation be instru ted
to consider the advisabiIity of the adoption
of the recorder of deeds fer the District Of
Columbia. and such committee is in
structed to consider the eXpediei.cy of the
adoption of the following:
i. The power of appointing 20 this otfiC e
shall be vested in the Commissioners of tie
District of Columbia.
2. The appointee must be bona fide res
ident of the District of Columbia for at
least five years Immediately preceding his
appointment
). All deeds filed for record shall be re-
tanned in the archives of the office: in lieu
of copying by hand in record books they
shall be photo-lithographed Cor by some
similar process insuring mechanical ac-
curacy). and fac simiie copies of the orig
inal deed shall be delivered to the owner or
to any other interested party; copies shall
also be retained on the public file for ref
erence purposes, arranged according to lot
and square.
1. In addition to an alphabetical index. it
Shall devolve upon the recorder to MAIN
tain tract index, as is customary else
where.
5. All surplus receipts of the office shall
be credited to the District of Columbia
g. Also recommend an abbreviated form
of deed for the conveyance of land, with a
corresponding Simplilied form of acknoWl-
edgment; and he it Furthermore resolved
that said committee be herewith authorized
to consult with similar committees of other
CitiZeES associations and of the board of
trade. for the purposes stated, and shall
report TO this association prior to the as
scmblins of the first regular session of the
F'ifty-fourth Congress.
Mr.. Weller said that the condition of the
Office was something we'll known to every
citizen who had occasion to go there. The
methods followed were such as no good
business man would think of following in
his own business
The committee believed the several sug-
geStions made in the resolutions would be
generally Endorsed.
Mr.. Grouard said he favored the reso-
buttons. and would favor. also, like resolu-
lions in regard to the office of register of
wills. He thought there should be q better
system of recording wills
President Babson said he had no doubt
the committee on legislation, to whom the
matter would be referred would consider
the ACCESSIBILITY of including the register of
wills office in the scope of the resolution.
The resolution was then adopted.
improvements Wanted.
The committee on streets, avenues and
alleys reported favorably, through Mr. ell
Ter, petition from Rev. J. r. Matthews,
pastor of st. Cyprians Church, asking for
needed improvements On 18th, street and
South Carolina avenue, in the neighborhood
of the church. MIR. Weller said that the
streets in question were in the same con-
dition when the city was laid out
though the neighbcrhcod was well popu-
lated. He thought it a shame that such 4
state of affairs should exist in neighbor-
hood three-quarterS of a mile from the
Capitol when streets far out in the county
were concerted. The people in the neigh
borhood were poor and he believed the as
ISOLATION should help them. A resolution
was adopted urging favorable action by
the Commissioners.
A Proposed Playground.
Robert F. Hill, chairman of the commit
tee on schools, submitted the following
Your chairman of the committee on
schools, to whom was referred the resolu-
ton of the executive committee, March IA,
1895. expressing as the sense of the exec
utive committee that the square at the
intersection of Virginia and Georgia ave-
nues between 9th and 18th streets south
east should be fenced for a playground
for children begs leave to report as fol-
lows:
Z" The Importance CT suitable Fairgrounds
for school children in large cities can hard
1y be overestimated, and yet the matter APP
pears to have been sadly neglected. l am
not aware that any suitable playground in
the city of Washington has ever been set
aside and reserved for the use OF the chill
dren of the District. An opportunity is
now afforded without mourning much eX-
pense to establish such resort, at the in
tersection of Virginia and Georgia ave-
nues, between 9th and 18th streets south
east and approximate to the school now
occupying the engine house building at the
corner of 9th and NJ streets southeast This
space comprises, / should estimate. about
two and one-half acres of land and is at
present an open, sandy space, objectionable
in appearance and but little used for pub
lie purposes as a highway or avenue. 1t is
easily reached by three lines of cars and
one herdic line. and, If inc1osed with d
fence and provided with a drinking foun-
tain, would be a most suitable playground
for the children. Shade trees should be
transplanted just outside the inclosure. The
public scale is now located on the south
westernly corner of the tract and the
fence could be so located as not to require
the removal of the public scale. Sufficient
room could also be allowed for drinking
purposes around the Enclosure, so not
to interfere with public traffic or driving.
I sincerely trust that this recommendation
may meet the unanimous approval of the
association and that proper steps be taken
to bring the matter to the attention of the
proper authorities"
Mr. Hill said that Virginia avenue virtu-
ally terminated at the point where it was
proposed to locate this playground. He
thought it a good opportunity for the East
Washington association to lead off in this
important matter, and to persuade the au-
thorities to dedicate this unused space as a
playground. If the ground were inclosed.
and fountain and shade trees were placed
on 1t 1t would soon become a resort for
children, and it would be safe place
where parents could send them without
fear of danger to life limb or morals.
Mr. T. w. Smith said the ground in ques-