Evening star., 1896-10-22
DIS RIcT AFFAIR S
Needs Of Columbia Heights Before the
Commissioners.
The Troubles With the Contractors
for New School Buildfnxs-
The Stevens Controversy.

delegation Of citizens consisting of
Messrs. NJ. A. Ballinger, Geo. v. Simmons,
Chas. s. Bundy and l.. P. Williams repre-
senting the Columbia Heights Citizens AS
sociation, appeared before the Commission
ers this morning and presented the follow
iEg petition:
At a well-attended meeting of the Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Association, held
on the 9th instant, and after a most thor
ough consideration of the needs of that
section represented by our association, we
were directed to urge upon your honorable
body the necessity for the Improvements
hereinafter mentioned, and to express the
wish of the association that you will in
your report to Congre ess recommend appro-
priatio therefor.
First. To grade, gutter, curb, sidewalk
and set shade trees on both sides of 18th
street from Clifton street to Whitney ave-
nue.
Second. To asphalt 18th street from Cliff
ton to Yale street, and Roanoke and Yale
streets between 18th and 14th streets.
Third. That the grading and regulating Of
Roanoke, Irving, Yale, Bismarck, Princeton
and Harvard streets between 7th and 14th
streets, now being done, be completed, and
that curbng. sidewalks, cutters and shade
trees be placed on each side of said streets
and that said streets be graveled
Fourth. That the Improvement of Sher-
man avenue, now in progress be continued
to completion from Grant avenue to Whit
ney avenue
Fifth. That School street be opened
through TO kenesaw, and that the same be
graded. regulated and graveled and that
there be placed on either side thereof gut
ters. curbing, sidewalks and shade trees.
sixth That Huntington and University
places and Bihrey and Bacon streets be
graded, regulated and graveled, and that
there be placed on each side thereof, where
Trey do not now exist, cutters, curbs, side
walks and she de trees.
Seventh; That Clifton street be graded
and regulated from 18th street east, and
that cutters, curbs, sidewalks and shade
trees be placed thereon.
Eighth. That shade trees be placed on
aath street between Whitney and Lydecker
avenues. and on Kenesaw avenue between
18th and 18th streets, and on Columbia road
between 18th and 14th streets.
Ninth That such increase In the police
force be made as will enable US to have a
sufficient number Of policemen to afford
to our homes some reasonable protection
Tenth. That such increase in the number
OF street lamps be provided as will give
to our now poorly lighted streets reasona-
BILE and adequate lighting.
In submitting this statement, we beg to
add some of the reasons that appear to
US as sufficient.
tial growth of Columbia Heights with it's
rapidly increasing assessed values and con-
sequent taxes, entities It to such considera-
ton as will show just appreciation there
o. ana VIII encourage its continuance of
this wonderful growth.
Thirteenth street. fast becoming and des-
tined to be the rival of 14th street as a
great thoroughfare. should have the best
possible roadbed, and we feel that we are
very modest and reasonable in our re-
quests when we only ask the asphaltine
OF the two short squares from Clifton to
Yale and Roanoke and Yale from 18th to
14th streets.
The completion of the grading and regu-
lating of all our cross streets, together
with cutters, curbs, sidewalks, is of para
mount Importance to enable owners of
property thereon to build and comfortably
occupy houses thereon, and we submit that
the increased revenue resulting to the Dis
trict from taxes will more than justify
these improvements even If the interests
OF the property holder were wholly ignored.
The well-known condition of School street
and its fraccessfbility, and with a school
house thereon. with no suitable means of
reaching the same by our children is am
pie reason for the improvements asked
on this street. and 1t is also In exact con-
formity with the street extepsion plans
approved by your honorable body.
AS to shade trees, we can but repeat what
we stated to your honorable body a year
ago, to wit. that nothing adds so much
to the beauty of any locality as a good,
uniform shade tree, all Of one general size
and age, and 1t is now within the DOW ar
of your honorable body to aid us in having
this energetic. snappy section of the Dis
trict, that has refused to BE- downed or
discouraged by the calamities of terrible
panic that has paralyzed almost every
other section of our District, SO decorated,
and at small cost, that it will forever
stand as delight to all eyes, a monument
to the wise Judgment Of your honorable
body. and u source of everlasting graft
tude to the pedestrian he shall in the
future tread our shaded walks: and the
same Improvement should. as rapidly as
possible. go on to every stree and avenue
in our District.
An increase Of police protection we look
upon as of utmost Importance.
1t is row in vain that we seek to see the
colors worn by the knights of the billy"
Good men they are, and their duties are
faithfully performed, but the territory as
signed to them is so great, compared with
their number. that theirs are like angels
visits. few and far between"
Next in protection, and of first import
aDce in convenience, is the thorough light
ing Of our streets.
No street within our territory is well
lighted, and many have inadequate or no
lights, and to q general and thorough light
ing we especially invite your attention
Relying upon your hearty approval of all
we have asked and fully trusting in your
cooperation in obtaining for us these much
needed Improvements, We are most respect
fully. etc.
We further beg to submit to your con-
sideration this fact, that very few of our
streets have their names upon the lamp
posts at the street crossings, and persons
going to visit anywhere within our terri
tory are unaided by the names that ought
to be upon every street corner.
Stevens School Building.
Ever since The Star first called attention
to the fact that Building Inspector Brady,
worn out by the constant delays of Con-
tractor Cabell. had suspended him from
work on the Stevens School and had order
ed the bondsmen to complete the work ac-
oording to the contract work has been
stagnate upon the school. From recent de-
velcpments the completion of the building
is far in the future. 1t looks as IL the Dis.
trict would finally have to step in and com
p!ete the job. especially if the bondsmen
carry out their intention of fighting the
matter in the courts.
This morning the District Commissioners
gave two public hearings upon this mat
ter. First of all they heard Attorney San,