The times., 1897-07-17
TROUBLES OF BR|GHTWOOD
Caused by an Effort to Seize
the POstOfIice.
BRTGhTWO0D PARK CLAIMS 1t
Two Grocerymen Want 1t to Draw
Custom-Citizens Express Views
and Some say the Park Shall
Have 1t aud others Say 1t Shall
Not-Two Important Propositions.


Not-Two Important Propositions.
If the citizens of Rrightwood and of
Brightwood Park talk III their sleep at
all, it is about the postoffice fight All
their conversational powers during waking
hours are dedicated To this theme. They
discuss the situation during meals be-
tween meals, before meals and after meals.
The protest which was prepared at the
meeting OF the citizens OF BrighuWood on
Thursday night was presented TO Fourth
A ssistant Postmaster General Bfisto"
Yesterday Afternoon. He promised that
il should receive due consideration.
the propusillon against which tue CitlZens
OF Bngptwood protest is the change Oh
the site of the postoffice from Br1ghtwood
to Brightwood Park. a. q. Osborn was
postmaster at Rughtwood for thirty years
He kept the office in his grocery store ~
"a point where Military road nerges INTO
Btighuwood avenue The old citizens are
accustomed to the location and MAINTAIN
that il ls the most eligible 70 toe founti.
Recently " L. Van Horn was appointed
postn- -aster. This gentleman runs grocery
store at Bnghtwood Park, about quarter
of a mile down the road. He proposed
to change the site Of the office from the
old stand to his store. This Is what the
people of Brghtwood object 70
Postmaster Van Horn gave The Tines
,nan a chat last night He said: Had
known that il would create all this dis
turbance, l believe l would not have APP
Piled for the office. Now that ! am n
IT, though, / think I am entitled to all
the profits OF the office. IL is not the
receipts of the office which make it
desirable position to have. 1t is an ac-
comInodation TO customers and IL attracts
trade conduct a grocery store AMI am
postmaster l do not think it reason
able that should rln the postoflice to
draw patronage to an opposition store,
provided, OF course, that the location which
give the office is equally as eligible.
Now, believe that the location pro-
posed is a better one than the old.
1t brings tile office into the center OF
population. Brightwocd is dead and
stagnant settlement. They have built about
four houses there in the last four years
came TO Brightwood Park about four years
ago 1t had just been surveyed. There are
/ now tiIItA ltuftn up anu many iAi''''- -
| prospect There are more people in Bright
wood Park than in Brightwood. Then TO
locate the office al Brightwood Park VIII
| also serve the people who live al Petworth
| They go now to Mount Pleasant for Their
mail The people of Brightwood Park are
| entitled TO mari cd consideration
''Au the improvements by Which Bright
wood has benefited have ben the result IF
tie efforts OF the Park citizens. The new
schoolhouse. water and sewers have re-
| suited from the energies of the re"rie vi
tie Park. 1 have received my commission
and have prt in the necessary office furnt-
ture. / have applied for permission 70
change the site Of the office and expect
TO have things in working order 5y Tues
day or Wednesday"
Mr.. n. z. Robinson, Of RrightwOod
said: "Rrightwood ought TO have this
office. EriehtwGod has had It, AMI there
has been no reason shown why the office
ought to bc removed. It is convenient to
the People who live at Prightwood and
who live on the Military, Piney Rranch
| SEopheld and Rock Greek Ford roads,
Mir. Robinson said that the people of
Brightwood PARK had never done anything
to distinguish themselves in local matters
AS a rule, they had never attended the
meetings of the citizens association dnC
had given no aid in the development OF the
place. 1t was through the effCIts OF thl
people of BriEhtwood that the new school
house was built, that the engine company
was installed, that sewers We're put In
and water and gas mains laid. He haC
no feeling for the people of the park othe
than that OF kindness and respect.
Mr John L. Norris talked quite strong
IL against the act Of Dr. Lavender, W no
as president of the meeting held Thurs
day night, gently limited that the citi
zens of Rrghtwood Park should with
draw from the meeting He thought tia
this was a wrong move, and was no
in the line Of fair play. The citizens Q
Brightwood Park had right tc partici
pate in the meeting They should hav
been heard
Mr. Robinson took the same ground
BE did not think that the people Of tn
park had received fair treatment in tina
matter.
MI Theodore Thomas voiced the sent
nents Of everybody at Brightwoodl, whe
he told the reporter last night that tn
office should remain at Brightwood
TWO Important propositions have com
up within the last few days One is /
practically boycott the new pos tmaster
This has not taken positive form, AM
probably wiz not, in view of the law
| against it. 1t is certain, however, that il
the site OF the office shall be changed a,
proposed, many Of the people of Bright
wood viii mail their letters in the city.
Another proposition is the agitation in
favor of the extension of the free delivery
system to Brightwood, and the creation
there Of station Of the Washington post
office. Some will ask that if the offic
is changed to Brghtwood Park, tia
another office shall be esta blished at Bright
wood. The people of Brightwo0d Park vii
hold a meeting within a day or two ant
will send delegation to the Postoffice
Department to present the Park side o
the controversy.
N