Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-16
BRIGHTWOOD OFFICE
Mass Meeting Considers the Change
of Situation.
PROTEST. TO TIE DEPARTMENT
What Was Said by Both Sides at
the Meeting.
SOME STATISTICS GIVEN

The delegation appointed at the mass
meeting held by the citizens Of Bright
| wood last night. to visit the Postmaster
General today and protest against the re-
| moval of the pos; office from Brightw pod
| to Brightwood Park. did not see him to-
| day. Mr.. Gary was attending a cabinet
| meeting when the committee visited the
| Post Office Department, and was referred
| to Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
| Eristoe. The matter comes under his juris-
| diction, as II is fourth-class Office which
| Is under consideration.
| Gen. Bristoe heard the statement of the
| chairman of the committee i'm all its phases
| and those of the delegation. When they
| had finished he told them that he would
| investigate the matter thoroughly and de-
| eide in favor of having the office at
which of the two points under dispute
would be most suited TO tie public and the
| patrons. after which the delegation depar-
| ed. 1t will he several days before the
| question is definitely settled
| The Mass Meeting
| interest In the appointment of the new
| postmaster for Brightwood and the pros
| pective removal of the Office 20 Bright
] wood Park continues undated While
| only fourth-class office, the contest there
for, covering the past ninety days. has
| developed warmth akin to tNat @hown in
the late presidential campaign.
| Soon after the advent of ,ne present adj
ministration two candidates. Mr.. A. G..
| Osborn. who has held the Office for many
years, and Mr.. W. r. Van Horn. took the
/ field, both claiming to belong 10 the vie
! torious party. and to have the support of
majority of the residents. Both Circu-
| lated petitions. but Van Horn early
cured an advantage nv obtaining the in
lorSement of Senator WELLINGTON n
land and Representative Mcdonald of the
congressional district embracing Mont
gomery county, just north OF the bound
| airy line, as well as that Of M. u. II. War
ner, Mr.. l.. d. Wine AMI other prominent
republicans.
On Tuesday the announcement of Mr..
Van Horns appointment was made. and
| he Immediately filed mis- bond, receiving
his commission yesterday.
Mr. Van Horns business Is located at
some distance south of the present post
office, in what is known Brightwood
Park. Persons in the reighborhood Ct the
old office, who will be somewha; incon-
venienced by the change Immediately is
sued a call i'm a circular. which was widely
circulated, for a mass meeting at Felter's
Hall last night.
The meeting was called to order with
about fifty persons present shortly after
the time announced by Mr.. j. A. Lavender.
who requested that any persons present
not in sympathy with the object of the
meeting should withdraw. number OF
cltlZenS VI lIt ptfh tiitttupOii dlOSt diit
left the hall.
On motion of DIR. Henry Darling. Mr..
J. A. Lavender was made permanent chair
man and Mr.. N. f. Robinson secretary.
A lengthy set of resolutions was offered
by Mr.. Theodore Thomas, setting forth.
among other reasons for the retention of
Mr.. Osborn, his wide popularity in the
neighborhood and the fact of the office
being located in the only thoroughly
equipped grocery and general store" in the
vicinity.
Mr. w H. Shryock objected to these
resolutions, suggesting that the fight should
be made entirely upon the removal of the
office from Brightwood to Brightwood
Park. far removed, figuratvely. as Ia
koma Park Messrs. John l.. Norris and
John G.. keene joined him in this
1t was explained that II was of the great
est good to the greatest number to retain
the Office at Brightwood, as it was more
centrally located at that place.
Mr.. VIM. Mex. Clayton objected to this,
and produced the figures of the police CEN
sus. lately completed. showing Brightwood
Park to have population of BOO, as
against 40 at Brightwood. He also took
exception to statement that the two
places are half mile apart, the fact be
ing that they are less than half of this
distance.
Figures were read by Mr. Robinson. OBJ
tanned by a careful and impartial canvass
made by himself. as follows: Heads of
families in the park, 81, 33 of whom did
not desire the change; 16l heads of families
II for and 1874 against.
Mr. Theodore Thomas, who is assistant
postmaster. said that of the mail matter
received II per cent was directed to fam
lilies in the park.
A communication from Mr. W. l.. NaIley
was read, questioning the legal right IN
moving the Office
The following resolutions Were then of
fered by the secretary and unanimously |
adopted:
Whereas it is currently reported that the |
post office is to be removed from Bright |
wood to Brightwood Park; therefore
Resolved, That the citizens of Bright |
wood, assembled in mass meeting, respect
fully protest against the removal OF the |
office.
Resolved, That a committee of twelve /
Gncluding the chairman) be appointed by /
the chairman of this meeting to wait upon
the Postmaster General to present this |
protest, and ask that the office be retained
at the present location.
Resolved, That the committee be request
ed to take any steps necessary to accom-
pliSh our purpose.
The following committee was then ap-
pointed and directed to meet at ~ noon to-
day and wait upon the assistant post
master general, after which the meeting
was adjourned: ]. A. Lavender, chairman;
VIM. H. Shryock, Oliver Maus, DIR. Henry
Darling. Fred. Bex, Cuvier Greene J. H.
Roth, VIM. o. Ray, Theodore Thomas
Chas. w. Mattingly, F. r. Green and N
e. Robinson.
Mr.. Mex. CIayto Iden.
Mr.. w. NICK. Clayton. an interested pa
iron, spoke very freely when giving his
opinion of the protest today. He SAID
THE request Of the chairman OF the
Brightwood citizens meeting held last
night that all residents of Brigntwoo God
Park withdraw from the meeting and their
subsequent withdrawal, prevented a full
answer to the protest of Bri2htwood citi-
zens against the removal of the post Office
from Brightwood to Brightwood Park.
Brightwood consists of some dozen
houses, widely Separated he said, "a ho-
tel, two stores and the post office. 1t is
absolutely stagnant, showing no improve
ment, no progress, no push, no energy.
In ten years some four houses have been
built. and one of these to replace dwell |
ing burned. The school children tramp
through the mud in winter and the dust
in summer of the public road to and from
the public school, not enough public spirit |
and enterprise existing in Brightwood to
secure sidewalk for their use.
Five years ago one hundred acres of |
land was purchased by a syndicate adjoin-