Evening star., 1897-06-15

washington Cittzens' Association held In
! Northeast Temple last night. This reser-
| walton Is between G and H streets north
| and at the intersection Of Delaware ave-
! nue. and 1st street east
When this question was brought to the
attention of the association. President
Tucker said the status of the case had
been given so many times that he thought
| it was hardly necessary to repeat it, But
he did give a brief account of the asso-
/! ciation's efforts to have this reservation
converted into a park Of green grass, in
stead of a freight yard for the unloading
| and parking of cars. and said the notice
! of removal served on the company is still
| in force
This order was issued by the Secretary
Of the Interior. The notice of Secretary
| Hoke Smith was extended thirty days by
secretary Francis, but In his short term
| of office he did not accomplish anything.
| At this time. President Tucker said. the
| Secretary of the Interior has the right to
| tear up the tracks and remove the prop
| erty of the railroad company from the
| reservation. The matter he said, has by
no means been abandoned by the associa-
| ton, and he hoped TO accomplish some
/ thing before the next meeting.
TIE bill introduced by Senator Faulkner
providing for the lease sale of the res
ervation was read as follows:
The Faulkner Bill.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
| of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That the
Secretary Of the Interior be, and he is
hereby, authorized and empowered to lease
or sell and convey to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company. for such rental or
price and upon such terms and conditions
as to the Secretary of the Interior may
seem reasonable and proper. that certain
r n rpa nf orr In
reservation numbered Dol, and embraced
within the area bounded by and H
streets. Delaware avenue and 1st street
northeast: Provided, That the said prop
erty shall not be sold for a sum less than
$3.50 per square foot.
This bill. said President Tucker, was
probably prepared by the railroad COM
pany's attorney and introduced for the
purpose of staying the hand of the Secre-
| tary Of the Interior. If, with such a bill
pending, there should be an effort made to
eject the company, the attorneys of the
corporation would set I'D the plea that
legislation is pending.
Continuing, President Tucker said he
thought If the government wanted money
the proper thing to do would be to put up
the property at auction, and sell Ii to the
highest bidder. The sum mentioned in the
bill. S1.I0 a foot he said really meant the
giving of the property to the railroad COM
rany, for the property is worth at least
SO a foot. The giving of the ground to
the railroad company to continue the ex-
istence of the nuisance. he said, would
be shame and disgrace and he hooed If
the government really intended to raise
money In this way the citizens would be
given an equal show with the corporation.
! Give the citizens chance to put some
less Questionable nuisance there.
Mr. Chappell wanted to know Of the presi-
dent of the association IL he thought Sem
ator Faulkner would act as tool in the
manner indicated, and President Tucker
| said that was the way it looked to him.
IF such is the case said Mr.. Chappell,
its wonderful coming down for the
senator
Continuing, Mr.. Chappell said he hardly
thought the government was so poor that
| 1t would sell one of the public reservations
at SO nominal a figure as that indicated
The ground. he said, would be cheap to
spectators at SO foot and he would not
say a man was foolish if he offered twice
that amount.
Mr.. FrixxelPs Offer.
Mr.. Frizzell said he would give SO a foot
for the land for speculative purposes. but
he thought If it should be sold at public
auction. the people of Northeast Washing
ton would make the purchase, and donate
1t for park to the government.
When the government has old carpets,
spittoons and benches to dispose Of" he
said, they are sold at public auction and
why not sell real estate in the same way
Now, If this good old government, during
this administration of prosperity, wants to
get $4,000 to put in the treasury, why
want to sell the land in this way instead of
to the highest bidder?"
Mr.. Frizzell moved that Senator Faulk-
ner be requested to offer another bill con-
cerning this reservation. In this bill he
wanted provision made for the sale of the
property at public auction, preference being
given to the citizens Of Northeast Washing
ton, who might want to purchase 1t and
convert it into a beautiful park, as origi-
nall int 1a6 md fhn 70
Uncle Sam.
This resolution was discussed and re-
ferred to the committee on proposed legis-
iation.
Members of the association also discussed
the question of having Graceland ceme-
terry purchased and converted into a park.
Several matters of minor Importance
were considered. and then the school Ques-
tion came up. 1t was stated that rumOr
had 1t that the new school building at 5th
and K streets is to be converted into
school for colored children, and members
of the association stated that there were
borhcod to fill building, while there are
more than enough white children.
Question of Grade Crossings.
When Chairman Frizzell was called upon
for Il report on the railroad question, he
said that nothing had transpired since the
last meeting which called for a report
from his committee.
President Tucker said that while the rail-
road question was before the association,
he would like to make few remarks.
Since the last meeting of the association,
he said, the Commissioners have had an
important conference with the officials of
the Baltimore and Potomac railroad. This
conference, he continued. was on the ques-
tion of the abolition of grade crossings In
South Washington. And he said he thought
the minds of the Commissioners and the
railroad officials were very near together
OH this question. and the abolition of the
grade crossings in South Washington, he
believed, would be followed by the abolition
Of the dangerous crossings in the northeast.
Mr.. Tucker said he had good authority
for the statement that the Commissioners
are working vigorously on the Baltimore
and Ohio plan for the abolition of the grade
crossings. Commissioner Black, who has
this matter in charge, is very earnestly
considering the matter. and he added that
he hoped by the next meeting he would be
able to report that something definite had
been done.
Chairman Martin Of the committee on
Streets avenues and alleys was next called
upon and he submitted the following:
'.At a recent meeting Of the association
the following resolution was referred to
your committee on streets. avenues and al
Ieys:
.Resolved, That this association recon-