The times., 1898-04-06
EAST WASHINGTON REJOICES.
Love Feast Over Prospect Of Re-
claiming Anacostia Flats.

Love east over prospect Ot He
claiming Anacostia Flats.
The meeting of the East Washington
Citizens Association held last evening at
Baum's Hall was very much of the nature
of a love Tease. For the first time since
its organization, twenty-seven years ago,
they have hopes of seeing realized their
fondest desire. the reclamation of the
AnacOstia Flats, an end for which they
have been working diligently for years.
The meeting was well attended. Pres
ident Thomas w. Smith was in the chair.
The report of the special committee on
Anacostia Flats was made by Mr.. Tracy
L. Jeffords, the chairman. His report
consisted simply in the reading of the
joint resolution passed by the Senate
yesterday authorizing an appropriation
for the purpose of reclaiming the flats:
Later in the evening several resolutions
were passed commencing Mr.. Jeffords and
the other members of the special commit
tee for their untiring and intelligent
efforts and the final accomplishment of
their object.
The resolution is as follows: That the
Secretary of War be, and he is hereby,
directed to prepare and submit to Con-
gress forthwith a project for the mn
provement of the AnacOstia River and the
reclamation of it's flats from the line of
the District of Columbia to the mouth
of said river, with an estimate or the
cost of the same, and report on the
area and ownership of the land to be
reclaimed and if any portion of said land
is vested in private persons an estimate
Of the cost of acquiring the same; and
the sum of two thousand dollars, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, Is
hereby appropriated TO pay the cost OF
surveys and other expenses in the prenI-
ses."
The original comnitte in charge of the
/ task Of reclaimng the flats which was
/ appointed in 1894 consisted of MessrS.
! Tracy L. Jeffords, chairman; Thomas w
/ Smith A f. Sperry, Evan II. Tucker
/ and Hugh T. Taggart. In 1880 MeSsrs. j
/ r. Nottingham and James A. ID. Rich
| ards were added to the committee. The
association hopes that the resolution Will
become law within the next ten days.
The executive committee. through its
chairman. T. w. Smith reported that
it had under consideration a resolution
| in relation to the telephone service IN
this District and recommended the fol-
lowing legislation on this subject.
That the charges for telephone service
in the lgStTfCt SnOuiQ ne lOWSfeu etu
. unlimited service furnished: that we use
/ all reasonable efforts to effect this re-
/ suit that we believe the telephone ser
ivce i'm the District should be under mu-
nicfpal control: that We favor legislation
and other action for the introduction
into the District of any competing tele-
phone company which is sound imam
cialIv and fair in it's character and meth
obs and which will give sufficient guar
antee TO property and promptly repair
street where 1t disturbs them. and the
franchise of which shall provide that
it shall continue in service for term of
not less than ten years and shall not
dispose of its franchise or right in any
manner during this time and shall not
impose any unnecessary restrictions To
subscribers. and that during this term
the rate shall not be raised or service
changed
The resolution was then unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. Carr of the Committee on Streets
and Railways, suggested that his COM
mittee would be very glad if the members
of the association would send any rec
concentrations which they might think
advisable to the committee. This brought
up a discussion as to the present condi-
ton of the streets. and it was said that
they were worse now than when they
were cleaned with the machines.
Judge o. B Hallam reported bill
drafted for the purpose of Incorporating
the "Provident Aid Association" a char
table organization to distribuate aims to
the worthy poor of the city. The bill
provides for the selection of fifteen di-
rectors. divided into three classes and
who after being chosen shall serve fol-
one two and three years. 1t also provides
for a board of managers and for the
division of the District into ten sections
for the purpose of more conveniently
carrying on the work of the association
A resolution was also adopted author
izing the appointment of a committee tC
investigate the safety of the electric sys
tenn operated by the Capital City Railway
Company. This was done, Mr.. Hallam
who introduced the notion said, at the
request of many citizens of Southeas
Washington.