Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16
IMPROVEMENTS DEMANDED
Suburban Citizsus' Association Appoints
COMMITTEES of Investigation.
Resolutions Adopted Looking to De-
veiOpment NJ the TerritOry-Ad-
vance in Values.

A meeting of the Citizens Northwestern
Suburban Association was held last evening
in st. AIMS Parish Hall, Tenleytown. Mr..
C. Z. Lancaster, president of the organiza-
ton. occupied The chair, and in the abb
sence of the secretary, DR.. ]. w. Chappell,
Mr.. Charles r. Morgan kept the minutes.
Resolutions were adopted to the effect
that as the development and Improvement
OF real estate is Of prime Importance to
the taxpayers of the District of Columbia,
and that as every legitimate effort should
be made to disseminate the. advantages Ct
safe investment of both local and foreign
capital, and believing that Washington real
estate possesses inducements not known to
the general public, it was deemed neces-
sary to appoint committee of five mem
bers to fully investigate the subject and
to report at the next meeting of the asso-
citation with such recommendations as they
may deem wise and proper.
In speaking on the resolution Mr.. L. P.
Shoemaker said in part:
Inc ostensibe purpose of these various
c1tlZenS associations is to look after mat
and important that this purpose should be
met, put there is, however, a more gen.
eral purpose in my judgment, and 1t should
demand our attention. The question very
naturally arises whether that portion of
the District of Columbia beyond the city
limits does receive its equivalent for the
tribute its land owners have rendered in
the form of taxes during the past one
hundred years.
Cause of Complaint.
When We look about and see merely the
old and poorly kept roadways and observe
the fact that no leading and important
streets or roadways have been established
by the District authorities over which the
development of the city can properly eX-
tend, within the past fifty years. we are
inclined to complain and express the belief
that the taxpayers of the cour.- of Wash
ngton, so-called, are not receiving their
equivalent. The land owners of the county
nave rendered assistance to make Wash
1nSton city proper what it is today. 1t has
been built up. adequately improved and is
Undoubtedly extending beyond the old linn
It's consequently it becomes necessary not
only In our interest, but in the interest of
the people of the city, that adequate i'm
provements should be now extended.
we now have rapid transit and we need
the action of the authorities to improve our
Rock Creek Park, to extend necessary
streets, widen and improve existing roads,
establish water mains provide water, sewer
gas and electric light facilities. We need
the assistance of the people of the city of
washington and the support of the repre-
SentativeS of the people of the United
States, who are also our representatives. to
assist the land owners of the county SO
called to make the new Washington what
1t ought to be, the pride of the nation.
Street Extension Plan. n Burden.
ut is our desire to remind Congress of the
fact that the street extension plan which
it has authorized far exceeds the demands
of District taxpayers; that Its execution
places upon them q burden which will oper-
ate as a confiscation of their property;
that, being a national undertaking and
upon a national scale, the expense thereof
should Ia maid from a atiOpa1
Il venture to say that no municipality in
this country has ever attempted anything
Ike il. nor could it afford to execute 1t.
Congress has thus far by its legislative en-
actments directed that the entire cost shall
be paid from the revenues of the District
and by special assessment upon District
real estate. This is not only unjust to our
people, but must prove TO be burden be-
yond endurance" .-f..
President In Accord.