Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-28
An Additional Force.

In explanation of his request for 10 addi-
tional privates of class two, and other in
creases in the force, Maj. Sylvester says:
THAT extensive area north of Florida av-
enue, and bounded by Rock creek on the
west and Benning road on the east, in
Guiding over fifteen square miles of terri
tory, and population of about thirty thou
sand people. has been. and is now, divid-
ing a police command with the city of
Washington. whereby one section suffers at
the expense of the other. The Iamentable
weakness of the suburban patrol and of the
city precinct contiguous, has long been, and
is now, source Of just complaint ana
criticism. The establishment of a tenth
precinct, which was years ago contemplated
by law-section 800, Revised Statutes reIat-
ing to the District of Columbia-With its
proper quota of guardians of the peace is
u necessity.
The proposed precinct should include
among other villages and Institutions Mt
Pleasant. BrightwOOd Soldiers Home, Ia
koma, BrookIand, lexington, University
Heights Howard University Metropolis
Lamond, Rock Creek Church, National
Park, Terra Gotta, Petworth, Ingleside
Lanier Heights, and various roads and pop
ulated subdivisions. and some Of the most
valuable residences located in the District
The magnificent adjacent driveways which
are paronlzed by prominent government Of
Metals and thousands of citizens, the Subur-
ban railway lines and resorts where thou
po!lccd by the limited force available for
The purpose Rapid transit has prompted
the building of hundreds of homes in this
section. Not only have many villages fol-
lowed the line of progress, but in the
heights adjacent 10 Washington "a city of
extensive proportions now stands where but
d lew years ago there We're commons. There
are schools and churches. railroads and
stores. three engine houses and no police
station. Members of the force must travel
miles from the nearest station house to
their posts of duty. Prisoners must like
wise be transported miles at times TO court
or places of confinement.
Refuge for Criminals
THE city rowdy and criminal finds refuge
in these outlying sections, to be interrupted
by the patrolman who by hard travel occa-
sionaIly gets over his large beat While
fathers and brothers employed in the city
are engaged in their daily tasks, mothers,
wives and children are left at home but
partially protected. This should not be the
case in the District of Columbia With
proper police patrol in the county portion
OF the District, the number of Offenders
who would succeed in escaping from this
jurisdiction would be reduced to the mini
mum. The environments of the capital city
should be effectually guarded"
Maj Sylvester invites attention 10 the
pressing need of repairs TO station houses
repairs and improvements which are, he
declares, demanded by public interests and
in justice to the men, and he also states
that proper storage rooms are imperatively
needed
In further explanation OF his request for
large force Major Sylvester saws:
On the 3oth ultimo the force in the Dis
trict OF Columbia comprised 800 privates
post duty, on leave and sick, and there re-
manned S3T men for patrol or street ser
vice. One-half of these or I8s privates.
were on duty from o'clock until L o'clock