Evening star., 1899-02-08
ASSOCIATION OBJECTS
Columbia Heights Citizens Take the Com
m:ssioners to Task.
Criticism of Report on Proposed Park
in N0rthwest-Viewso of Menu
bers-Other Proceedings.

| The greater part of the time of the men,
| bers Of the Columbia Heights Citizens AS
! sociation was taken up last evening by
| discussion of the report of the District
Commissioners on the proposed public park
| at the northwest corner OF Columbia road
| and 14th street, which report was published
| in yesterdays Star. A series of resolutions
| expressing the disappointment of the asso-
| citation in the report and its opposition to
| the suggestion of the Commissioners that
| adjacent property owners be assessed for
| the benefits derived from the establishment
| of the park were adopted
| The meeting of the association opened
| with the election of Alvin G.. Belt and
| Chauncey G. Williams to membership, and
| then DIR. Gibbs, from the committee on SAN
| itary affairs, reported that he had received
| a letter from President Dunlop of the Cap
| ital Traction Railroad Company stating
| that the company will diligently strive to
| remove cause for complaint in the matter
| of non-heated cars on the line, and that it
| soon hopes to have every car arranged
| as to be properly heated.
| President Leo Simmons reported that
| there is every prospect for the passage this
| session of Congress of the bill providing for
| the extension of 11th street, and Mr.. c. S.
! Bundy, from the committee buildings
| and parks, reported that the committee had
| been given hearing before the committee
| on public buildings and grounds of the
House of Representatives last Friday on
| the bill establishing the public park at the
| northwest corner of Columbia road and 14th
| street. He detailed what had been said be
| fore the committee, and was followed by
| MI McCalmont, who expressed his regret
that the District Commissioners did not
| faVorably report on the bll Mr.. Mccall
mont discussed the report submitted by
| them to Congress, criticising that part of it
which suggested that if the park was estab-
| ltshed as proposed by the bill it would in
duce other people to ask for other parks.
Illustrated by Comparison.
| The report in that respect, said Mr.. Nc
| Calmont, reminded him of the man who,
when asked 10 assist the family of a man
who had broken his neck by falling from a
| ladder, remarked that if he should it would
induce all sorts of people to climb all sorts
of ladders and break all sorts of necks He
had hoped the Commissioners would take a
broader view of the matter especially in
view of the fact that the Senate had re-
Gently refused to countenance the taking of
Mount Vernon Square for a site for the
public library, thereby expressing that
bodys belief in the value and imDortance of
such breathing spots
The question was discussed at great
length. MIR. Page calling attention to the
suggestion of tne Commissioners that the
adjacent property owners be taxed to part
ly pay for the land proposed to be taken
The Resolutions.
Finally, upon the motion of Mr.. Mccall
mont, the association adopted series of
resolutions, setting forth that the report
of the District Commissioners to the COM
mittee on public buildings of the House of
Representatives House bill 1899 dis
appoints the hopes of the association for a
park, and does not meet with its approval
for The following reasons:
l. me report fixes the price of the land
too high.
.. While the report objects to a park not
wholly surrounded by streets, it does not
suggest any change as to streets. or a prop
OSitl0n which a ma rly fn,-
be secured.
B. That the suggestion of competition by
land owners in other localities for parks |
when the people have agreed upon this one
park, can only be productive of strife and
delay.
4. The report will cause such delay in the
necessary legislation for the park, and the
cost thereof viii be SO greatly enhanced by
the buildings which will soon be erected
thereon. the project for our park will have
to be abandoned.
Upon the motion of Mr., O'Donoehne # |
was declared that a system of parks similar |
to that in the city be extended to the SUBJ
urbs, one-half to be paid for by the District |
of Columbia and one-half by the property |
owners benefited.
Proposed Jubilee.
President Simmons laid before the asso-
citation a letter from the Business Mems
Association inviting the association to ap-
point five delegates to the central commit
ranging the peace jubilee next May. and
the action of Mr.. Simmons in selecting
Messrs. Peterson, West Saunders and
O'Donoghue was approved, these members
having selected him as their associate |
Mr.. Simmons was also selected as the as |
socations s representative on the peace jubi-
lee executive committee, and the associa-
tion decided to assist in the proposed cele-
bration.
A motion offered by Mr.. O'Donoehue.
appointing Messrs. Fowler Webster and
JeHerys as committee to investigate the |
alleged Illegal extension beyond the proper
lines of a porch on Harvard street between |
18th and 14th streets, was adopted with
an amendment offered by Mr. Brockett that
the committee investigate the same matter
throughout the territory of the association
Mr.. Webster offered a resolution express
ing the protest of the association against |
the proposition to take Mount Vernon
Square as site for the public library |
and praying Congress to select other sites
than public parks whereon to erect build |
lngs, but the chair decided the resolution |
out OF order, on the ground that Mount |
Vernon Square is not within the Tertiary
OF the association. The association how
ever, promptly sustained Mr.. Webster's an |
peal from the chairs decision but undn
the motion of Mr.. McCa,mont. the resolu- |
tlon was laid on the table
A letter from Mr.. Charles B. BaiIev con
plalnlng of the condition of the alley lead
ing from Stoughton street to Florida ave
nue. was read, and the proper committee |
was directed to investigate the matter