The times., 1899-12-09
NEEDS OF 1HG SUBURBS
Members of the BrigitwOOd Citi-
zeHS' Association Meet.
Major Sylvester Presents His Plans
for n New Police Precinct-Parks.
Magistrate system Discussed
Judges Bundy and Wilson Speak.

Magistrate system Discussed
Judges Bundy and Wilson speak.
Police protection. parks, the abolition
of the city boundaries, and the establish
ment of a system Of police magistrates
were the subjects discussed at the meeting
Of the Brightwood Citizens Association
at Brightwood Hall, last night There
were about fifty members of the organiza-
/ tion and their guests present when Presi-
dent Louis p. Shoemaker called the meet
ing to order Mr.. Shoemaker made a
Z short speech. in which he said that several
prominent citizens of the District had been
invited TO address the association, and that
as the meeting would be long there was
( to be a slight change in the programme
Instead of the reading of reports of the
committee at the conclusion OF the secre-
tarys report Major Richard Sylvester was
introduced. He had come to the gather
ing. he said, by invitation Of the presi-
dent. 10 make an address on the necessity
Of better police arrangements for the su-
burbs He explained the duties of the
/ policemen at present; how they were COM
! PEELED to cover beats which were il some
instances almost a mile square, and how
( impossible il vas for man to be in one
! place all of the time. The system OF
4 post duty which has recently been cstab-
! lished in the suburbs, and which has amply
proved its efficiency, was a departure from
+ the usual run of police duty, he said, and
he hoped il gave the citizens of the ter
I ritOrY in which il operated as much salts
faction as it did the officers of the de-
paTtment The department was hampered
in many ways by the lack Of men and
funds to carry out the Improvements which
( we're really necessary. but he hoped, with
/ the legislation which would be granted
l during the present session of Congress,
( that an additional force could be estab-
( lished for the protection of the suburbs
in the manner in which they should be
/ protected.
That extensive AREA north OF Florida
Avenue Major Sylvester said, including
/ over fifteen square miles OF territory ana
a population OF about 30 coo people has
/ been and is now dividing police command
: with the city of Washington, whereby one
( section suffers at the expense CT another.
! The lam sntable weakness of the suburb pa-
] troll and OF the city precincts contiguous
/ has long been and is now a source of just
complaint and criticism. The establishment
/ of the Tenth precinct, which was years
I ago contemplated by law with its proper
quota Of guardians Of the peace, is there
. fore a necessity.
The proposed precinct would include
among other villages and institutions
Mount Pleasant Brightwood Soldiers
Home, Takoma, Brookland. lexington. Uni
! versiJy Heights. Howard University. Me-
! tIopolis View. lie Droit Park, Catholic Uni
; vsrsity. Lamoud. Rock Creek Church, Ma
: tl0Ral Park, Terra Gotta Petworth, Tngie-
side, Lanier Heights and various roads and
populated subdivisions, and some of the
most valuable residences located in the
( District. The magnificent adjacent drive
( ways, which are patroliZed by prominent
Government officials and thousands of citl-
zens, the suburban railway lines and re-
sorts where thousands more find their way,
are sparsely policed 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
Z villages followed the line OF progress. but
In the heights adjacent to Washington q
city of extensive proportions now stands
where but Few years ago there were com
{ mons. There are schools and churches
I railroads. and stores, three engine houses,
and no police station. Members Of the force
must travel miles from the nearest station
house 10 their posts of duty. Prisoners
must likewise be transported miles at times
10 court or places Of confinement The city
rowdy and criminal find refuge in these
outlying sections, 70 BE- interrupted by the
patTolman who, by hard travel occasion
ally gets over his large beat"
At the conclusion of the address the
/ members Of the association heartily ap-
plauded the sentiment expressed by the
speaker, and a resolution was introduced
by Edward T. Bates endorsing the views Cf
Major Sylvester and approving of his plan
for the further protection OF business and
property interests in the suburbs It was
also proposed 10 send a copy 10 the Com
missioners suitably endorsed. The re olu-
tions were adopted unanimously. President
Shoemaker then announced that the speak
ing would be dispensed with until any resp
luton which the members desi. ed 10 place
before the association should be acted on
This announcement brought forth an un-
Z usual number Of responses. DR. Stone re-
quested that the meeting notify the Com
rnissioners rhat it was their desire to have
4 BTightwo0d Avenue paved with aspha a d
{ granite block wherever il was found TO b.
ninety feet wide. according TO the p an sug
gested IL the annual report OF the Engineer
/ Department Mr. Gilman offered a pap r
calling attention TO the necessity Of plac-
ing a fire alarm box in Brightwood Fred
4 erick BeE suggested that a number OF new
gas lamps be erected on the Military Road
I between Brightwood Avenue and Rock
Creek Park. ". Z. Robinson requested
that the Commissioners be informed that
IL was the sense OF the meeting that some
I Improvements should be made in the ex-
listing drainage system of Brightwood Ave
rue IN order 20 prevent the collection OF
sand and gravel on the railroad tracks. All
( Of these resolutions were adopted by tire
association unanimously, and the papers
viii be prepared by the secretary for their
respective destinations.
After this business had been disposed OF
Sir Shoemaker introduced W v Cox. for
Eer president Of the association, who
read a long paper on the work OF improv-
ing Rock Greek Park. Mr. Cox stated thai
he had been engaged for some time ia
preparing a history OF the park, and had
collected considerable data on the sub
lect. The park was established September
/ Z, 1880, and an appropriation of 81 200 00C
was made for its Improvement. The APP
= preparation was not sufficient 10 pay FOL
all this land. however. and a present the
acreage is exactly !, 600.
] Judge Charles S. Bundy was the mex
speaker Judge Bundy is a member Of tht
Columbia Heights Citizens Association