The suburban citizen., 1900-11-03
MUNICIPAL NEEDS.
Text OF the Petition Presented to
the Commissioners.

| NNVu NiIlNOH9 AoaoCldllOu TO prepare
petition setting forth the needs of
the municipality and present the same
to the Commissioners, Mr.. Louis p.
Shoemaker its president, prepared a
paper, the text Of which follows.
SUBDIVISION STREETS UNIMPROyED.
1--WE observe after subdivisions of
| land have been made and the owners
have donated large portions of their
holdings for streets and avenues upon
| a scale commensurate with our city,
not demanded elsewhere, the width
and direction of which have been die
tated by Congress, that no adequate
appropriation of public funds can be
secured to improve them. They are
| left in a neglected and dangerous con
| dition, even after private improve
ments have been made and evidence
| furnished of willingness to construct
houses for immediate occupation, and
in addition to this, gas mains, water
mains, foOtways and other public inn
proyements cannot be secured
Contrast Meridian Hill and Lanier
Heights, where these public improve
ments have not been rovided-located
just north of the city, through which
Sixteenth street eXtends-with Wash
ington Heights Immediately on the
west, and Columbia Heights, immedi-
ately on the east. and even Mount
Pleasant, more remote from the city.
Observe Petworth, Brightwood Park
and other subdivisions, where un-
doubtedly many private improvements
hp
ties could be secured, as evidenced by
the houses already constructed with
out them and for which the people
are suffering.
ROCK CREEK PARK.
Observe the fact that Rock Creek
Park, which cost more than 81 900 900
ten years ago, half of which the tax
payers Of the district were required
to pay, notwithstanding that the act
of Congress declared it to be a pleas
ure ground for the benefit of the peo-
pie of the United States and the title
to the land was taken in the name of
the United States, yet it remains un-
improved and to a great extent mac
cessible to the people as a pleasure re-
sort, while pleasure grounds and
places of recreation are being estab-
lished beyond the District, thereby re-
quiring our people to assume expense
and risk on crowded cars to make inn
pTOvements in the State of Maryland.
and thereby augment Maryland reve-
nues We refer to Chevy Chase lake,
Cabin John Bridge Glen Echo, Wild
wood and other much-frequented re-
sorts. We feel that, as Congress has
declared this park to be for the pleas
ure Of the people, now after ten years
of waiting an opportunity should be
afforded them to enjoy it.
I'VE believe the several large, sub
stantial stone buildings within the
park could, with slight expense, be
adapted to the uses of the people and
that arrangements could be made to
provide music and other properly
regulated entertainment for visitors,
and, further, that suitable means of
lhgfess hid egd6ss could De establish
ed with moderate expense.
I'VE remember that a very small
appropriation was made for a few
driveways and that the money has
been very judiciOusly expended by |
Captain Beach and his associates. |
While this is slight advantage to the !
wealthy and for those who can afford !
conveyances, it has not and will not |
afford the desired advantages for the !
benefit of the public generally.
BRIGHTwOoD AVENUE.
I'VE realize the fact that in all the |
years since the establishment Of the !
United States Government here in !
1900 there has not been provided a
single public highway except Bright !
wood avenue, leading from Florida
avenue to the District line, over which |
the development of the city can go
from North Capitol street on the east
to Rock Creek Park on the west, where
Sixteenth street ought to be located
for the necessities Of the travelling
public and in order as well to make
Rock Creek Park somewhat accessible |
This great avenue of travel, with
dOuble-track electric car line upon it,
is now insufficiently lighted. Travel
upon it is concentrated to the point Of
danger. For want Of adequate ap-
preparation Of money it has been for
almost three years allowed to remain
in a neglected condition, and only
pm SAcAA VI ~ 10 bb NAAlo IllllH a NhlluDA0
for travel. We ask that the work of
repairing be finished; that it be light.
ed with electricity, and that pave
ments for pedestrians be provided |
The Piney Branch or Fourteenth
street road has been virtually aban-
doned on the street extension plan.
I'VE urge that as we have now, after
several years Of effort on the part Of
our citizens committees, assisted by
the Commissioners, secured an appro-
priation to condemn and also the do
nation of a great extent of land nee
essary for the extension of Sixteenth
street, that an appropriation should
be made at the coming session Of Con-
gress to grade and regulate this i'm
portant highway.
1--WE observe that rows of brick
houses, large apartment houses and
private Improvements of an important
character have been constructed along
the line of Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets as far as the work of the mu-
nicipality has been carried, showing
conclusively the public necessity
which exists for opening, grading and
rpgu1afinp bOtb Tbirtaapth and Lro,,,