The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-02

When the District appropriation bill
comes up before Congress the official most
interested in its outcome will probably be
Major Richard sylvester. Superintendent of
Police. His attention is naturally directed
to the appropriation for the local police
| force. and while interested IN proposed i'm
| provements as a whole. the major portion
Of his interest will be. ant is now. cen
tired in the action that VIII be taken in
regard to the proposed establishment Of an
additional police precinct.
In his annual report to the Commission
ers. which has been forwarded 10 Congre5 IS
by them. with their endorsement, Major
Sylvester makes a strong plea for the ere
alton Of what he styles the Tenth pre-
cinct"
He asks that a statiOnhOuse be erected,
and a lieutenant, three sergeants. and full
complement OF men necessary TO the prop
or patroling OF the new precinct be ap-
rointed. He says that in the event the
appropriation is granted and the proposed
precinct established the benefits derived
will be numberless and OF such character
as to at once give evidence OF the wisdom
OF the plan. In his report on the matter
Major sylvester says.
In submitting an estimate for the hs-
cal year 1899 200 privates were asked for
as being the number Of additional men
actually needed 10 give the seventy square
miles Of District territory proper police
protection. II was not expected that Con-
gress would do something e had never
done before-supply the pressing need in
toto but il was believed that an allowance
for fifty privates would be made.
The Senate appreciated the situation
and recommended 100, but receded during
the closing hours of Congress and Joined
with the House in granting twenty-five pri-
Yates and one sergeant The l75 included
in the estimate made at that time should
now be provided for but in the face of the
probable limited District revenues that
may be available for police purposes, fav-
orabIe conditions will enable passable
continuance for a year longer should Con-
gress be generous enough TO appropriate
for the lieutenant three sergeants, fifty
prIvates two station keepers, janitoT. and
two drivers, who will be necessary 10 make
full complement Of men for the proposed
! Tenth police precinct
That extensive area north OF Florida
Avenue and bounded by Rock Greek on the
west and Bennng Road or the east, in
GLIDING over fifteen square miles Of terri
tory and population Of about 3o,o0U peo-
pie has been and Is now dividing a police
command with the city OF Washington.
whereby one section suffers at the expense
OF the other.
The Iamentable weakness or the subUr-
ban patrol, and OF the city precinct con-
tiguous. has long been and is now a source
OF Just complaint and criticism. The es-
tablishmeut Of a tenth precinct, which was
years ago contemplated by law-section
36e Revised Statutes relating TO the Dis
triCt Of Columbia-With IFS proper quota
of guardians Of the peace, is a necessity.
The proposed precinct ~culd include,
among other villages and institutions.
Mount Pleasant. Brightwood. Soldiers
Home Taboma- B-oOklyland. Eek
iugtou. University Heights, Howard
/ University. Metropolis View. lie Droit
Park Catholic University LamOnd. Rock
Greek Church National Park. Terra Gotta
Petworth, Ingleside, Lanier Heights, and
various roads and populated Subdivisions
md some Of the most valuable residences
located in the District
The magnificent adjacent driveways.
which are patr0nized by Government Off
cials and thousands Of citizens. the subur-
ban railway lines and resorts where thou
sands more find their way, are sparsely po-
Iced by the limited force available for the
purpose. Rapid transit has prompted the
building Of hundreds Of homes in this sec
ton Not only nave many villages follow
ed the line OF progress. but in the heights
adjacent 10 Washington a city OF extensive
proportions now stands where but a few
years ago there were commons.
There are schools and churches, rail-
roads. and stores, three engine houses. and
no police station. Members OF the force
must travel from the nearest stationhouse
90 their posts Of duty Prisoners must like
wise be transported miles at times TO court
or places OF confinement. The city rOwdy
and criminal find refuge in these outlying
sections. to be interrupted by the patrol
man who by hard travel occasionally 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 Of
tenders who succeed in escaping from this
Jurisdiction would be reduced to the mini
mum. The environments Of the Capital
City should be effectuaIly guarded"