The evening times., 1900-07-18

! Precinct, recently reported 10 the Superin-
tendent of Police that weeds were grow
ing On the sidewalk on Willard Street
northwest, between Sixteenth and Eight
eenth streets.
In forwarding the report to the Commis-
sioners Major Sylvester said he was not
sure whether this was a matter for action
( under the weed law or whether il was the
disposition Of the Commissioners that the
weeds should be cut by members Of the
chain gang.
Upon motion OF Commissioner Macfar-
land the matter was referred to the Health
Department. and now DR.. Woodward, the
Health Officer. reports as follows:
On June 10 complaint was received fram
R. II. Atkinson, Of 1873 Willard Street.
relative to the presence Of weeds in that
thoroughfare. Investigation showed that
the complaint was well founded On June
Il. therefore. this complaint was referred
10 the Engineer Department.. which has
always been regarded as responsible for
the removal Of such vegetation from public
Iand, and on June p the owners of the
property in the vicinity were notified to
remove the weeds from the land owned by
them.
"On June p complaint was received from
Henry p. Merrill. OF 1850 Willard Street.
through the Commissioners Office. of wee..-
growing in the walk and on the parkinz
ana on the lots adjoining his property.
Some of the parties notified as above stat
Cd. communicated with this department ex-
pressing a willingness TO remove the veg
citation for which they we're responsible.
rs soon as the District Government rer-
dered il practicable for them 10 do so hy
removing the weeds from the parking The
position assumed by them was manifestly
fair, and. therefore. no action was taken
toward enforcing compliance With the no
tices served pending removal Of the weeds
for which the District Government was
responsible. Such weeds have now been
removed and the citizens responsible for
those on private land in the vicinity have
been requested TO proceed az once 10 com
ply with the notices which were served.
The uniform practice OF this depart
ment heretofore has been to refer 10 the
Engineer Department all complaints ella
tive 10 the removal OF weeds from prop
erty belonging to. or under the control Of
the District Government and such action
has always resulted in the removal OF
such vegetation Ii is true that or July
1 an appropriation Of $500 became avail
able IN the Health Department schedule
for the enforcement OF the provisions OF an
lands in the city Of Washington. etc. but
the purpose Of this appropriation. as
shown by the memorandum printed In the
District Appropriations act, was fOr the
purpose OF securing the removal Of weeds
from property belonging 20 uon-residents.
and IL Is uestionable whether IL is avail
able for the removal Of weeds from public
lands.
IN view Of the fact that this work has
heretofore been done satisfactorily by the
Engineer Department ! see no reason for
a departure from the practice at the pres
ent time"
The report and observations OF the
Health officer have been approved by he
Commissioners
Robert T. Ballard. Measurer and Inspector
Of Lumber. today submitted his report 10
the Commissioners Of operations for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1900 He states
that he measured and inspected during the
year S.2fS.lSl feet Of lumber the expenses
for handling being s939.43 and the net rev
enue for inspection being Si.s6S.22.
r. l. Nottingham recently sent a com
munication TO Col. Theodore A. Bingham.
calling attention 10 the Illegal parking and
ropnlitan Railroad Company. bordering Lin
COLI Park on the east and south Colonel
Bingham not having charge Of such mat
ters referred the letter 70 the C0mmis-
sioners.
Mr. Nottingham states that during the
past few weeks this Illegal parking of the
cars referred TO has been going on He
states that the company has been endeavor-
ing to make use Of the short piece Of track
lately put down. with the result that the
tracks on the east and south sides of the
T8rk are continually occupied by cars.
81 uniting to and fro. MIR. Nottingham
says:
To further aggravate matters and 10
nder the hours. especially al night. real
pleasant the mOtOrman of the rea- car
bangs his bell TO notify those in front Of
his presence. The conductor. not to be
left in this endeavor to please plays the
small bells or exercises his lungs yelling
What's the matter? and similar express
siOns in continuous performance Peace is
now unknown
Again the occupancy. OF these tracks
prevents people from visiting the park.
except by darting between the cars-a very
dangerous act, especially for women and
children. This park is undoubtedly one Of
the finest in the city, and we feel proud of
it. and Justly object 10 any and all injury
10 IL Therefore. at the request of many, I
respectfully ask ~our earnest help in pro
tecting the park, that the children and the
public IL general can visit il in safety and
enjoy its comforts without running the
danger Of being ground TO pulp beneath the
car wheels or of being subjected to uu-
necessary noise.
The section Immediately about Lincoln
Park is destined to grow into the pretti-
est Of East Washington and il Should not
be injured through the greed OF the Metro
politan Railroad Company We have built
our homes here that our children might
enjoy the advantages of the park II the
Metropolitan Railroad Company is to be
permitted to continue this nuisance the
Government might better close II and do
nate il to the company for loafng place
for conductors and mOtormen''
The complaint having been referred to
the Engineer Department A. l. Thomas
an inspector. was sent to make an investi-
cation. He reported that in one or two
instances, owing to the number Of lines
operated on the tracks referred to. cars
have been massed at a point bordering on
that park But the inspector was informed
by the officials of the company that the
Connecticut Avenue line would soon be dis
continued on East Capitol Street and he
thought that with the exception of such
times as there might be q tie-up on the
line due to some unforeseen accident only
one car VIII be on the track at one time
thus removing all cause of complaint.
c. b. Hunt, the Computing Engineer. in
transmitting the report to the Commfs-
sioners took occasion TO suggest that the
attention of the company be called TO the
complaint of Mr.. Nottingham and TO the
fact that the parking and shifting of cars
on these tracks is Illegal, and that IL il is
continued some further arrangement Of
their methods o operation or schedule Will
be necessary. Mr.. Hunt further suggest
hot h. l.