The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-09
A PARK AT FORT STEVENS
BrightwO0d Citizens Want the Bat
tlcfield Reclaimed.
Considerable business Transacted Mt
Meeting of the Citizens AssOcia-
ton A More Extensive Scnie of
improvements Thought Necessary.

There is n growing sentiment in the
! District, and especially among the resi-
dents of BrightwoOd, that the site of old
Fort Stevens, the only spot within the
| boundaries where a battle was fought
during the civil war, should be made n
| national park. The Brightwood Citizens
| Association is taking an active part in
| the movement. At the meeting of that
| association at the Brightwood Hotel last
night. Mr. w. V. Cox, the Chairman of
the Historical Committee, made a report
of the work of that body, which had been
instrumental in having bill providing
| for the establishment of a military park
introduced in the Senate. The bill. which
was presented by Senator Proctor calls
for an appropriation of S75,00O As yet
there has been no action taken on the bill.
which was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
Mr. Cox said that If Congress estab-
lished a park at Fort Stevens he had as
suranCe that a number of States would
erect suitable monuments in honor of
their volunteers who persisted in the en-
gagement of July II and u, 1864 A bill
providing for the erection of a monument
in commemoration of the New York SOL
diers who were killed in the battle has
already been introduced in the upper
house of the New York State Legislature.
The battle at Fort Stevens was an en-
gagement which resulted In a repulse
from the National Capital of the Confed-
crate troops under Early by Federal
forces commanded by Gen. A Med. Nc
Cook. Even to this day many relics OF
the battle are found on the site of Fort
Stevens. north of the Soldiers Home.
The meeting last night was well at
tended. Louis Z. Shoemaker presided and
John ]. Keene acted as secretary. After
the usual routine business was trans
acted and the report of the Historical
Committee, submitted by Mr.. Cox, was
heard, Mr. n. L. Robinson, the Chair
man of the Railroad Committee. read a
letter which had been transmitted to
Representative Babcock, the Chairman of
the District Committee in the House. The
letter asked that Congress settle once
for all the question of the right of the
street railroad company to charge more
than a single fare for carrying passen-
gers from the heart of the city to Bright
wood and other suburbs
Last August it was announced by the
syndicate lines that double fare would
be charged on the Brightwood line This
aroused such a storm of Indignation and
protest on the part of residents Of that
section that the syndicate was forced to
abandon the plan. The citizens Of Bright
wood have always been rather appre-
hensive regarding the matter, and the
step taken by the Railroad Committee
was made with view to obtaining n final
settlement of the matter. The commune
cation reached the District Committee
too late to be acted upon during the ses-
sion of Congress just closed. but will
probably be taken up next December
Mr. Thomas Blagden. the Chairman of
the Committee on Streets. Roads. and
Bridges, made the statement that al
though the Brightwood section had not
received appropriations sufficient for its
needs. there had nevertheless been
enough appropriated to make a consid
cradle improvement in the streets and
roads. Ten thousand dollars was apnro-
priated to macadamize and grade I5ias-
den Avenue. Five thousand dollars was
appropriated to grade Illinois Avenue, ard
$1,000 was appropriated for the grading
OF Genesee Street, between Brightwood
Avenue and Fourteenth Street Road.
In connection with Mr.. Blagden's re-
port, general discussion was INDUCED in
that the appropriations were insufficient
for the needs of Brightwood. Mr.. Shoe
maker read letter which had been
sent to the chairmen OF the District
committees in Congress by a number of
property owners i'll various parts of the
CITY. me letter expressed the opinion
that the appropriation of s1O0,n0J recon-
mended for the improvement of roads
was INADEQUATE
1t was pointed out that in Brightwood
and other suburban sections of the Dis
trict many of the streets and roads were
narrow and rough and really in worse
CONDITION than they were a number of
years ago Regret was also expressed
that 1t had been found necessary u
strike out a recommendation for an an
preparation of $4,000 to widen and pave
Columbia Road. 1t was urged that the
provision for this appropriation be REIN
stated in the District Appropriation bill.
The letter had the effect of Increasing
the appropriation from $4,000 to $4,000.
BY action of the House the rec1rnmenda-
ton OF $1,000 had been cut TO 10000
II was the general opinion of the men,
hers of the association present that The
public improvements in the District were
not of such an extensive nature as be-
htted the Capital of the United States.
Wilton j. Lambert introduced the 70 low
ing resolution. which partially expressed
the desire of the association that the
pubic improvements be carried out on a
more extensive scale.
Resolved That the Brightwood Citizens As
soclutlon hereby expresses its thorough approyal
Of The action Of the Commissioners in obtaining
rom Congress the authority to receive advance.
from the Treasury Of the United States To- meet
the deficiency existing in the treasury of the
District OF Columbia hy reason Of the departure
from the compact of ISIS. And be il further
Resolved, That, as many necessary improve
nents. such 4 new municipal building and a
complete sewerage system, are still required the
Commissioners be requested to urge Congress 10
either grant further advances to the District or u
authorize a bond issue 10 meet such present and
future public improvements.
The resolution, which was unanimously
adopted when presented, contained a
clause stating that the reclamation Of the !
Anacostia Flats was a muchneeded i'm
provement.
1t was stated by Thomas Blagden that
the citizens of Anacostia expected that
The Anacostia Flats would be improved
through provision Of the River and Har-
Dor Dill. Consequently il was decided not !
Flats
There is seldom monthly meeting of
the BriShtwOOd Association that bitter
complaint Is not made of the service on |
the BrghtwOOd Railroad. A resolution /
was adopted in this connection last night.
II stated that whereas the crowded condi- !
ton OF the Brightwood cars had become /
80 uncomfortable and even dangerous to |
the travelling public il was the desire OF
the Brightwood Citizens Association to |
can the attention Of the managers of the /
Brghtwood line TO the fact and to request /,
that additional cars be placed on the road /
at once.
The bad condition Of many of the roads |
III the vicinity Of Brightwood. even at tho |
present time when the weather is fair.
gave rise to a resolution which called at I
tentiOn to the bad condition Of the rough (
and dangerous CONDITION OF Brightwond |
Avenue south of BrightWOod and of the !
Pincy Branch Road between Brightwood |
and Mount Pleasant. and requested the. |
hnt 10. 10.
these thOrOughfares be filed with broken /
ST nun-