The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-15
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
A Vigorous Protest Against the
Baseball Park.


The Commissioners are in receipt of a
communication from A. II. Ames relative
to the use Of the vacant lot on North
Capitol Street. between L and NJ Streets
northeast, as baseball park. He states
that it is matter of current report that
such use of the lot in question is con-
templated. and he writes to the Commits
sioners in behalf of the Sibley Memorial
Hospital, protesting against the use of
the lot for the purpose named. In his
letter to the Commissioners, Mr.. Ames
says:
With the exception of two small lots.
each eighteen feet wide. this institution
owns the ground from Pierce to NJ Streets
on North Capitol Street northwest. The
vacant lot spoken of above is directly
across the street from our property. The
proximity of any place of public amuse-
ment. especially one accompanied by Sc
much noise as such park would he.
must depreciate the value of our prop
erty as well as be a constant source of
annoyance.
But l desire to call your especial at
tention TO the fact thar Sibley Memorial
Hospital. a charitable institution. which
provides beds for over forty free patients
and which is a part of our institution, is
directly opposite the vacant lot described.
A moments reflection will snow that
place of public amusement so near cur
hospital Will be exceedingly injurious TO
the patients who come seeking medical
treatment. Even the occasional visits of
clrcuses and other like shows put the
patients of the hospital into serious dam
ger The continuous noise and disorder
which must accompany baseball park
will be disastrous in the extreme.
Therefore. in the name of humanity, the
managers of our institution protest
against the conversion of the aforesaid
lot to the purpose named"
L. W Emmart who states that he has
been eighteen years a railroad superin-
tendent. has written to the Commission
ers advocating the near-side stop for
street cars as the better for all purposes.
and especially for preventing collisions
between the cars and the apparatus of the
Fire Department as il is running TO fires.
Mr.. Emmart informs the Commissioners
that about the year 1893 he wrote to the
Board of Commissioners then in office ad
vocating safety appliances, among which
was the stopping of the cars on the near
side of the street to take on or to let of
passengers.
He states that the suggestion presented
was favored by them and after communi-
eating with the president of the Wash
Commissioners adopted it. This regula
tion. he says. remained in force until a
year ago and in the mean time not mis-
hap occurred. Continuing. Mr.. Emmart
says:
For some reason that no railroad man
could fathom the regulation referred TO
was changed about year ago, and what
has been the result? Shortly after fire
man was killed al Ninth and Streets and
a occurred al seventh
and D Streets northwest, and on February
there was the fatal collision in Con-
nectieut Avenue all as a consequence of
this change from stopping cars on the
near side 10 the far side. II the original
regula lions had been left in force and
obeyed by the motormen it would have
been impossible for such accidents TO have
occurred
Therefore return TO them and don't run
to Congress 10 regulate speed, for when
do We hear of an accident between cross
ings as a result Of the speed Of car
Let cars run at the present speed, but
compel every one TO stop al the near side
Of crossings. thus preventing the killing
Of our brave fremen-
Andrew B. Duvall. Attorney for the Dis
trict has submitted to the Commissioners
his opinion upon the application Of DR..
Richard Kingsman. for the remission CT
costs and penalties on the general lakes
for 1897 and 1899. on lots Z. S. H. s., and
Sc block ~, East Washington Park The
Attorney says that the applicant appears
10 have been unaware of the unpaid taxes.
having only recently acquired the property
and that when in 1898 and 1893 he called
for the bills for taxes against these lots
the Clerk OF the Assessors Office aid not
give him the bills for the tax due FOR the
preceding year.
Il am unable to advise" says the attor-
ney. that the Commissioners have au-
thoiity TO remit the costs and penalties
in this case. These costs and penalties
are part and parcel of the delinquent tax,
and the mere negligence On the part OF the
clerical force in the Office OF .he Assessor
would not justify the cancellation Of either
the tax or the penalties. purchaser may
protect himself against such annoyance
and loss as has unfortunately occurred in
this case by procuring the certified state
inent of taxes authorized TO be sssued IN
der the provisions of the act Of Congress
approved February 6. 1879