Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-23
TAKOMA PARK CELEBRATES
CITIZENS FELICITATE OVER COM
PLETION OF WATER WORKS.
Reception Given by Association to
Mayor and Common Council
The Addresses.

Citizens Association of that town being
host to the mayor and town council ana TO
representative citizens in the town nall.
President J. B. kinnear and the members
of the association were on hand to receive
the guests and members of the council as
they arrived.
Shortly after o'clock Mr.. Kinnear called
the assembage to order and said the desire
was to extend thanks to the mayor and
town council for their long and untiring ef-
forts in the interest of the citizens of Ia
koma Park. After a brief address, Presi-
dent Kinnear introduced Mr.. Ashley NJ.
Gould, attorney for the corporation, as the
speaker of the evening in behalf of the cit
liens. Mr.. Gould outlined the history of the
town in general way, and spoke of the
hopeless conditions existing when it was
first laid out He referred particularly to
Prince Georges county being neither
farm land nor forest. Its only value, he
said, lay in its close proximity to the ma
tic nal capital. He paid a high compliment
to Mr.. Benjamin F. Gilbert. who founded
the town, and referred to the services he
had rendered the community.
The only disadvantage to the town, ftr.
Gould added, was due to the fact that it
lies in two Jurisdictions, the state of Mary
land and the District of Columbia. Success
he said due largely to the fact that
the people had faith and trust in the toWn.
Outside of Rockville, it was The largest
town in Montgomery county. That town,
nearly a century old, contained many happy
and prosperous homes, while Takoma, which
less than twenty years ago was only pine
wood, has today all of the advantages and
modern convenienceS of towns much larger
in size. With the completion of the water
works and sewerage system, he said, Tako-
now has all of the improvements to be
found in Washington.
In complimenting the mayor and council
Mr. Gould paid a high tribute to that of
fetal body. 1t had worked faithfully and
stuck closely to duty. The members have
neglected their personal business, he said
in order that they might devote hours of
their time to the public welfare. They had
found mistakes from time to time, and cor
rected them without hesitation.
Mr.. Gould commended Mr.. George A.
Warren, town clerk and treasurer, for the
share of burden which he had assumed in
connection with the work. His efforts, he
said, have been unceasing and his name
stood higher than that of any other man
in Takoma Park.
Mayor Shedd's Address.
Upon the conclusion of Mr. Gould's re-
marks President Kinnear called upon
Mayor S. s. Shedd to make response in
behalf of himself and members of the coun-
Gil The mayor thanked the chairman and
citizens for the kind sentiments which had
been SO fatteringly expressed He felt
proud and grateful, he said, for the COM
plimentS and honors which had been con-
ferred upon himself and members of the
council and for the public reception in their
honor The magnitude of the undertaking,
he continued, was so great, the liability of
falling into error, If not complete failure,
SO easy, and the burden of responsibility
so overwhelming, that the mayor and coun-
Gil assumed the duty which bad been i'm
posed upon them with fear and trembling.
because of an absolute lack of knowledge
and experience in such matters. and be-
cause the whole enterprise seemed en-
tirely beyond their capacity; but the coun-
Gil entered at once upon its duty.
1--WE have installed in Takoma Park" he
added. "a water works and sewer system
of which the citizens can be justly proud.
A model system in every particular COM
prising nearly six miles of water mains
and more than five miles of sewer pipes,
with a dam and well on the Sligo into
which all the water is filtered, from which
it is pumped into a $1,000 gallon steel tank
elevated 80 feet above the pumping sta
ton upon a steel tower, which is an orna-
ment to the surrounding country, giving
absolute fire protection to the highest por-
tons of the town, without the addition of
fire engine.
Concluding, Mayor Shedd said: That we
have been abe to complete the whole duty
which you have imposed upon your mapor
and council without mistake and are able
to turn over to you formally a complete
system of water and sewer works, perfect
in every detail, is very gratifying to US,
and we are indeed pleased to know that
our work is so acceptable, satisfactory and
gratifying to you. There is a pleasure that
comes to one from the conscientious per-
Torrance of duty. There is greater pleas
ure which comes from the knowledge of a
duty well DONE
Mr.. George A. Warren responded at the
request of President Kinnear regarding his
connection with the new improvements He
said he was proud of the system, which
he had watched from its infancy. He spoke
in f1attering terms of the mayor and coun-
Gil and the assistance rendered by the citi-
zens of the town in the construction of the
works.
AT the close of his remarks President Kin
near presented the mayor and each men,
Der of the council with a handsome SOU
venir of the occasion. The Victoria Orches-
ira of Washington rendered a pleasing pro-
gram while the guests adjourned to the
banquet hall, where a collation. was served.
Origin of Movement.
The first official mention of the movement
to obtain water works for Takoma Park, in
connection with the present system, dates
back to February, 1896, when Mr. George
A. Warren, then a member Of the town
council, suggested to that body that the
town should consider the matter of con-
structing water works. This suggestion was
placed before the finance committee, COM
posed of Messrs. Morris Bien, J. H. Clark
and w. w. Dyar, with specific directions
to make report on the subject at the
next meeting of the council. From that
date until the April meeting of the council
in the same year nothing was done. When
the meeting was called the committee sub
mitted written reports, stating in effect that
for want of time, as the term of office of
the members of the council was about to
expire. it was impracticable for the
| council then in session to enter into
any general discussion of the question or
| take any definite action in the matter. But
one member of the committee was in favor
| of the construction of water works.
For several months the matter dragged
| along. without anything being accomplish
ed Mr. Ashley NJ. Gould, later on. in con-
yersation with Mr.. Warren, said he knew
| of a syndicate represented by Mr.. William
| T. Harris that would construct water
| works for the town. and at the request Of
| Mr. Warren the proposition was put In
| writing and introduced into the council by
| Mr. Warren early in January, 1897.