The suburban citizen., 1901-11-09
WASHINGTON, d. c., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER o. 1901

WASH
with Potomac water it reflects great
credit on our secretary, who persisted
lin his demands almost daily for a period
Iof three months before he succeeded
Since the work already done and to be
Hone by this association is OF such very
3great Importance to the people of Ben
ming and Kenilworth, [ urge that a spe-
cial plea be made that every business
man and property owner in that section
should join Our association and by so
doing show their appreciation OF our
effrts in their behalf
The request of the committee on po-
lice, fire and lights for the installation OF
electric lights along several OF our high
ways has been presented and an addi-
tional appropriation for electric lighting
has been recommended by the Commis-
sioners. but | regret to say that it will
require new legislation before any cleo
trio light wires can be strung in any
part of the District lying east OF Rock
creek. The legislation that allowed the
stringing of electric light wires in the
northwest suburbs was special legisla
ton that authorized the same to be done
in the territory west OF Rock creek only.
1t will be our aim to assist the authori-
ties in having an act passed that will
enable the people east of Rock creek
to enjoy the same privileges in reference
to overhead wires as are enjoyed by
those west of it.
A PUBLIC PARK.
The executive committee has devoted
much time and its best thought toward
solving the problem Of getting public
park for this section, the result being
that we have recommended the purchase
by the government for park purposes
OF the block of ground bounded on the
east by 18th street, on the west by the
Bladensburg road, on the north by K
street. and on the south by Benning
road, with a proviso that Maryland ave-
nue. be opened through the tract. The
parcel OF ground referred to is part OF
the Graceland Cemetery property, which
now stands as monumental barrier to
all street extensions and Improvements
/ beyond
In lecture by Mr.. Charles F Weller,
secretary of the Associated Charities.
delivered Oct I3, 1901, that gentleman
said Give us parks and Fairgrounds in
those sections of Washington where
they are really needed and you have
gone a long way toward improving the
condition of the poor who are always
with us. We want places where the
children can play and breathe and
where there is something besides the
squalor Of the alley or the filth OF the
dump"
We shall continue to exert our very
best efforts toward the solution of this
question, and / ask your hearty coop
Grafton.
feel that the thanks OF the associa-
ton are due the Standard Butterine Co.
at Langdon for the very generous public
spirit displayed by them in grading and
macadamizing ,he lane leading from the
Badensburg road past their factory to
the railroad crossing at Langdon. Such
an exhibition of public spirit for the
public good, entailing as it did the ex-
penditure out OF their own private means
of something like $4,000, calls for an eX-
preston of profound thanks from the
community at large
THE ANACOSTIA FLATS.
The reclamation by the government
OF that broad eXpanse Of miasma-breed-
ing marshland that stretches its Shiny
length for miles along the eastern bor-
der Of the city, and known as the East
ern Branch Flats, is of such overshad-
owing importance as to call from me an
expression of opinion that we should
speedily determine to join our efforts
with those of other Citizens Associa-
tions in urging Congress to enact such
legislation as will result in biotting this
plague spot from the map OF what would
otherwise be our fair city.
In his last report to the Secretary OF
War on this subject, Brig-Gen. John
M. Wilson, late chief of engineers OF
the army, presented two plans for the
Improvement OF the Anacostia river
from the District line to its mouth, with
estimate of cost by sections as follows:
l. Dredging channel and depositing
material to an average elevation OF
feet above low tide, including construc-
ton of sea wall and embankment to a
height of IA feet above low tide, esti-
mated to cost, with contingencies;
Section From mouth to
Navy Yard Bridge .....$I, ,2I8,525
Section 2-From Navy Yard
Bridge to Benning Bridge. o76,Ios
Section 3 - From Benning
Bridge to the District Line. 644,6oo
Total cost ..........$ .$283o, 800
Omitting embankment and drainage,
this total will be reduced to S24o348o.
2. Dredging channel and depositing
dredged material on the fats, and trans
porting material to raise the flats to a
height OF ID feet above low tide, includ-
ing sea wall estimated to cost, includ-
ing contingencies:
Section I, as above described S32o175o
Section ?, as above described 2646,o3o
Section 3, as above described, I628,5oo
Total .............$6o67,I ,I8o
Lieutenant Colonel Allen suggests
the Improvement Of sections l and Of
the first plan at a cost of $2,Io4,72o as
the one best calculated to serve the
present needs and as the least ex-