The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-25
DEMAND FOR FAIRGROUNDS
An Interesting Problem Presented
to the Local Police.
Boys Seek EVIL Places, 1t Is CIaimed
Because They Have Not Been Pro
vided With Spots for Outdoor
Amusements-Remed Suggested.

vided With Spots for Outdoor
Amusements-Reme Suggested
The urgent demand for suitable play
grounds located at convenient points
about the city where children can congre-
gate and indulge in the various outdoor
games and. exercises is becoming more
manifest each summer. Each year the DO
lice are finding the problem of what to
do with this class of the city's population
more and more difficult of solution.
The rapid strides made in the last few
years of the building up of the central
and residence sections of the city has
gradually robbed the boys of the few
lots that were available for outdoor
amusements.
The police contend that this lack of
public Fairgrounds in Washington drives
the youth of the city into the saloons,
poolrooms, and other improper places
and, finally, frequently INTO the Police
Court and the prisons. They say that
many young men seek secIusion in retired
rooms or outhouses where the only
amusement to be found is a game of
cards. The seriousness of the situation
has often appealed toIMajor Sylvester and
IN his last annual report he referred to
the subject as follows:e
THE many laws and5regulatfons which
affect the occupancy of the streets and
reservations. the playing of ball, flying
of kites. and assembiages, effectually
dampen the pastimes of the city children
and tend to instilI defiance into the more
advanced youth. Boys driven from pillar
to post in seeking spots for recreation
only find quiet in the pool and card room,
working a degeneraey which is TO be de-
plored. This department receives more
complaints regarding the small boys than
all others put together. The citizen whose
quiet is disturbed or window pane broken
calls for the police. The parent condemns
the officer and the complainant alike, The
member of the force is directed to invoke
parental aid in the first instance and ar
rest in the second.
at is not desirable that children should
be arrested, however, for minor offences,
as the fright and humiliation incident
thereto only tend to harden, if not per
manentIy mar the career of the young
perhaps unintentionaI violator. A boys
hours for nightly recreation should be
limited. and his scope for daylight enjoy
ment enlarged. Public Fairgrounds must
sooner or later prevail in the several sec
tons of the city. The proposition Of Col
Theodore A Bingham. L. S. Army, Su-
perintendent Of Public Buildings and
Grounds to set aside parks for the pur-
pose deserves hearty support. But to
make such attractive, there should be
established the tennis court, ball field,
croquet grounds. bowling alley, swings,
ETC. all TO be utilized under an active and
intelligent police detail. The public bath
ing beach is in line with the proposed
esta blishments- From an insignificant be
,,rcsnerad and &c now al
assured success It's policing by a mem
Der Of the Metropolitan Police Force is
an expenditure in a most Iaudible direc-
ton"
The matter has recently been brought
to the attention of the Police Depart
ment Something of d clash between the
citizens Of the southeastern section of the
city and the police occurred on Saturday,
and is charged TO lack OF Fairgrounds
for the young Youths Of that section
have been particularly annoying to the
residents of late and many complaints
have resulted in the police driving the
boys from the street corners. Saturday a
number of them We're found in a wood
shed in the rear of a house, whose Occu-
pant complained to the police of the tres
pass and of the annoyance. When the
police descended upon the boys, who aver
heard them talking of how much each
owed the other, and in addition to the
rack of cards with which they We're play
ing, a number of poker chips were found
in their possession. Two of the boys were
caught and taken to the police station
but were afterward released on the order
of the sergeant IN charge. Indignation
was expressed by some of the residents
of the section because the police did the
only thing that they could have done Un-
der the circumstances. 1t was intimated
that committee OF citizens would wait
on Major Sylvester. but the matter was
investigated by that official and the ac-
ton OF the police was approved This
was but one of the numerous similar in
cidents that have recently annoyed the
Chief of Police, and as soon as he has
of the business that is now occu-
pying his attention he will set himself to
the task Of trying to relieve the situation
Major Sylvester has suggested that it
might be in the interest of the city for
the owners of vacant lots to grant per-
mission for the boys to play upon the
same. under suitable police supervision,
and that at the next session of Congress
an appropriation might be asked TO i'm
prove property donated to the city by
private citizens for Fairgrounds. 1t has
even been minated that it might be ad-
visabIe to ask for the authority of Con-
gress to remit taxes on such land as
might be temporarily made use of as pub /
lie Fairgrounds
From whatever point the matter is
viewed it is considered a most important
one that is bound to force itself upon
the city fathers sooner or later. -: pres
ent the only Fairgrounds are those II the
vicinity Of the Monument Lot and they
= re rather limited in accommodations are
= iWdES crowded. and 1EIItg n
a large percentage of the children of the