The Washington times., 1902-10-17
Veritable Eyesores Exist in
Handsomest Residential
Sections of the Nations
Capital.
eofAppropriations by
Congress Permits Condi-
ton of Affairs Humiliating
to Citizens.


Unless Congress makes liberal ap-
preparation this winter to the Health
Department the citizens of Washington
may expect to see the National Capital
the pride of every resident and the
boast of every American-overrun with
weeds. At the last session of the Fifty
sixth Congress an appropriation of 81 ,000
for weed cutting was made. This was
speedily consumed Last winter no ap-
propriation was made, and the result is
that from end to end the city is thickly
sprinkled with vacant lots upon which
vegetation fourishes. The owners refuse
TO cut them and the Health Department
cannot remove. them because it has no
money to devote to that purpose.
Weeds Waist High.
In the suburban districts the weed
grown lots are not so objectionable. as
that sort of thing is expected where i'm
provements are in the embryonic state.
Downtown, however. in the residential
portions of the city. where the popula-
tion is the thickest and the residences are
tie finest, rank growth of weeds i'm
medlately next to a stately mansion is
a veritable eyesore. In the district
north of H Street to Massachusetts, Ave-
nue., aud from Fourteenth Street to Con-
necticut Avenue northwest, which is the
choicest residence section of the city,
are hundreds OF vacant lots upon which
weeds grow waist, and even shoulder.
high.
The law of the District provides that
the Health Department shall inspect for
weed-grown lots, and shall order owners
to cut them down. If the order is not
complied with within certain time the
department shall cut the weeds, assess
Ing the expense against the property.
and such assessment shall stand as
lien. AS the department has no money
with which TO have the weeds cut, the
weeds grow. The only cases in which
the department can act are those in
which complaint that the growth is a
public nuisance is made and proven
These cases, Of course. are rare, as
simple growth of weeds can hardly be
construed as public nuisance If debris
has been dumped on the lot, or if the
growth is SO rank that 1t endangers the
public health, the department may act.
A veritable Eyesore.
One OF the most Objectionable vacant
lets down town is the property of the
Government. Ii is at Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. and Madison Place, directly opposite
the Treasury Building. and has been
considered as site for the new Depart
ment of Justice. The lot extends along
Pennsylvania Avenue $50 feet. and along
Madison Place 132 feet 1t is one of the
worst eyesores in the neighborhood as
1t is almost completely oveTrun with a
rank growth of weeds, ranging from one
10 two feet in height. Where the weeds /
cannot be seen a harsh expanse of yell
low clay is visible. The lot is inclosed !
by green board fence It's ugly ap-
pearance is only heightened by a cluster
OF wild flowers in its center, which bring
out more strongly the uncouth growth |
about them.
walking north on Madison Place one
soon encounters another eyesore. almost
as bad as that owned by the Government.
This is lot at the northeast corner
OF Vermont Avenue and X Street. 1t is
Shaped like fatiron, is 80 feet wide OIL
X Street, and about 172 feet deep Oh
vermont Avenue. rusty iron fence in
closes the lot, on each side of which are
beautiful residences. Within the fence
weeds a couple of feet high flourish ur-
molested. along with patches of over
grown shrubbery and small trees, which
are in need of trimming.
Executive Avenue"
Sixteenth Street-that thoroughfare
running straight north from the White
House, which many desired known a.
Executive Avenue"-is we'll supplied
with unsightly vacant lots. Just north
of HOO Sixteenth Street is a twenty-five
foot lot running back from the sidewalk
ia feet. 1t is almost covered with
weeds as high as mans hips {;
North OF 11l0 Sixteenth Street is a |
hfty foot lot, the front of which is nice
- SeA Sh AVA b1l lLt AdEh Oh winch is
overrun with weeds and an old truck
garden. A neat picket fence runs
across the front of the lot, about twenty
eet back from the sidewalk, but behind
he fence the sight is far from beautiful.
Across the street, Immediately south
II the alley running to Fifteenth Street,
S a lot 30 by 130 feet. which is filed {
Win debris from torn-down building 1
md with weeds. The weeds have forced
themselves through the plaster, stone.
md brick which is scattered about, and
Use twelve or eighteen inches above the
yround. t
An Offensive Landscape. !
One of the most Objectionable sights 1
N Sixteenth Street is a sixty-foot lot /
ust north of 1145. This is half filled I
nth debris of an indescribable charac- +,
er, and is overrun with scrub brush :
nd weeds, which grow as high as the !
houlder. A signboard runs across half Fl