The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-24
SOUTH WASHINGTON
FIGHTS UNION STATION
Citizens Association Will
Join in Pending Lawsuit.
PLEA FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Commissioners Asked to Replace Cob
blestone PavementS on Certain Streets
With Asphalt and Asphalt Block.

The taxpayers of Southwest Wash
ington believe they have not been treat
ed with due consideration by the Penn
sylvania Railroad. and for that reason
the South Washington Citizens Asso-
citation placed itself on record last night
as being opposed to the Union Station
project, and Endorsed Josiah Willard and
the East End Citizens Association in
the suit now pending in the District
Supreme Court. involving the constitu-
tionality of the terminal act
The association met in Grace Parish
Hall, with President James F. Scaggs
in the chair. and Frank B. Gilmore Off
ciating as secretary. The needs of the
section were discussed at length, and
reports submitted and adopted with a
view to obtaining remedial legislation.
Interest seemed to center, however. in
arguments concerning the Union Sta
ton act. Josiah Willard was present as
invited guest and explained to the MEM
bers the reasons for his opposition.
Alleged Railroad Encroachment.
The fact was brought out that the
Pennsylvania Railroad has extended its
granite guard wall thirteen feet be-
yond the building line of Four-and-a-
half Street, at the intersection of Vir-
ginia Avenue, a privilege which is de-
MED any private citizen or taxpayer in
South Washington. Members of the as
ISOLATION declared they would be la
BILE to arrest If they placed a box or
barrel two inches beyond the building
line, while the Commissioners closed
their eyes to the encroachment Of the
railroad.
Finally It was agreed that in view OF
this apparent disregard of the rights
Of South Washingtons taxpayers. the
association would solicit contributions
to defray expenses incidental to fighting
the terminal act on the ground of un-
constitutionality.
The Rev. Claudius Smith, chairman Of
the committee en- schools, reported the
Potomac School to be in a dilapidated
and unsanitary condition. and as a re-
suit many children have become III
within the past few weeks. The Com
missioners will be requested to repair
the building Immediately.
Need for New Pavements.
DR.. Willard Thompson. chairman of
the committee on streets and highways.
reported that many streets In South
Washington are in sad need OF repair
and Improvement, and some of the
leading thoroughfares Of that section OF
the city have been paved with cobble-
stones for a quarter of a century. The
Commissioners will be requested 10 have
Tenth Street paved with sheet asphalt.
and Eleventh and Twelfth Streets
paved with asphalt block
G. r. L. Cole, chairman of the house
committee, reported while the general
conditions in South Washington. as far
as sanitation is concerned, are good,
there are sections which have been woe
/ fully neglected. He said a malaria and
mosquito breeding ground exists at the
Thirteenth Street entrance Of the Agri-
cultural grounds in the form OF pond
] of stagnant water He reported b
/ Street. between Tenth and Twelfth
/ Streets. TO be in filthy condition, ad-
! jaeent 10 the market, and declared the
/ pavement had not been cleaned for two
weeks. This state Of affairs. he argued
cannot be found to exist in any other
city in the country.
/ The next meeting Of the association
will be held in November.