Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-11
PRESIDENT APPROVES
Endorses the Movement for
Public Play Grounds.
TEXT OF HIS LETTER
SPECIALLY INTERESTED IN
THREE LINES OF EFFORT.
Origin Of the Plan Now in Operation In
Washington-Appeal for
Funds.
TEXT OF HIS LETTER

national capital. The Presidents letter IS
written in response to a report of the work
already accomplished by the public play
grounds committee. recently formed in
Washington. with Mr.. Cuno H. Rudolph as
chairman. The President was informed
that three public play grounds have been
opened in Washington through the strenu-
Gus efforts Of small group of interested
citizens and the private contribution of a
small sum of money.
AS result. those who are laboring for
the advancement of the movement in
Washington were encouraged by receiving
yesterday a letter. dated at Oyster Bay.
New York. July 6. 1903. and addressed to
the Associated Charities. this city The
President says:
my Dear Mr.. Weller: 1 am delighted to
hear that you have succeeded in establish
Ing certain play grounds in Washington. It
would be a national misfortune if the cap
ttal city were developed without proper at
tention being given to the wellbeing Of
those Of it's citizens least able to protect
themselves. l congratulate you upon the
good work or your association, and earn
estly wish that you may receive such sup
port as will enable you to continue it. Sim
cerely yours.
Csigned) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Interested in Three Things.
In December. 1902. Colonel Theodore
Bingham introduced Mr.. Weller to Presi-
dent Roosevelt at the latters suggestion.
The President had stated in his last mes
sage to Congress that the national capital
ought to be made a model city in so far as
social conditions and modern social service
are concerned. After talking with Mr. We'll
Ter concerning existing conditions in WASH
tngton and the public improvements needed.
the President expressed his special interest
In three particular lines of effort and his
cordial desire to assist in promoting them.
THESE three matters were: First. the con-
demnatfon of fnSanitary dwellings unfit for
human habitation; second, the gradual con.
version of hidden interior alleys into minor
streets, to be opened up straight through
the resident blocks; third. the DEVELOPMENT
OF public play grounds in several portions
Of the city.
In the first and third of these means of
social effort the the President had~been es-
pecially active while he was serving as DO
lice commissioner in New York CITY and
as governor of the state Of New York The
Presidents friend. Mr.. Jacob A. Riis had
been particularly active in the deyelop-
ment of public play grounds in New York.
IL was this work. together with Mr. Riis'
interests In the Improvement of housing
conditions. which led the President to
speak OF him as 1.-The most useful citizen of
New York city, Thus the President had
learned from experience the value of pub
proper opportunity to speak a public word
In their behalf in Washington
The Work Inaugurated.
In May and June. 1903, temporary use
Of two vacant squares of ground was Sc
cured and committee was organized
which has announced it's purpose as fol-
lows: ITO make known the need for pub
lie Fairgrounds and their usefulness by
equipping and managing three temporary
grounds so successfully that they shall be
made permanent next year. and additional
Fairgrounds opened in other parts of
Washington
By private solicitation, a fund of se43
was raised and the erection Of simple APP
paratus was commenced upon these two
playground spaces. A third playground
which had been in successful operation for
a year In the rear of ''Neighborhood
House." 456 N street southwest, was taken
In charge by the committee. This is now
being used for girls and small children.
while the boys and young men are given
exclusive use of the larger new play
ground at 7th and NJ streets southwest
Here swings, see-saws. teeter-ladder, a
climbing ladder, a fascinating Giant
stride" and a large box full of fine sand
In which the younger boys dig holes and
build houses, have already been provided.
All day long children and youths play on
the athletic apparatus or the base ball
diamond. Every evening from 6 to o. clock
the yard is crowded with men and women
who bring their little ones and stand
around enjoying the fun which their boys
and young men are having.
Another Square Secured.
At LIST and NJ streets southwest a large
square has been secured and cleared of
rubbish. Here swings and other apparatus
are being erected for the use OF colored
youths. Prof. A. U. Craig of the Arm
lied the colored boys and young men Of
the neighborhood around the playground.
so that they have assisted in removing the
waste tin and sheet-iron which filled the
square, and in erecting the swings, see
saws, travelling rings and other amuse-
ment devices which are now keeping the
boys and girls OFF the street corners of
the neighborhood.
Both of these Fairgrounds have already
won the cordial approval of the local po-
licemen. who say that the gangs of boys
and young men are gone from the street
corners and saloon doors, and that they
have arrested no youngsters in this neigh
borhood since the Fairgrounds opened.
The bluest dyspeptic and pessimist in
Washington would be made happy for
many hours to see the happiness and glee
upon the faces of the children who are
amusing themselves daily in these bene-
ficient new social centers. Many anus
ing incidents also occur and one woman
who came to one Of the public grounds
watching the games for a time that now
she could understand why 1t was SO diff
cult for her to keep Tommy's trousers
in repair.
Appeal for Aid.
Mr.. Cuno H. Rudolph. chairman of the
committee. has been sending out appeals
lately. He states that the small sum
which was raised privately to start three
Fairgrounds has now been exhausted. More
apparatus is urgently needed Even that
which is already in action can not be MAIN
tanned without some expense.
The committee Is therefore anxious to re-
ceive contributions from all who are in
terested in this new. beneficient, public
movement.
Thus far. the following sums have been
obtained from the following subscribers:
An Anonymous Friend. 500; Natalie s. B.
Forsythe, s.; Henry B. F. mcfarland,
IS; Miss A. c. Koerper 81; John w. Doug
lass, IS; Cuno H. Rudolph. 81: Lyman l..
Pierce, IS; DR.. w. c. Woodward, IS; A
Friend. 81; Charles F. Nesbit, IS: John B.
Sleman. jr., IS: ]. B. Henderson. $40; M.
M. Shand. =; C. w. Grafton, s.; B. H.
Warner, $40; s. Kann. Sons & Co., $40;
w. Riley Decide, s.; Geo. w. Swartzell.
s.: "Neighborhood House playground
fund. 1857; w. H. Rap1ey. So: w. T. CALI
her & Bros, IS: James e. Fitch, $40; E.
Berlinger, 80: T. w. Smith, IS: Barber 4
OF