Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-18
SERVICE CONDEMNED
TAKoMA PARK c1FIzENs HOLD
FIRST FALL MEETING.
-! ~
Street Railway Methods Arraigned and
improvements femasded-other
Matters Discussed.

The extension of tire .14th street car line
north to Brightwood andQ Takoma Park
from its present terminus the election Of
officers for the ensuing year and resolutions
condemnatory of the Brightwood electric
road were features of the fall meeting of
the Takoma Park Citizens Association,
| which was held last night in Takoma Hall.
The meeting was presided over by DR.. H.
| NJ. Bennett, in the absence of President B.
| L. Galloway, who is In the west. Mr.. j. B.
Derrick recorded the minutes.
| The inadequate service on the Brightwood
road and the poor facilities for accommo-
dating the travelling public came in for it's
| share of debate last night, and the railway
! officials were condemned for the manner in
| which they have undertaken the manage
ment of the affairs of the road The acct
| dent of yesterday on another suburban
| branch was discussed. The attention of the
association was called to the fact that for
years past protests and petitions have been
presented by the residents all along the line
but the conditions for accommodation are
poorer today than they have ever been, The
| power Is insufficient and the delays occur
almost as often as they did in days gone by
! 1t was explained that large number of
| the patrons In that section were employed
| In the government service, and the frequent
delays Jeopardize their positions. Last night
the power was as unreliable as ever and as
a result 1t took one car eleven minutes to
reach the top of the first hill above Pom
eroy street. The cars were crowded to their
utmost carrying capacity and. owing to the
heavy haul, 1t was necessary to remain idle
at intervals In order to wait for stronger
current.
Want Another Car Line.
Mr.. H. s. Knight addressed the meeting
at some length and advocated the extension
OF the Capital Traction line from its pres
ent terminus at 14th and Whitney avenue
north to Brightwood, thence to Aspen
street. east to Takoma Park, through
North Takoma to the large tract of land
purchased by the Seventh Day Adventists,
making a loop and returning by the same
route. The residents of North Takoma are
equally anxious that the car service should
be extended over on the Maryland side,
and the town authorities of Takoma Park,
Md, have promised to assist them In secur-
ing the necessary extension in that portion
Of Maryland, beyond the District line.
Mayor j. b. kinnear was present at the
meeting and Informed those present that
the surveys for the extension of 14th street
had been made as far as Brightwood. and
that the work would be commenced in the
early spring, and in years time the grad
ing and extending of the street would be
completed and ready for travel. The Cap
ita1 Traction Company, he said, was ready
to push its tracks north far as the leg
islatioD which they had secured, would
allow. The officials of the road, he stated
iuI tHeT, were Wiling TO continue SI1ll
farther north to the District line, and an
effort would be made to take the matter up
at the next session of Congress
Legal Action Suggested.
Mr.. Blair Lee condemned the present in
adequate service on the Brightwood line
end suggested that the matter be taken up
at an early date and be presented to Con-
gress at its next session. He explained the
methods whereby the District Commission
ers had authority to take the matter up
and, Ii necessary, resort to the courts and
take legal action against the railway Off
Gals.
The opening of Umatilla street and Aspen
street was presented to the7meeting by Mr..
Fl. S. Knight accompanied by communi-
cation which had been sent to the District
Commissioners, requesting that the neces-
sary appropriation be made for the open
Ing of these streets Mr.. Knight stated that
UP to the present, time there was no public
thoroqghfare connecting Takoma Park
he said, as 1t now. exists. is practically i'm
Iassable IN winter, ON account of the condi-
ton in which it was left by the railway
when the tracks were rebuilt. The matter
received the Endorsement of the association
and the attention of the Commissioners will
be called to the fact. ~
Mr.. Knight also requested that the asso-
citation take the necessary action looking
for the extension of 14th street from its
proposed terminus near Brightwood to the
Military road. This, he stated. was deemed
necessary in order to improve the sections
contiguous to and likewise urged the ex-
tension of the car line along the same
thorougnfare.
Crowded Schools.
Mr.. Albert F. Woods of the committee on
schools reported that additional ground had
been secured adjoining the present grounds
of the Takoma public school. almost dou-
bling the amount of ground. The new prop
erty, he stated, had been fenced in and as
soon as 1t had been graded by the District
Commissioners the parking committee
would take the necessary steps to beautify
them, by planting flowers and shrubbery.
The association adopted resolution pre-
scented by Mr.. H. s. Knight. looking toward
the betterment of the lighting facilities on
Brightwood avenue, from the Soldiers
Home TO the District line.
On motion of Mr.. George A. Warren of
the committee on streets and lights that
the attention of the Washington Gas Light
Company be called to the inadequate serv-
ice during the early hours of the evening.
Mr.. Kfnnear informed the meeting that the
company several years ago purchased a
piece Of property at the corner of 9Th and
Umatilla streets. for the purpose Of con-
stIucting a receiver. but that 1t had never
been done. If a receiver is built on the
property 1t is believed that the supply of
gas can be increased to the satisfaction of
the residents of the park.
Relative to the connecting of the sewer
on Oak avenue from the District side to the
sewage system of the town of Takoma
Park, Nd, Mayor Kinnear reported that
the District Commissioners had let the con-
tract for the work and that as soon as the
District is ready the sewers would be join
ed and the connections made with the
houses Oak avenue.
The election of officers for the ensuing
year resulted follows: President, B. T.
Galloway; vice president DR.. H. NJ. Ben
nett; secretary, Albert F. Woods. and treas
u.er. ]. B. Derrick
Geisha Girls Want to Stay in America.
A dispatch from st. Louis last night says:
A hearing which is to determine subject to
possible revision at Washington. whether
the seventeen Geisha girls who are now