Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-10

| dllCe VI Tie VI iiIc doSoSie eio GIN
! their friends. The annual election, result
ing with exception in the selection of
the old board, was held and several routine
matters were disposed Of The business was
transacted with dispatch, to make way for
| the speechmaking.
| Following the adoption of a resolution in
dorsing the recommendation of Engineer
| Commissioner Biddle that the permanent
name of Wisconsin avenue be officially des-
| ignated President Charles c. Lancaster read
| his annual report.
Presidents Address.
The efforts of the association during the
| year have been to secure larger appropria-
| tons for better water and sewer service,
| for the permanent improvement of the sub
urban roads and streets, for the repair and
| enlargement of our public schools, for more
| electric lights roads and streets and for
development of Rock Creek Park
1t is gratifying to realize that the total
amount of appropriations made by the last
Congress for improvements for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 1904, is the largest
in the history of the District, and it is the
strongest evidence of the liberallty and pa
triotic feeling on the part of Congress to
develop and improve the national capital
This manifestation is largely due, however,
to the educa tional efforts of the public
spirited citizens of Washington and the en-
terprise and zeal of our earnest and active
board of Commissioners. The sentiment is
growing steadily, not only in the District.
but throughout the country, that the ma
| tional capital is the national home of the
people of the United States, and that the
people of the United States willing and
anxious that their representatives in Con-
greSs should assume more than one-half of
the entire burden Of municipal expense and
national capital building.
Local Legislation.
u,,o e.
fecting our section passed by the last Con-
gress, through the efforts of this associa-
ton, the Brightwood association and Col.
John Biddle, Engineer Commissioner. earn
estly supported by his colleagues, Commits
sioners mcfarland and West was the act
authorizing the laying of water mains and
service sewers in the District of Columbia
and the levying of assessments therefor.
This legislation is of far-reaching impor-
lance to the development of the suburbs.
Heretofore it has been almost impossible to
secure the laying of water mains and serv-
ice sewers in the suburbs without a direct
appropriation from Congress or excessive
assessment. This condition working
not only hardship upon the taxpayers, but
was seriously retarding the development of
the greater Washington We would be
wanting in gratitude were we not here to
express publicly our thanks for and appre-
citation of the efforts of Col John Biddle,
Engineer Commissioner, in drafting the bill
and with his associates, in securing the
passage of the same
Our efforts during the year have also been
devoted to the improvement of our county
roads. In recent years the highways in the
suburbs have been practically neglected
The only Improvements made were tenn
porary repairs of an inferior quality. The
time has now arrived when not only the
people of the suburbs but of the city, fully
realize the fact that the condition of these
| highways is not only reflection upon the
enterprise of the citizens of the District, but
| a disgrace to the national capital We be-
| lieve that every road, street and avenue in
| the suburbs should be macadamized or
| paved and put in first-class condition. to
! compare favorably with similar conditions
| in other cities in this country and in Eu-
| rope.
Identification Of Suburbs.
Another subject of Importance, upon
| which we have taken official action and
passed resolutions, from time to time, is
the Identification of the suburbs, by urg-
ing taxDayers to remove all loafer trees,
underbrush and weeds from their property.
We believe that ii the dense woods are
thinned out and trimmed up. the prop
| erty would be more attractive and Valua BILE
| There Is question but what this neglect
| tends to cheaper the value of property and
| to deter many from selecting their homes
| outside of the city limits.
These and many other matters of a pub
| lie character demand the continued and
combined efforts of the taxpayers of this
section of the District.
The government of this District is es-
sentally non-partisan in it's character, and
every citizen and taxpayer can feel that his
interests will be fully protected provided
ne has the enterprise and public spirit to
advance them. The Commissioners are hon
est, capable and energetic men, striving at
all times to protect the community and ad-
vance it's material welfare.
There IS no more fertile field than in this
District for citizens organizations. They
create public sentiment, give active sup
port to the Commissioners of the District
and convince the Congress of the United
States tbs I the legislation desired Is in the
interest of no ring, but for the general
good of the community.
1t is true, and happily So that we have
no carnival of corruption in this District,
as in other cities of this country, as recent
| Investigations have developed. Still the
| citizens have every incentive to Join to-
| gether in united effort to protect their
! homes, beautify their property, develop the
| city and create healthy public opinion in
behalf of the national capital. On those
| lines this association was created. and con-
| tines to exist. The future therefore is in
our hands. Let us master the situation and
thereby secure our merited rewards.
Reception of Reports.
The report of the executive committee re-
| viewed with brevty the work of the asso-
| citation for the last year and recommended
various plans for the future. The report
also contained favorable references to the
! District Commissioners
The report of the committee on county
roads informed the association that the
| public thoroughfares west of Rock creek
| continue in an unsatisfactory condition
| The report stated that through the in
| fuence of Mr.. Rudolph Kaufman and Gen.
| Corbin, fortunately. we have been able to
secure some Improvement of the Rock
Creek Ford road, which, like the Broad
| Branch road, great thoroughfare border
| ing Rock Creek Park, and several other i'm
| portant highways, has remained for years
| In a very rough condition.
| I'VE have repeatedly asked that the Broad
! Branch road and the other roads EMU
merated should be put I'm good repair, but
| it seems the Commissioners have been un-
| able, Notwithstanding the greatly increased
/ taxation. TO secure from Congress sufficient
| money for this purpose"
The condition of the schools of the north
| west suburban section was explained in the
/ report of the committee on public schools
/ The report recommended the erection of a
/ school at Cleveland Park, and also a man.
ual training and cooking school and kinder
! garten on the site of the old St AIMS
/ Church.
| EIacfior, Of 0fHnorc