The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-07
Temporary Residents to
Aid in Movement,
He Thinks.
PRESIDENT IS SARCASTIC
Tells Petworth People They
Have Been Ignored by
Powers That Be.

worth Citizens Association. and former
Is Commissioner of immigration, at the
regular monthly meeting OF the assoc
clatiOn delivered a severe arraignment
OF the street car service on the Bright
wood Avenue line. and the policy OF the
District Commissioners in the admins
tration of affairs affecting the taxpayers
OF Petworth in particular. and the citi-
zens Of the northern section OF the Dis
trict I'm general This condition. he ar
gufd. evidenced the urgent need of local
suffrage
lie spoke as follows:
rOfficers and members OF the Pet
worth Citizens Association. Gentlemen:
"A year and a month have passed
since you honored me with an election
10 the presidency OF this association. At
The last monthly meeting an election OF
officers should have been held, and
should have submitted report. Neither
happened. While there is much to say
there is not much TO report. Our prin-
cipal occupation during the year was
saying things instead OF doing them
We would gladly have done things. but
lacked the power and the means. Per
haps, / should reconstruct that state
ment by saying that we have the power
but lack the means Of putting 1t into
executions; Of making it effective for the
good OF the SUBDIVISION
Mud Still With Us.
"a year ago We complained of mud.
We had no lack Of material to COM
plain about: it was on the streets and
sidewalks; we carried It home with us;
II was everywhere. Particularly did we
declaim against that quantity OF mud
which occupied so prominent place
on Philadelphia Street. between Bright
wood Avenue and Eighth Street. We
had other unclassifed spots. streaks
and sections of it. but that quagmire lay
in the path OF the children who were
forced to walk to school through it
every day.
I'VE appointed a committee to wait
on the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia and explain to them that we
did not want to be let alone out here;
that we were yearning to be made the
recipients Of their vigiiant. painstaking,
constant scrutiny and action, rather
than live a life of retirement and ease
without knowing that something was
doing by the District fathers.
Nature Takes Pity.
I'VE. that is the committee. told the
Commissioners OF a number of things
than we were reasonably sure we would
not object to having thrust upon US.
and they listened patiently. ! thought
ci1eerfully. toward the last. We told
them Of our wants and we want nearly
everything we told them about yet,
except one block Of sidewalk on Phila-
delphia Street
Il have to report that a neat. granO-
lithic sidewalk has replaced the mud
from BrightwOod Avenue TO Eighth
Street on Philadelphia Street. and that
there Is no mud anywhere in the sub
division now; IL Is frozen so stin and
hard that II would answer very wei for
ordinary walking purposes II permitted
TO remain that way. But II Is out OF
sight, and nature, modest nature, rather
than look upon its rough and rugged
nakedness, has covered II with a blan-
ket OF beautiful snow
The Plague of Weeds.
Later in the year we complained OF
weeds. not widows weeds. for the sub
division Is not old enough TO have ac-
cumUlated crop OF widows-and any
way II is too healthy a place 10 inspire
anyone with a desire % die in order TO
get away from IT, The weeds We fulmi-
mated against were just ordinary weeds.
the kind that insisted on growing in
the soil that accumulated on the side
walks and on the parking on either
aide Of the same.
II wrote letter to the District Com
uliss,0ners. in which their attention was
directed 70 a habit which the adult
weeds had fallen into OF nodding 10
each other across the sidewalks IN such
friendly way that II seemed discour-
teOus 10 pass between them. Whether
they believed that publication would
have a deterrent effect on the weeds
eno cause them TO cease growing. or va
cate the promises. ] do not know but
the Commissioners published my letter.
OF course I was pleased 10 see my maine
In the papers. but / would rather see
the weeds there. or somewhere or any
where away from our streets and side
walks
A Remedy Suggested.
4 imagined that the District authori-
ties had the power 10 cause the weeds
% be destroyed. and levy a charge for
entting them against the properties In
front OF which they grew: they said not,
but 1 believe that II they would assert
their authority. cut the weeds and assess
the price OF the labor required 70 do II
against the adjoining properties. they
souid either collect the same or sell the
vacant lots now lying unimproved in the
subdivision. Whatever the object in pub
hshlng that letter may have been. the
eject was TO cause papers published In
other cities 20 poke fun a the National
Cepita. and call II a country village
Ehere weeds grow In the streets. ] am
pleased 10 say that there are no weeds
- The subdivision al this writing and
there won't be until the robins rest
again We are progressing
We complained or ruts in the streets
OVERCOMING catch basins .gullies whe re-
cutters should be. and lack OF Sidewalks
where they are a necessity The hear
tpSs given US were patient and we have
= be. for we have ruts and gulIies still !:
our catch basins refuse TO catch, and the
sidewalks are IN the air. or where we
cannot walk on them.
Future State" Class.
I'VE asked that Eighth Street be
paved. but no appropriation could be
discovered from which TO separate the
Necessary funds. Eighth Street is still
EnDayed. The intentions OF the Commits