Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-19
MEET POPULAR FAVOR
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIONS
FOB PUBLIC 5MPRovEMENTs. s
,recial pisuatch to T4e Evening stnr.

srecial DISPATCH to Thee Evening STIR.
BALTIMORE, February 19-The recon-
mendations made by the citizens emergen-
cy committee for public improvements in
the burned area of the city have been re-
ceiyed with general popular approval, and
there is sentiment: that whatever is to be
done should be. doneAaf once, and with the
least possible delay.
Business men assert that affairs looking
to the rehabilitation of the section are
rowing entirely too slowly, @and that more
expedition is needed In putting practical
plans into effect. They say that although
nearly two weeks have elapsed since the
corflagration, nothing in the way of sub
stantial progress has been made, beyond
the clearing away of the debris from the
streets They are ready and anxious to
have the work of rebuilding their destroyed
structures begun at once, but are retarded
nv the failure of the municipal officials to
reach any definite conclusion as to the
realignment OF streets,
Complaint Over tResurvey Delay.
| They claim that resurvey of the district
| ought to have been completed by this time,
| in order that their architects might pro-
coed with the plans for new buildings
| It is pointed out that the city's law Of
| ficer has given an opinion to the effect that
| the mayor and city council can condemn
for public use any ground that may be
! necessary for the Improvement of the
| municipality, and then it Is asked why
| the work of condemnation has not already
\ been begun.
] realize that unless quick action is had and
| a condition created under which they can
| begin tie work of reconstruction, their
| trade is going to be lost. Hence their i'm
patience at the slow progress that is being
| made.
| City Empowered to Act.
| at is an admittedafact that the, city can
condemn any land said prominent
4 wholesale dealer to The Star correspondent
| today "and 1 see no reason why definite
| plan of street widening should not already
have been decided upon If this should be
| done at once then the architects could
get to work plans, and this would great
| ly facilitate the work ahead of us. AS the
| situation now stands, We can only see
! splendid opportunity for the loss of trade"
| In addition there has been nothing def
mite decided upon in regard to floating q
| large loan, which will be necessary in or
| der to make the improvements contemplate
! ed City Register Hooper, when asked by
| The Star correspondent to what plans,
| if any, had been considered in regard to
| floating loan, said:
Delay Over Streets Defers Loan.
Until it is decided what is going to be
done in the way of widening streets and
for US to devise planIfp supply the funds
necessary to it's accomplishment.
1T is the general sc9nsensus of opinion
| that the improvement plans regarding sew
erage and streets agTSed upon before the
| fire should not be sgiteh up. and that the
| enabling act should he passed. There has
been decision reaehed as to the dispo-
| sition Of the Western Maryland railroad
fund.- and If it is decided not to divert this
money from the schools, fire department
and sewerage, then s We can put enabling
acts before the people and borrow money
| for the improvements in the burned dis
| trict.
Il believe that we should first arrive at
determination as to tho streets in the de-
stroyed section. Personally. am in favor
| of widening many of them, and think that
| the widening should all be done on one side
| of the streets decided; upon, so that while
/ worklng on the Improvement, the progress
/ of reconstruction ON the other side may not
I be retarded.
Increase in Tax Rate Inevitable.
ut appears to me that an increase in the
tax rate is inevitable. but it is impossible
| to estimate just how much. If we could
| compel the residents of the old annex to
pay the full city rate it would relieve the
| situation very materially. 1t seems to me
/ that an effort should be made to have the
| FoutZ law, under which the annex enjoys
i the 6o-eent rate, repealed and this would
| greatly; tighten the burden the city tax
payer.
/ The financial condition of the city is as.
| good as 1t was prior to the fire. 1t is simply
a question as to whether we should go
! further in the way. of improvements than
we had intended, and think We shall The
| people clamoring for great improve
| ments. and L think it would be mistake
not to grasp the opportunity presented"
| -
CLERICAL CHANGES.