Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-16
TROUBLE OVER STREETS
MEMBERS OF LANGDoN CITIZENS
ASSOCIATION QUARREL.
VIM. d. Cullen Charges Cumberland
Methods" in Engineering DEAL
Commissioner Biddle Replies.

From communica ton received by the
District Commissioners, there seems TO be
something of a dissension in the ranks of
Langdon Citizens Association relative to
the matter of proposed Improvements in
that section of the District. The. letter is
from Mr.. William d. Cullen of Langdon
and the writer charges the president of the
citizens association and member of that
body with 'underhand methods" in per-
suading the Commissioners to recommend
to Congress the Improvement of Rhode ISL
and avenue instead of Frankfort street in
the vicinity of Langdon.
In his communication Mr.. Culleen says
to the Commissioners:
Il wish to call your attention to scheme
that was engineered through the Langdon
association some time during the summer
months just past. / was not notified of the
meeting in question, was | notified to
appear before the honorable Commission
ers to discuss the recommendation of the
association. Mr. Lawson, i understand.
only notified Mr.. Baker, the other members
of the executive committee being entirely
ignored.
Mr.. Lawson and Mr.. Baker are in
terested in real estate along Rhode Island
avenue, and the other members of the
committee are interested in the improve
ment of Langdon. You can see why the
president of the association failed to noti-
Mr.. Cullen tells the Commissioners,
also, that he is chairman of three COM
mittees in the association-the fire com
mittee, police committee and a special
committee to work for the improvement
of Frankfort street to Avalon Heights.
Commissioner Biddles reply to the com
muntcation of Mr.. Culleen is considered
interesting. Col. Bddle says in part:
The question to the authority or
Mr.. Lawson to represent the Langdon
Citizens Association is one that should
not be considered by the Commissioners.
Mr.. Lawson is president of the association
and as such is naturally the proper person
to present to the Commissioners the
wishes of the association.
THE question as to the Improvement OF
Frankfort street is about follows: The
surface division recommended the improve
ment OF Frankfort and goth streets in
Langdon. These streets were examined by
Mr.. West and myself. No action was taken
on them by either of us personally or by
the Commissioners as a board The north
east suburban citizens, represented by both
the Brookland and Langdon Citizens AS
sociations appeared before the Commits
sioners and strongly urged the continuance
of the Improvement of Rhode Island ave-
nue. 1t was stated at this meeting that
the Brookland Citizens Association was
very much in favor of it, and by Mr.. Law
son that the Langdon Citizens Associa-
ton preferred it to any other Improvement
1t was also stated that the latter associa-
ton desired the Improvement of both 10th
ana FranK1OTt Streets ana IflaI many citt-
Zens, if they thought Rhode Island avenue
was to be improved against Frankfort
street. would appear In opposition to the
Rhode Island avenue Improvements
Colonel Biddle further mentions that the
Commissioners, after carefully considering
all the circumstances. recommended the
improvement of Rhode Island avenue and
did not recommend the Improvement OF
Frankfort street. One strong reason, he
said, for the Improvement of Frankfort
street. which existed two three years
ago. the danger of children of Avalon
Heights crossing the Baltimore and Ohio
tracks, has been obviated by the construc-
ton of an overhead bridge at Frankfort
street.