Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-04

Questions. such as those outlined, are
natural ones in these first days of the
new year. They questions of more
than ordinary moment to the residents of
the national capital While many if not
most people, on the first day of new
year look forward hoping for brighter and
more helpful things to come in the future
and plan their desires and actions to this
end, they are prone to forget the helpful
and beneficial happenings of the twelve
months just passed.
Following out this line of thought rep
resentatives of The Evening Star have
talked with the highest officials of the
local government with court officials.
tinanciers and men of affairs who have to
do with the welfare of the city. When
their answers to the questions referred to
are taken into consideration residents of
the District of Columbia have as much to
be thankful for having occurred in the
twelve months just ended they have to
hope for in the twelve months to come.
The consensus of opinion appears to be
that one of the greatest, if not the great
est benefit to the District during the year
1904 has been the material progress made
in the terminal station project, great I'M
dertaking that will give to the national
capital the much needed relief from an
evil from which it's residents have long
suffered many of them to an extent that
cannot be relieved in this world. This is
the adjustment of the grade crossings
over steam railroads within the limits of
the city. Al most of these crossings grim
death has caused the deepest grief and
sorrow IN many homes, mas taken bread
winners from families, husbands from
wives, fathers from children and sons and
daughters from both mothers and faith
ers. When the terminal project has been
completed. which it is hoped will occur
during 1905. the grade crossing, the deadly
enemy to humanity. will have been en-
tirely wiped out and all railroad trains
leaving entering the city will do so
beneath it's streets
The Filtration Plant.
Following closely on the terminal sta
tion project is the work the filtration
plant This very necessary adjunct to the
health of the citizens has, during 1901,
reached such a condition of advancement
that it has brought forward a general ex-
preston of it's being one of the benefits
Of 1904 With purer water necessarily will
come a corresponding decrease in the sick
ness and death percentages of the District.
Preparations for the new home for the
police courts of the District is another OF
the great benefits of 1894 which has been
pointed out. The new building will afford a
much-needed relief from the present con-
sested conditions and will make more COM
Portable those unfortunateS VINO happen 10
come within the tolls Of the law.
Local officials. and in fact those who have
business at the District building, feel that
the work on the foundations for the new
municipal building, at the corner of 1872
street and Pennsylvania avenue. Is another
great benefit of 1894. and refer with pleas
ure to the fact that they are getting nearer
the District officials, from the Commission
ers down to the humbiest head of depart
ment where they will be accessible In quar-
tiers that not so crowded as to be UNI
comfortable
So much for the material benefits of 1904.
According to those talked TO, the material
benefits are not the only ones. There have
been spiritual benefits equally as great
The work of the charitably inclined who
provided summer outings for the poor, play
grounds for the children, food and clothes
for the helpless and needy and medical at
tention for the sick and injured. was greater
in 1894 than in many years, and as one per-
son expressed it. it shows marked adj
vance in the local religious and charitable
organizations
Such a record for the year is one that
should rot easily be forgotten. 1t is a rec
ord of which the residents of the District
should be proud and for which they should
be truly thankful.
So much for 1891. What of 1905?
For Local Advancement.
The general belief of Washington's repre-
sentative citizens is that Congress should
give the District of Columbia some stable
financial system. This is considered the
rrost needful. and next to the financial sys-
TEN comes legislation and appropriations
for the necessary municipal improvements.
More money Is wanted to make the new
municipal building a structure in keeping
with the other buildings of like Kind IN
the District.
The trouble the Roosevelt inaugural COM
mittee is having over securing a suitable
building for the ball and reception has sug-
gested the erection of large building in
which this function could be held. 1t IS
suggested that such a building would prove
useful at most seasons of the year. WASH
ington is becoming so much of a convention
city that such a structure would be of great
use for this purpose. Then, too, it could be
used for the quadrennial conventions of the
fraat national political parties.
DEVELOPMENT of the park system, more
trees for the streets, public places for
recreation. a place for the proper care of
persons suffering with tuberculosis, the rec
lamation of the Anacostia flats, doing away
OF alley houses new laws of hygiene and
sanitation. to conform with modern ways
and a high pressure water service are
among the other things that il is suggest
ed il accomplished or started during 1900
would do more toward the advancement of
the District than any thing else that could
he done.
Following are the Views, In detail of
those with whom representatives of The
Evening Star talked.
HENRY B. F. MCFARLAND,
President board of District Commissioners.
I'm a material way the most important
progress during the past year has been in