Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-28
ECKINGTON INTERESTS
BUSINESS CONSIDERED By CITI-
zENs' ASSOCIATION.
Report on Streets, Sidewalks and Alleys
Discussion of Variety of
Topics.

The regular monthly meeting of the North
Capitol and lexington Citizens Associa-
ton was held last evening at st. Martins
Hall, North Capitol and T streets The
president called for reports of the various
committees, and the committee on streets.
sidewalks and lights reported, through the
chairman, Mr.. H. E. Blau. Mr.. Blau
stated that his committee had asked the
Engineer Commissioner some time ago to
order the removal of the telephone pole
on Lincoln avenue northeast between Ran
dolph and S streets, which is located In
the center of the east sidewalk near the
front of the Emory School. After consid-
Grafton. it was stated, the Commissioner
deemed 1t to be not practicable, and had
so stated. He said the Engineer Commits
sioner had the matter of paving the tree
space opposite the pole under consdera-
ton. and had promised that the locality
would be inspected again.
Mr.. Blau said he had heard nothing
further in regard to it. He told the asso-
citation that the dirt the sidewalk on
the north side of Florida avenue between
1st and I'd streets northwest, which he
had reported at the last meeting, had been
removed by the owner, who had also re
newed the board protection SO as to pre-
vent the sidewalk from being covered in
the future. Speaking of the dirt on the
sidewalk on the north side of street be-
tween E1cklnRtOn place ana "a street UDIlu-
east, which he had previously stated the
owner of the property facing thereon
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
had declined to remove, he said that Mr.
Sinclair, the assistant corporation counsel
had made a report to the Commissioners
in which he held in effect that the Dis
trict could not compel the owners of prop
erty to remove dirt from sidewalks which
washes from or over parking in front of
their property, as such parking was con-
Sidered government property.
Awaits Reply.
Mr. Bau said he had been awaiting a
reply from the Commissioners. advising him
of the opinion of the assistant corporation
counsel, and as no answer came he made
inquiry and found that the complaint from
his committee together with the indorse-
ment of the assistant corporation coun-
sell had been filed as disposed of, when
in fact it had not been taken up for final
consideration and approval or otherwise, by
the commissioners. He is awaiting re-
ply; -, -,
the attention of the committee on streets,
sidewalks and lights" said Mr.. Blau, lone
being the removal of street signs from
the lamp post at the corner of Thomas and
North Capitol streets" He had made report of
the matter to the proper authorities and
the signs will be placed upon the post as
soon as they can be received from the man
ufacturer He also spoke of the dirt that
had been allowed to drop on North Capt.
tol street and in alley in the block be-
tween 7 street and Rhode Island avenue
and North Capitol and LIST street north
west, caused by building operations. The
complaint had been lodged with the con-
tractor and the dirt is now removed daily.
as requested. Complaint had been lodged
with Mr.. Harrison Stidham, superintendent
of the street cleaning department. he said,
against the further dumping of street
sweepings and rubbish on street between
7
Mr. Blau stated that he had called upon
Mr.. Stidham, who had promised to 1nVestl-
gate the complaint, and that he had later
received a letter from the superintendent
In which he stated that he and the in
spector and contractor of the street clean
ing department had visited the street re-
ferred to and were positive that the ma
terial had not been dumped by any en-
ploye or contractor connected with the
street cleaning department.
Mainly of Asphalt Scraps.
Mr.. Stidham stated that the debris con-
sisted mainly of asphalt scraps mixed with
bottles, cans, etc, which was of such
nature as would not be hauled by the
street sweeping carts. The inspector stated
that the material had been on the street
since last fall, and that the contractor re-
fused to level this material because OF the
lack of his responsibility in the matter.
Mr. Stidham said he was arranging with
the inspector to have him see Mr.. Blau IN
person so that if it is possible to straight
en- out the matter.
Complaint was also made to the street
cleaning superintendent that the alleys IN
all of that territory north of Florida ave-
nue. between LIST street northeast and "a
street northwest were in filthy condition,
and Mr.. Stidham replied that Mr.. Blau
and his committee were wrong in the be-
lief that the alleys had not been cleaned
since last November but admitted that
there was no alley cleaning from the latter
~ Of To rDrNr
cause of snow and ice and temperature
conditions, which rendered the work i'm
possible. The schedule had been resumed,
he said, on the latter date and the con-
tractor had increased his force so as to
complete the work as soon as possible. Mr..
Stidham in conclusion said that the pres
ent system of doing the work of the street
cleaning department. which system had
been in force for many years and had
proved, he understood, to be satisfactory
heretofore, shown to be quite made
quate in handling promptly and vigorously
any such extraordinary emergency as had
occurred during the past severe winter. He
said before the next Congress assembled
he hoped to be able to report to the Com
missioners upon the advisability of reor-
ganiZing methods so far as the contracts
of the street cleaning department would
permit.
Fire and Police Committee.
Mr. A. NJ Elwell, chairman of the
committee on fire and police, report
ed that he had received a letter from
Mr.. Walter c. Allen, electrical engineer of
the District of Columbia, in which he stated
that the question of placing fire alarm
box at the corner of North Capitol and U
streets was under consideration and would
be recommended when the list of boxes to
be installed during the coming year is
called for consideration. The above box,
together with the police patrol box at the
corner of North Capitol street and
Rhode Island avenue are both to be con-
nected with underground cables and placed
on the ornamental style of lamppost, the
fire alarm box having red light to indicate
its location at night Regarding the fire
alarm box at the corner of North Capitol
street and New York avenue, Mr.. Allen
stated that this box, together with the
tral how on ba hot