Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-01
LAWN IMPROVEMENT
Prizes Will Be Awarded Next
Tuesday.
SCOPE OF MOVEMENT
COMMITTEE WORKED HARD ALL
SUMMER LONG.
Small Expenditure on Lawns Pro-
duces Wonderful Results-Further
Work Contemplated.

The committee of the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association which has in charge
the award of The Evening Star prizes for
the best-kept lawns on Columbia Heights
will on Tuesday evening make its report
and recommendations. There will be three
prizes. to consist of either money or val
liable souvenirs In the form of jardinieres or
books on horticulture. or years subscrip-
ton to some one of the handsomest jour
mails of the country devoted to horticulture.
The award of these prizes has involved
much painstaking labor on the part of the
| committee which has kept a careful watch
of all lawns of Columbia Heights through
out the entire summer. In some cases
| lawns that have at times been maintained
In splendid condition have at other times
been neglected to such an extent as to
lose for them the chance of first pr yes The
lawns have been judged from a critical
standpoint and have been considered from
every point of view that might apply to n
perfect lawn. AS the committee in
structed to award the prizes for the best
kept lawns 1t has been obliged to give
first consideration to the condition of the
grass plot, leaving for second considera-
ton such ornamental features as have in
many cases been introduced.
Honorable Mention to Some.
In addition to awarding three prizes for
the best-kept lawns, the committee has de-
cided to give honorable mention to almost
a score of other lawns that have been
maintained in far more than ordinary con-
dition, but which for some reason have
failed to come within the degree of excel
lence attained by those that have been
awarded the prizes.
) Some of the people who have been taking
unusual care of their lawns have expressed
a wish that should they receive prizes they
would Drefer have N he for II
money, SO that. they might reward the men
who have done the actual work. For that
reason the committee still has under con-
sideration the form that these prizes will
take. AS the object of this movement is
to call attention to the care of lawns and
to secure improvements in that respect In
the future the committee desires to award
prizes in the best form to secure the re-
suit sought.
Others who have cared for their lawns
have expressed interest in having some
souvenir to which they can point In the
future as having been won in such a con-
test
When the committee makes its report to
the association Tuesday evening 1t Is like
ly that there will be some action on the
part of the association looking to con-
tinuance another summer of this same
effort for lawn betterment. Many OF the
residents on Columbia Heights have spoken
OF the Increased care that the lawns have
received during the past summer. They
hope that by continuance of this effort
to encourage the householders on the
Heights in the care of lawns there will
be still further marked Improvement in
that respect. Not only on Columbia Heights,
but in other parts of the city as well 1t
Is hoped that the effort to make the resi-.
dental section Of the city attractive will
be successful.
Valuable Lessons Learned.
One of the lessons that has been learned
and made very plain is that small ex-
nepdftlIra ON, ha nar ri of
not personally look after their lawns will
result in improving the appearance of the
sections in which they are located more
than any other way in which the money
might be expended. Surprise has been ex-
pressed by many people who have visited
this city that In spite Of the many thou
sands of dollars that have been spent in the
construction of homes, so little has been
done as a whole In the Identification of
the exterior surroundings. 1t is in order
to remove this charge of neglect of lawn
spaces that The Evening Star offered prizes
for the best kept lawns. and that the Co.
lumbia Heights Association promptly took
up the task Of seeing to the award Of such
prizes.
At the meeting of the Columbia Heights
Association Tuesday. evening another eff
fort for the Improvement of conditions in
that section of the city is to be made. 1t
Is to be directed toward the Improvement
of the alleys on the Heights. In many
of the squares there, the alleys have. not
been graded and improved and the long
delays necessitated by condemnation pro-
ceedings and the attendant complications
have made it difficult to open and improve
the alleys The association hopes by APP
pealing to the public spirit of the prop
erty owners on the Heights to secure the
dedication of necessary land for alley pur-
poses, even though the owners OF the prop
erty in question may not at the time, be
Inconvenience by the lack of improve
ments.
There are many squares on the Heights
that have in the past been prevented from
having graded and paved alleys because OF
the desire of few property. owners to be
paid for the land needed to complete the
alley improvement, after all others in the
square have dedicated their land. BY hold
ing out many people have been able to Sc
cure pay for their land and at the same
time participate in the opening of the alley
when it has finally been accomplished.
But the result of such a course has been to
discourage property owners from working
to secure improvements. They have also
been inclined to protest against a system
have not only obstructed alley improve
ment, but who have, when the improve
ment has been secured, participated In all
the resulting advantages.
Alley Improvement.
Judge Charles j. Bundy, president of the
association has secured map. showing
all the squares in the Columbia Heights
section that without improved alleys
and indicating just what land is necessary
in order to put these improvements through
That map will be exhibited Tuesday even
ing and 1t will form the basis for a discus
sion of means that may be taken in order
to bring about widespread Improvement