Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-22
APPEAL To CONGRESS
Project for Relief Of Uonges-
ton in Traffic
AT THE PATENT OFFICE.
CUT THROUGH THE BUILDING AT
EIGHTH STREET.
Movement Said to Be Favored by SEN
ator Gallinger-Text Of
the Petition.

A measure for thu. relief of the congested
conditions In the vicinity of 9th and F
streets and 9th and G streets northwest
will be presented to Congress early In the
forthcoming session by Mr., Joseph l. Keef-
er, seconded by number of washington
business men Mr.. Keefer's proposition is
that sth street northwest be cut through
from to G street by constructing an
arched way through the patent Office build
ing.
Mr.. Keefer believes, and number of
prominent Washingtonians coincide with
! him. it is said, that the proposed arched
way through the patent office building
would be sure relief for the present conges-
ton of traffic at eth and F, 9th and G, 7th
and F and 7th and streets northwest by
diyerting much OF that traffic to 9Th street.
which thoroughfare is now blocked by the
patent ONCE edifice, between F and q
streets.
A petition to be presented to Congress
was prepared several years ago and signed
by influential business men. Senator Nc
MILAN, when chairman of the committee
on the District Of Columbia, took great In
terest in the project and declared his in
tention to present the matter to Congress
and urge favorable action upon 1t. but his
death occurred before he could carry his
plan into effect. Now it is said Senator
\
will present 1t to Congress.
MIR. keefer believes the plan will be
sanctioned by the government. and it Is
pointed out that there are no engineering
difficulties to be overcome. Comparatively
little is required. It Is said. for the ex-
ecution of the project because of the ex-
istance Of the great court within the pat
ent Office. Some walls will have to be cut
through. however, and stairways removed
Copy Of the Petition.
Tho patftin, xybIoh xritf ha NV
Senator Gsllinser follows:
Whereas 1t has become necessary to the
safety and welfare of our citizens and
has also grown demand of the business
community that some mode of egress or
passageway through the United States
patant office building from F to G street
northwest should be effected and that
speedily and properly:
z I'VE, the following named people, doing
business in the city Of Washington, Dis
sriet s Of Columbia ada do earnestly pray that
gress, through the proper representative,
that
First. As the now four corners of the
patent Office building, viz, 7th and G., Tth
and F. 9th and F and 9th and G, have be-
come SO congested and mixed up with the
affairs of traffic, such as wagons. carts.
BICYCLES. etc. during the business hours
Of the day that the lives Of pedestrians
and business people generally are endan-
gered to an extent that must In some way
be remedied, and the numerous lines of
street cars which now meet. cross and
transfer at these different corners to-
gether with the danger attending an
alarm of fire when the fire machines have
to come to a halt and the delay that is
occasioned to important business messages
or orders, and the ambulance corps, etc,
and many incongruous things that are a
daily occurrence at such given points dam
gers can be obyiated and lessened to an
extent, and that opening do be made
through this building by the extension OF
Sth street northwest, from F to G, so as
to make that street a thoroughfare.
Second. That the hill of earth or grass
plot that now surrounds the building at the
corner of It'll and F streets be taken away,
and a story added to the structure, which
will give the department more room. The
stairway the F street front to be turned
around and an arehway cut through the
front wall to a court which Is upon the in
side of the building, and an opening OF
sufficient height to be made through the
front on G street wide enough to admit of
wagons abreast and a pathway aside for
pedestrians. And boulevard be made of
Sth street, carriages coming. and go
ing from the Capitol building out to Massa-
chusetts avenue and the fashionable north
west section of our city will be facilitated
in their progress.
Third. The work to be done by the
board of engineers of the United States
government In artistic and workmanlike
manner and the money for the cost of same
to be appropriated out of the United States
treasury and to be finished in as reason
proved by Mr.. Joseph /. Keefer
Signatures Attached.
Among the business and professional men
of Washington who signed the original Pc
| tition were:
Stone &c Fairfax, B. H. Warner. John A.
Swope, Noble d. Larner, J. b. Winner,
| Heiskell g. McLeran, Thomas j. Fisher Il
| Co., David D. Stone. James A. Cahill.
| Thomas G.. Hensey e Co., Chief Joseph
| Paris. fire department: Fire Commissioner
| William T. Belt. Fire Commissioner John
| d. Kurtz. Fire Commissioner William o.
| Drew, Chief OF Police Richard Sylvester
| w. s. Hoge & Bro, j. +. Saum & Co., An
| drews & Co.. Golden. Love & Co.. Wallen-
| stein Bros, Parker, Bridget q Co., Saks &
| Co., the Bon Marche, Lansburgh & Bro. A.
Lisner, palais Royal; J. c. Ergood & Co..
| burgh &c Co.. F. v. Killian, Thomas +.
Keane, Swift Co., Armour q Co., Burg
| dorf livery stable, Wiley livery stable.
| Keleher livery stable. Woodward & 10th
| II. Hammond & Co.. Morrison Paper Com
| pany, J. II. Hogan, John C. Parker, House
| & Hermann, James B. Lambie. @. g. Corn
well & Son, W. H. Moses Rudolph West &C
Co. I.ittlefeld. Alvord & Co. o. b. George,
/ Adams Express Company, Elphonzo
| Youngs, Johnson Brothers, w. 9. Knox.
! Merchants Parcel Delivery Company, Ham
| ilton Adams, Carl Mueller.
Mr.. Keefer. who is taking leading part
| in the furtherance OF the project, Is a
| member OF several of the patriotic societies
| of the District. He Is descendant of the
| Washington family and Is generally accred-
| tied with the distinction Of having first un-
| furled the American flag in Alaska.
WoMAN's DAY SERVICE.
Exercises to Be Held at Galbraith A.
M. q. Zion Church.