Evening star., 1905-11-04
NEEDS OF BROOKLAND
STREET CAR LINE AMONG GREAT
EST NECESSITIES.
Matters Discussed at Meeting Of the
Citizens Association Held
Last Night.

Brookland needs q car line into the town
and needs It badly. Such was the unani-
nous sentiment of the members of The
Brookland Citizens Association who at
tended the meeting of the association held
last evening in the Brookland town hall.
President A. F. Kinnan was In the chair
and E. c. Ford served as secretary. I'M
provement of the streets of the town and
in the neighborhood were the subject of the
discussions which occupied the meeting Of
two hours in length.
All the plans for street improvements and
for the abolition Of grade crossings In the
vicinity of Brookland will be secondary
proposition to the securing of the street
car service into the village. The improve
ments that are to be made. 1t was granted
last evening, should further the ultimate
aim Of securing the street car line. and.
after discussion. 1t was decided that the
president should confer with the officials
of the City and Suburban railway and Sc
cure from them, II possible, statement
as to what they would do in case each Of
the plans should separately be put through.
In the event any plan Is adopted it was
decided to work for the completion Of that
plan which would prove most satisfactory
to the railroad company. President Kin
nan will have this conference In the near
future and the matter was laid over until
the next meeting.
Two Plans In View.
At present there are two definite plans
proposed for an entrance into Brookland.
The plan for which the association has
been working in the past and for which
they have secured an appropriation Of
$4,000 Is the abolition OF the grade cross
ing of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad on
the Bunker Hill road or Michigan avenue.
Already Congress has appropriated the
Gov 1j,,ev 4
the crossing an undergrade one. This will
make a deep cut in the road. The grade
down this road from the Catholic Univer-
sity dormitory to a point underneath the
railroad will be an per cent grade It is
feared that the Electric Railway Company
will not run their cars down such a grade
to get into Brookland.
There were several of those present last
night who favored giving up this plan and
diverting the money to another Improve
ment. which was outlined, and which is
regarded as more feasible. Others argued
that inasmuch as this appropriation had
been secured. 1t should not be diverted to
another plan, because the Commissioners
would think that the citizens of Brookland
did not know what they wanted.
DR.. A. Patton thereupon remarked
Let us work so hard for the new plan
that the Commissioners will forget the old
one"
The plan spoken of was that of extending
Monroe street west from 7th street to
Bunker Hill road. This would allow the
cars to turn into Monroe street from Bunker
Hill road and go straight down that street
on an overgrade bridge over the railroad
into the town of Brookland. and at no
greater grade than 81 per cent. This would
involve the purchase of the land from
Catholic order through which to lay Monroe
street about 400 feet to meet Bunker Hill
road. 1t was thought the land could be
bought at a reasonable price. The triangle
of land which would thus be made bounded
by Monroe street, Bunker Hill road and 7th
street, might be made into a park 1t was
stated. This route would. 1t was argued.
form a road of easy access to the town and
would give 1t what they have been wanting
for some time.
Matter Of Cost.
1.-The present entrance of the street rail-
road into the vicinity of Brookland." said
President Kinnan. has cost the town
thousands Of dollars. People who come on
the car do not see the beautiful homes and
lands on the hills. and therefore are disap-
pointed in the place. II the car line ran
through the town it would mean an advant-
age of thousands of dollars to Brookland"
Another question, raised by the report of
w. A. Hathaway Of the committee On lights.
was In regard to the alleged poor gas in
Brookland He stated that although many
complaints had been made to the gas COM
pany about the quality of gas, and although
he had gone to complain, the company had
done nothing. The officials had expressed
their willingness to do what they could and
have plans of carrying out the main from
Rhode Island avenue and 18th street north
east, but could not do the work until the
railroad crossing permit could be obtained
1t was suggested by one member that call
be made on the electric light company and
see IL they would not extend wires to Brook
land. and the matter was committed to the
committee on lights. white petitions for the
light by those who would use 1t should be
left at Hathaway's drug store.
Attention was called to the fact that ulti-
mately Michigan avenue will be continued
through the filter bed grounds and the res
ervoir. and thus provide q street from
Brookland to Mount Pleasant. The secre-
tary was instructed to send a letter of con-
dolence to John McPhaul, a prominent
member, on the death Of his wife recently.
The association adjourned to meet the