The Washington times., 1905-02-14
CITIZENS LAMENT
NARROW STREETS
Northeast Association Con-
dennis Engineering Policy.
FEW BRAVE THE COLD WAVE
Secretary Sowerbutts Reports Dubious
Results Of Hearing Before Com
missioners-0ther Matters

missioners-0ther Matters.
There were only seven members of the
Northeast Citizens Association present
last night when the monthly meeting
was called to order at late hour. One
more came in out of the storm before
the evening was over, but all the rest
chung to their firesides. and only the
eight faithful ones were present to
transact the business of the evening
The result was that beyond taking a
few gentle digs at Engineer Commits
sioner BiddIe and his assistants, which
has become a abit with the Northeast
association. little business was transact
ed-none at all, in fact, unless 1t was
to order Secretary Sowerbutts REIN
bursed for IS worth of postage stamps
which he scattered at his own expense
for the good of the association.
Several speeches were made during
the course of the evening by the pre-
siding officer, Evan H. Tucker, but the
cold seemed to have numbed all the
others present into silence.
Closing of Streets.
The association, at Ar fuckers re-
quest. indorsed the action of certain
members who appeared before the Com
missioners recently in protest against
Senate bin 1889 which provides for clos
ing G and Chicago streets and ada
cent alleys between the eastern wall
OF the terminal station and Second
street. after the Washington Terminal
Company has purchased all the ada
cent property in squares 719 and TO-
which are to be used for mail and ex-
press sheds. It developed last night
fore the Commissioners did so without
having consulted the association in the
matter IN return for tha two streets
closed. the company is % dedicate 10
the District 6o-foot connection be-
tween street and the plaza The
Northeast Citizens Association last
night Endorsed the bill. with the amends
ment urged before the Commissioners
the associations railroad committee,
that the new roadway be 100 feet in
stead of 60
Narrowing Roadways.
President Tucker explained that he
was forced once more reluctantly to
eriticise Engineer Commissioner Biddle
quite severely for his apparent policy of
narrowing roaiways He said in part:
IT appears to me that the engineers
IN The Districts employ have q hobby
for narrow roadways. It was once pro-
Vided the corresponding roadway on the
d
Grafton was to be forty feet wide and
only by strenuous endeavor did we sue
eeed IN getting il increased TO sixty
y think the Engineer Department of
the District has done excellent work |
believe Colonel Biddie is an extremely
TO praise him tor it,. L have praised him
several times already before this asso-
citation. He has had a very trying ati-
lninistration, with all this terminal work
10 be mapped out But / regret that he
should have made such a foolish mis-
take as this policy indicates We may
not be as good engineers as Colonel
BIddle, Mr.. Hunt and the others in his
office, but / think We do know the needs
OF this section Of the city
Mr.. Sowerbutts' Report.
Secretary Sowerbutts gave rather
dubious report of the results of his COM
Inittee's recent hearing before the Com
missioners when protest was regis
tered against the alleged policy of mar
rowing roadways. Especial reference
was had TO G street. Seventh street and
Eighth street northwest
We had very courteous hearing,
he SAID But we came away, 1 am
f 70 say wfh affaet ha a
nissioners said they would consider the
matter carefully, but we could not help
but feel pretty sure that the Commits
sioners would continue in favor of the
regulation of streets. narrowing streets
generally wherever they think best,
With this rather dish eartenIng re-
port, Secretary Sowerbtsts concluded,
though he assured his seven hearers
and the newspaper men that the as
ISOLATION would not give up the fight.
and that new developments could be
looked for to give relief.
Work for Closed Cars Ceases.
President Tucker announced that ac-
tive work had ceased on the part Of
the association in behalf Of the pend
ing bill requiring street railway COM
panies 10 provide closed, heated cars.
He announced that the II street line
was fully equipped with these cars as
the result of the association efforts.
In this connection he paid a warm
tribute 20 Vice President George H.
Earries, OF the Washington Railway
and Electric Company, saying that he
thought General Harries had not been
him TO have the interests of the citi-
zens at heart, and TO be handicapped
by a board Of foreign directors not
allied with the citys interests.
AT the request of the East Wash
ington Citizens Association. House
bill 17343 was placed on the associa-
tion's blacklist. The bill is fathered
by the District Commissioners and
provides fer q storage yard on Viz
ginia avenue. This necesSitates grade
crossings, against which the South
east citizens are protesting Their
protest was Endorsed last night by q
unanimous vote Of seven members of
the Northeast Citizens Assoc -atfon,
sr4s.4ss ~