Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
CONDITION OF STREETS.
Citizens Of Hyattsville Meet to Con
slider Means of Improvement.

Special Correspondence OF Inc EfeuihS 'e"i'
HYATTSvILLE, April 1. 1905.
A largely attended meeting of citizens was
held in Masonic Hall Thursday evening to
consider the deplorable condition OF the
streets in Hyattsville and to devise some
means for their permanent improvement.
The meeting was held at the instance of
the mayor and common council, ana Mayor
Wells called it to order and stated the OBJ
ject. The mayor stated that the couhcii
had nothing to suggest. and the object of
the meeting was to secure the views Oh the
citizens as to what should be done. He
stated that the sewer contractor would De
compelled to put the streets in as good con-
dition as they were prior to installing the
sewerage system last fall.
DIR. Charles E. Postley was chosen as per-
manent chairman and E. A. Fuller was Sec
rotary.
Dr. Joseph R. Owens. member of the
town council from the third ward; read
statement from the treasurer of the town,
w H. Richardson showing that, since the
incorporation of the town, in 1856. the sum
of sic, 459 65 had been expended on the
streets Dr. Owens claimed that the expen-
diture Of this money had accomplished no
good, the roads being practically in the same
condition, IL not worse, than they were In
1885, The town authorities had been &C
cused of spending the county road rebate
the town. and DR.. Owens took occasion 10
say that this accusation was false he
stated that while this large sum of practl-
cally $4,000 had been expended on the
streets with little OF no result, only $4,000
. had been received from the county as re-
bate fund during the period from 1886 to
1905, while S10,500 in round numbers OF the
towns money had been expended on the
roads The result of this expenditure was
seen in the deplorable condition of the
streets The council is aware that the
money is practically thrown away, but are
poWerless to remedy the matter. Under
the direction of the state highway engineer
1t is proposed to macadamiZe the Washing
ton and Baltimore turnpike from the Dis
triot of Columbia line TO Bladensburg. When
this is done, declared DR.. Owens, the condi-
ton of the turnpike within the corporate
limits of Hyattsville will be more apparent.
Mr.. William Giusta moved that a COM
mittee be appointed which will be empow-
cred to collect all possible and necessary
information relative to the construction,
maintenance and the best method of meet
ing the expense of permanent highways.
The motion prevailed and the following
were elected: Messrs. W. P. Magruder,
William Giusta. DIR. Joseph A. Mudd. L. NJ.
Moran and r. H. Vincent. Mr.. William P.
Magruder stated what in his judgment, was
the best way to secure permanent highways
and declared he was willing to pay for
every foot of roadway in front of his prop
erty Councilman Charles H. Welsh stated
that when he took his seat a member of
the board he had resolved not to spend the
road money here and there in patch work,
but had determined that his vote would be
cast in favor of spending all the money re-
ceived in one year on one particular section
of street He soon decided to change his
mind after listening to the appeals of the
people from every section. He declared that
the only way to secure permanent high
ways is to bond the town. Mr.. O.. v.
Mitchell spoke in opposition to Mr.. WeIsh's
idea, declaring that HyattsvlIe could not
afford another bond issue. He said that 80
per cent of the people of the town do not
own teams, and that. for his part, the ques-
ton of providing sidewalks was the one
that should be considered first
Mr.. w. W. Smith of Ralston avenue
agreed with Mr.. Mitchell. Mr.. NJ F. Halo
ran declared that the agitation for macad-
amizing the roadways was, in his judgment,
a little premature. He thought the large
gathering showed a public spirit that was
commendable, and the question of making
permanent improvements on the streets
should be postponed.