Evening star., 1905-10-28
SOUTHWEST CITIZENS
MONTHLY MEETING OF ASSoCIA-
TION HELD LAST NIGHT.

A regular meeting of the Southwest
Washington Citizens Association was held
at o'clock last evening in the parish hall
Of Grace Episcopal Church, 9th and ID
streets southwest. The meeting was called
to order by the president of the associ-
alton, Mr.. w. A. H. Church. The secre-
tary, Mr.. Frank B. Gilmore, read the min
utes of the last meeting, which were ap-
proved. The smoke emitted by the engines
upon the railroad tracks in the southwest
section of the city again came up before
the meeting. Dr. Miller Thompson, chair
man of the committee on streets and alleys,
read the reply to the letters he had ad
dressed to the different railroad companies
upon the subject of using hard coal and
coke in their engines operating in this Sec
ton of the city, instead of soft coal, as "a
present. At, present 1t seems that the
Pennsylvania railroad is the only railroad
which has changed the fuel which is burned
in their engines.
The noise made by the tops of the gar
bage carts was the subject OF complaint
from DR.. Thompson, who stated that the
noise made by some of the carts in the
southwest section of the city should not
be tolerated. DR.. Thompson said that on
one occasion he had informed the Commits
sioners of the noise that was being made
in front of the residence of one of his
anything had been done with the matter.
The argument was later advanced that
the southwest section of the city should
have one representative upon the board of
education. In that section of the city there
are about nine schools, with a total of
nearly 1000 pupils, and the members of the
association think they should have rep
resentation upon the board. 1t was stated
that the matter was once talked of with
Commissioner MacfarIand. but that moth
ing definite was ever done with 1t. It Is
probable that representations will be made
to the Commissioners later, but at the
meeting last evening the secretary was in
structed 70 procure data showing the exact
number of children attending the schools
In the southwest section Of the city.
Mr.. r. H. Johnson, chairman of the COM
mittee on railroads. made a report that the
temporary car tracks on Maryland ave-
nue. between 9th and 11th streets southwest
had been removed. Mr.. Johnson also spoke
at length upon the damage which he be-
Leved the new viaduct railroad would
cause to property in the southwest section
of the city, and especially the property on
Maryland avenue southwest, which he be-
lieved would be deprecated in value. Mr..
Johnson then presented a resolution ask
ing that the Commissioners be requested
in their next message to Congress to urge
the abolition of smoke nuisance of the
railroad engines in the District. This
passed unanimously, and the secretary was
instructed to communicate with the secre-
taries of the other citizens 'associati tions,
with a view Of having them take like ac-
ton. Mr.. Johnston then introduced a res
olution indorsng the recent appointment
Of Commissioner West, and commenting at
length on the faithful service which he is
rendering the District OF Columbia Mr.
Johnston later told of the efforts of the
railroad committee to have the use of res
ervation lib by the railroads revoked by the
Secretary of War. as its use is now unlaw-
full, in the minds of the members of the
association. 1t was stated that the rail-
roads were hauling dead animals through
this section Of the city with only a thin
covering of straw over them. 1t was stated
that In the summer the odor was particu-
or not this was being done or not. 1t was
larly obnoxious. The membership present
was not aware of the fact as to whether
or not this was being done by the roads,
and 1t was decided to make a closer In
vestigation and determine whether the haul
ing was being done or not. 1t was stated
that the route was the logical one to the
fertilizer plant which is located at Cherry
Hill, Va, and that 1t was more than prob
able that the cars having the covering of
straw and the particularly bad odor In
the summer contained the deceased ami
mails. The matter will be investigated
thoroughly and a report made at the next
meeting.