Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-12
OPPOSED To CHANGE
Business Men Object to Grant
of Power Over Streets.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Reclamation Of Anacostia Flats Of Su-
preme Moment.
THE COMMISSIONERS PLAN
Ask for Authority to Control Width
and improvements Of City
ThoroughfareA
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
THE COMMISSIONERS PLAN

At q meeting Of the Business Mems A.
ISOLATION last night the board OF directors
OF the association approved and adopted q
report OF the committee on public improve
ments. in which the improvement Of the
Anacostia hats was strongly urged. The
committees action was embodied In q let
ter to the Commissioners. which was re-
ceived at the District building today The
letter read as follows:
Gentlemen: At meeting Of the commit
tee on public improvements OF the Bust
ness Mems Association Of the District OF
Columbia 1t was the consensus of opinion
that one Of the greatest and most urgently
needed improvements IL tho reclamation Of
the Anacostia fats. The committee was
advised that you have q report upon this
question now under advisement, and they
strenuously urge that in the interest OF tho
entire District. and In the interest Of the
health of a large portion OF the populace
that are affected thereby you urge upon
Congress the necessity for speedy action in
this matter"
This communication was signed by "
Baldwin johnson. chairman.
The Commissioners did not act on the let
ter today, nor have they yet formally ind1-
Gated their proposed action In tho line of
recommendation to Congress in connec-
ton with the proposed improvement OF the
Anacostia fats 1t was intimated. however
that the matter will come in the very near
future. probably next week
Other Reports Made.
In addition, the directors of the associa-
ton heard reports from other committees.
The committee on mercantile interests and
manufacturing. Mr.. r. p. Andrews, chair
e 49,
from the Washington Board of Trade and
the Bankers Association confer with this
committee to form plans as to how best to
serve the mercantile interests In the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Committee on fire escape law-It was
moved that this committee of which Mr. L.
P. Shoemaker Is chairman, confer with the
committee from the Washington Board Of
Trade and assist the District Commission
ers In securing the amendment to the dras-
tic fire-eScape law.
The special committee on automobile law
national and municipal legislation and pub
lie improvements all reported progress.
1t was moved that another meeting Of the
association be held at an early date. The
following new members were elected to
membership in the association: Gilbert J.
Osterman. William D. Barry. VIM. B. Tur-
pin. Henry K. Simpson, william 8. Sample
and Clarendon Smith. 5r.
OppoSo drant OF ROVER.
The associations committee on public i'm
provements. TO which was referred the reso-
luton relative to the policy adopted by
the Commissioners Of the District OF Co
lumbia of reducing the width OF roadways
of streets and avenues, after giving the
subject careful consideration. reviewed the
laws under which the streets and avenues
Of the city Of Washington were donated
by the original proprietors of the land for
the use Of the public for thoroughfares, the
title to them being vested In the United
States and the entire control and authority
over them vested in Congress. The COM
mittee recommended "that 1t would not be
wise or for the best interests Of the District
for Congress to amend existing law. SO as
to give the Commissioners or their officials
authority over the streets and change their
width laid out by the board Of public
works, which we claim are none too wide
to conveniently accommodate the business
and other traffic over them, and make rea-
sonable allowance for the future.
In reducing roadway one to five feet,
as has been done in many instances, and
adding this to the width OF the sidewalks
the usefulness of the roadway is impaired
without any resulting benefit to the side
walk for the reason that the addition to
the sidewalk is between the trees and
the curb. and cannot be used by pedestri-
ans. owing to the fact that lamp posts, fire
plugs. telegraph poles, etc. obstruct the
pathway. and when these are reset for any
cause they are set In the same relative pe
sition to the curb as formerly. Also when
new trees are planted In place OF those
that decay and have to be removed tho
new ones are planted the same distance
from the curb as formerly, thus the SYM
metry and beauty Of straight line OF
trees tone Of the great beauties OF WASH
iGgton streets) Is destroyed and We have a
zigzag line instead.
Matter Of Economy.
The claim made by our present authori-
ties for their policy Of narrowing roadways
Is economy 1t costs less to pave thirty
feet than 1t does thirty-fve feet, but to
this gain must be added the cost OF re-
building the catch basins. sidewalks paved
and many expenses incident to changing
established lines. while the wear and tear
on the narrow street. owing to travel being
compelled to follow comparatively beaten
path, will result In much greater expense
In maintaining the roadway In proper re-
pair.
the position taken by the Northeast Wash
ton against the narrowing of any of the
roadways of our streets and avenues, ana
that We vigorously oppose any legislation
that would give our District officials au-
thority to inaugurate such q policy All
OF which is most respectfully submitted"
Proposed Amendments
The Commissioners have already taken
steps in the matter OF securing power to
secure entire control Of the streets, and to