Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-16
ANACOSTIA AFFAIRS
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION DIS
CUssEs IMPROVEMENTS.
Alleged Delay In Street Cars-Titles
to Submerged Lands to
Be Investigated.

The Anacostia Citizens Association de-
voted much of its time Wednesday evening
to discussion Of the proposed Improvement
OF the fats of the Anacostia river. An early
contamination Of the project was regarded
as doubtful 1T looks to me at the present
time as though we are no nearer the de-
sired end than were ten years ago.
said James c. Leonard. the chairman OF
the committee Anacostia fats in re-
porting interview had with the Com
mssioners of the District last week
Mr.. Leonard and William f. GUIDE con-
stituted the committee named for this pur-
pose. Chairman Leonard stated the Com
mssioners had replied that the only thing
for the association to do to help matters
along Is to assist the Commissioners in OBJ
tanning from Congress the appropriation
of $4,000. which they requested at the last
session. with the object in view of investi-
eating how the titles of the land under
water are vested. In reporting on the in
terview Mr.. Leonard explained that he had
urged the Commissioners to undertake this
investigation through some of the legal
officers of the government competent to do
so rather than to await congressional ac-
ton The speaker stated he had impressed
the Commissioners with the argument that
if these lands are the property Of private
parties, as seems to be understood, then
1t Is the duty of the assessors of the Dis
trict to ascertain the fact and assess the
property in the usual way.
Alleged Conflict Of Opinion.
Mr.. Leonard spoke of the apparent con-
fiict of opinion between the office of the
Attorney General and the District Com
mssioners regarding the title to the lands
| under water in the Anacostia river the
former holding, he stated. that they are
the property of the United States on which
point the Commissioners have expressed
| their doubts. The question to the own
| ership of the lands referred to resulted in
| discussion among the members OF the
association, who expressed varying opin-
ions.
| As far as the Anacostia association Is
concerned, stated Dr. r. A. Pyles Ii only
| desired the flats improved for sanitary rea-
| sons, not that a mercantile purpose is In
view at all, as desired in some quarters.
| He was disposed to criticise the Commits
! sioners as being derelict in their duty.
| Eugene +. Thompson advocated having the
| association search the titles to the original
| grants of land recorded at Marlboro,
| Prince George county, Md. but after dis
! cussion 1t voted to place the matter
| again with the committee on flats for an
| other report at the coming meeting of the
| association.
Report Of Railroad Committee.
Chairman Thompson of the street railroad
committee presented report In which it
! was recommended that the association in
| vite the attention of the Commissioners to
the delays to traffic occasioned by the rails
| ing of the draw on the Anacostia bridge
| before the necessary time and holding ii
| open unnecessarily, causing a number OF
| citizens to be late in arriving at their places
| of employment The reciprocal transfer
| system between street railways in the Dis
| trst Endorsed. A letter was read by
| Chairman Thompson from w. Mosby Will
| Jams, chairman of the street railway COM
| mittee of the East Washington Citizens
! Association, who outlined several plans by
| which the cars of the Anacostia line might
| be more directly operated to the new union
| station than by the extension along nth
street southeast to II street northeast. with
| transfer to that latter road, has been
| recommended by the Anacosta association.
| In this connection Secretary Charles r.
! Burr read a communication from Gen.
| George H. Harries. vice president of the
! Washington Railway and Electric Com
| pany, who stated he will be glad to confer
| with committee of the association relative
| tc more direct route for the Anacostia
| cars to the new station. and making refer
ence to another plan than that proposed by
| the organization. On motion of Mr.
| Leonard it was voted that the members of
| the street railway committee call upon
! Gen. Harries and learn what plan he has In
| mind.
| John F. Earnshaw chairman of the COM
| mittee on water and lights, reported the
need of lamps on Johnson and on Buchanan
streets and on the east side of High street.
| Mr.. Earnshaw stated the name on the lamp
post at Nichols avenue has been changed
| from Pleasant place to Grant street, the
| latter being the proper ueSlSndtlOn. he
| stated the Commissioners had promised to
| investigate the complaint filed about the
| wrong numbering of the houses along Mich
| OILS avenue and on Spring street.
| Objections to Narrow Streets.
| The question of the narrowing of the
| streets in the northeastern part Of the city.
at the instance Of the District Commission
ers, called up and condemned.
| Messrs Earnshaw and Leonard spoke for
| wider streets throughout the District, IL
possible, instead OF narrowing the high
ways, and DR.. Pyles made known several
cases of narrow streets that have been
brought to his attention in Anacostia. The
citizens these streets, he stated, have
| petitoned for water and sewer facilities,
| which they have been unable to obtain, as
| the right of the Commissioners to have the
streets made narrow has been called into
question and remains unsettled.
A resolution expressing opposition to the
narrowing of streets in the District was
passed. and 1t was ordered that copies be
sent to the Commissioners and to the Dis
trict committees of the Senate and House.
Mr.. Thompson reported having visited
! City Postmaster Barnes yesterday, and OF
| having been assured by that official that
sub-postal station for Anacostia, to be To-
Gated in one of the local business houses,
would be in operation in short time as
requested by the Citizens Association. Mr..
Barnes also promised to have cards placed
! on the mail boxes throughout the town, In
| dicating the hours of each collection
The following were admitted to member
! ship In the association: Charles A. Stevens,
George 8. King and Maurice Otterback 1t
was decided to change the place OF meet
| ing of the association hereafter to the Of
| flee of the George s. King Company, on
| Monroe street
On motion Of Mr.. Thompson 1t was de-
| cided to request the Commissioners TO
cause the removal of the abandoned street
car tracks from Johnson street.