Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-01
NEED OF PUBLIC PARK
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITIZENS
MAKE APPEAL TO CONGRESS.
Stirring Addresses Made by Promi-
nent Advocates at Meeting Held
Last Night.

Judge Charles 8. Bundy. president OF the
Columbia Heights Citizens Association,
sounded the slogan of the residents of Col
urnbia Heights at the mass meeting held in
the Mount. Pleasant Congregational Church
In the interest Of parks for Columbia
Heights when he said that the residents
must make long pull. a strong pull and
q pull altogether" II was an enthusiastic
meeting and was attended by many OF the
leading residents of the heights. Mr.. E.
Hilton Jackson presided over the dellbera-
tons and introduced the speakers.
In his remarks at the beginning OF the
meeting Mr.. Jackson said the meeting was
called by the members of the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association to give ex-
preston to the thoughts of the community
first upon the subject of parks for Columbia
Heights and second for the location OF a
park at 14th street and Columbia road
northwest. He spoke of the work that was
being done in the effort to secure the parks
and at the conclusion of his remarks In
troduced Judge Bundy. who, he said, was
one of the first settlers of the section"
Judge Bundy said his heart was with
every movement for the Identification OF
Columbia Heights and when he saw the eff
forts of the residents aiding in the work
to procure parks he re1oiced.
Advocated for Years.
For many years, In company with a few
faithful companions. l have advocated the
establishment OF this park, and now that
I see this awakening of public interest in
its support am rejoiced beyond my powers
OF expression
I'm $780, when Gen. Washington project
ed the capital city. he provided for large
number OF small and medium-sized parks
and reservations at the intersection OF
streets and avenues, but so distributed over
the city as to give TO each square mile an
of ten and rt of
parks and reservations. This is exclusive
of the large parks like the White House
Park, the Monument grounds, Judiciary
square and the like
The subdivisions north OF Florida avenue
We're not laid out nor projected by WASH
1ngton, and by singular coincidence no
provision whatever was made for any parks
or reservations therein. This plateau on
which we stand. reaching from the crest
of the hill at Fairmunt street northwest
to Spring road, and from 9TH street to 18th,
is something less than square mile In ex-
tent.
I'm order to equalize It with the city
south of Florida avenue. 1t must have at
least ten acres in parks. This bill pro-
yides less than two acres. That is about
one-fifth of our equal share. That is not
much. but 1t is something. Our share
would be two and half parks of the size
OF Franklin square.
The General Scheme
TN Washington's scheme for the capital
city the streets and avenues were donated,
but the parks and reservations were pur-
chased and paid for by the public. Can We
of this generation improve upon Washing
tons plan? Should We not rather hold
fast TO II and seek to apply IL TO every en-
largement of the capital city?
Coming down TO the particular spot
lected by the first settlers for a peoples
pleasure ground and more recently for u
park, let me call attention to the fact
that the shadow of the billboard is already
over 1t. and unless something is done this
winter to rescue it, another summer Will
see the beautiful grove before us RACED to
the ground, and the place where it has
stood for 100 years waving its welcome
shade to man and beast and feathered fowl,
Will be covered with brick and mortar.
is 1t too much to ask of the wise and
strong men and women. here assembled
that they rouse themselves for a long pull
and strong pull and pull altogether FOR
park on Columbia Heights?"
Glad to Go on Record.
Mrs. w. H. Shir-Cliff sang a SOLO after
which Rev. NJ. Ross Fishburn, pastor OF
the Mount Pleasant Congregational Church,
said that he was glad to go on record for
his people and for himself individually as
heartily in favor of having the park at the
corner of 18th and Columbia road. He
declared there were a dozen reasons why
the parks should be established in Colum-
bia Heights and that every man, woman
anu tIlllu III w lbD is pSlltT on ac-
count of having the parks. Team work
is what We must have said Mr.. FIshburn,
and with that we will win"
In conclusion he said: The men with
whom We are dealing are friendly, and
believe that Congress viii do Its duty
Justice Stafford's Address.
Rev. George f. Dudley rector OF st.
Stephens Protestant Episcopal Church,
sang For All Eternity" after which Mr..
of -
the District of Columbia was introduced.
He said:
Every one knows that we want the
parks, and for one l am going to write TO
my senator and urge the parks for Column
bia Heights. You should do likewise. 1
want to advance the name for the park on
the opposite side of the street before
SET 1t. It should be named Harlan Park,
ana when the great justice has passed to
his reward his statue should be placed in
the center of it,.
Rev. oseph Dawson, pastor of Calvary
Methodist Church, said: We want the
park. 1t should be at the corner OF i4th
and Columbia road, and it will be there.
l have been talking to a member of the
committee of Congress and l hope he will
not be angry if / tell what he said in re-
gard to parks. From my conversation with
him / learned that if the people Of Column
bia Heights want the park they should
see that the price asked by the owners is
not exorbitant.
Rev. George h Dudley called attention to
the growth OF the Heights and said we
should have the parks He spoke of the
beautiful location at 14th and Columbia
road, and declared that II would be an
ideal spot for park. At the conclusion of
his remarks resolutions were adopted in
dorsing Senate bill 1872, which provides
the creation of the park IL was also
declared that copy OF the resolutions be
sent to the committees of both the House
of Representatives and the Senate aid to
the commissioners of the District OF Co
lumbia.