Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-09
TAKOMAT TOWN COUNCIL
REPORT OF TREASURER OF DE-
cEMBER FINANCES RECEIVED.
Opposition to Ordinance to Require
Removal Of Telegraph Poles.

The regular meeting of the town council
of Takoma Park, Md, was held last night
at o'clock in the chapel OF the Takoma
Presbyterian Church. Mayor ]. B. Kinnear
presided, with the following councilmen
present; L. r. Grabill. e. E. Biodgett, J. H.
Van Houten. Lisie Morrison. J. b. Derrick
and Town Clerk Ben G.. Davis. The report
Of the town treasurer was submitted and
approved. The receipts during the month
OF December were as follows: General
taxes. 1895 IA: water rents, S25; permits, SO;
special taxes cement walks. s16S70; mis-
cellaneous. 90 cents. making a total OF
$534.34. which. with the balance on hand.
made grand total Of 81, %. The dis
bursements during the same period were as
follows: Pumping plant, $35.75; water
works, $1.50: street work, S1o0.34 street
lighting, $500; general expenses. 1925; sal
aries. sos; Willow avenue improvements,
$443. 20. making a total of $T12.64, leaving a
balance of $1,4T9.62. The auditing commit
tee submitted bills amounting to 500. 80,
which were approved and ordered paid
A delegation of property owners attended
the meeting for the purpose of protesting
against the adoption of an ordinance re-
CURING AL houses aDutting on public sew
ers and water mains provided by the town
to be connected with such sewers and
mains. The ordinance provides that any
owner or occupant failing to comply with
the provisions of the ordinance shall, on
conviction, be fined not less than $50 nor
more than $50 for each thirty days for
which premises remain unconnected.
Mrs. Thomas of Oak and Tulip avenues
objected to the ordinance ewing to the ex-
pensiveness of the Improvement. She said
that her taxes amounted to $50 annually
and that an additional tax would make 1t
Oppressive" She was one of the pioneer
residents of the park, having erected the
first residence In Takoma, and in order to
meet the heavy expense, she said, 1t would
be necessary to sacrifice her property.
Mr.. j. A. Martin, secretary of the Takoma
Park Citizens Association, addressed the
meeting in behalf of Mrs. M. A. Ourand
of Holly avenue, and protested prac-
tically the same grounds. Others who filed
their objections with the council were Mr..
and Mrs. Louis Riggles of Holly avenue,
Miss Hattie Hamlin of Maple avenue. Mrs.
Marilla S. Perman and Mrs. Skinner, the
present heavy taxation being the basis of
their protests. After a lengthy discussion
OF the matter the ordinance was referred
to the committee for further report at the
next meeting.
The ordinance for the protection of side
walks from being covered with earth from
vacant lots, after discussion. was also re-
| ferred to the proper committee for report
at the next meeting of the council.
Vital Statistics for December.
Mr. L. NJ. Mooers, registrar of vital sta
tistics, submitted his annual report for the
year ending December 81, 1905 During the
year there were fifteen births and five
deaths. as against fourteen births and
eleven deaths the year previous. The town
during that period has been practically free
from typhoid fever. according to the re-
port, there being three cases in two FAM
lies all Of which were contracted outside
or Takoma Park. Complete recovery was
recorded IN each case There were two
cases of dtphthera both the patients re.
covering. In the District side of Takoma
i Lark, during the year there were eleven
phfhs and three deaths. In concluding his
report Registrar Mooers called attention to
the sanitary condition of the town and TO
the :, low record of sickness and mortality.
s'c..1l We're read by the clerk
from councilman Lisle Morrison complain
ing or the erection of telephone poles ON
CHESTNUT ana Takoma avenues, and from
WI. A. j. Pieters Of Chestnut avenue
AGAINST the erection of poles in front of his
property. The clerk was instructed nv the
council to notify the Chesapeake and Poto
mac Telephone Company to remove certain
pores Whch are obstructing the streets
ana cutters on Takoma avenue.
Town Charter Amendments.
Mayor ]. B. Kinnear reported to the conn
Gil relative to the proposed amendments to
the town charter which will be presented to
the Maryland legislature now in session at
Annapolis. One of the features provided in
the report was the changing of a portion
VI Iho Uounudiy line OF the town. In order
to secure the desired change in the line it
was suggested to include about 40 acres
known as the Hodges Farm" which is
triangular tract of land in the central
portion of the town, and which is com
pietely surrounded on all sides by the cor
poratton. 1t was further provided that the
land should be exempted from taxes during
the time 1t was used for agricultural pur-
poses.
The latter provision caused several of the
members to enter vigorous protests against
the adoption of the report containing such
a clause and resulted in a lengthy discus
sion of the matter. 1t was finally decided
to allow the report to be presented to the
legislature, permitting the boundary line to
remain as at present, in this particular sec
ton. the present owner having refused to
pay any tax IL the property was included
within the corporation limits.
The special report of the committee COM
posed of Councilmen Morrison, Van Hou-
ten and Grabill relative to the filling in of
Buffalo avenue, North Takoma, was sub
mitted and Endorsed by the council. The re-
port provided that the dirt for the fill should
be removed from the triangular tract Of
and that when the work is completed
the property shall be cleared Of brush and
Shrubbery and lake be constructed for
skating purposes and during the summer
months to be used as lake and summer
park The committee will present the re-
port in conjunction with a similar commit
tee from the Takoma Park Citizens Asso-
citation, at the meeting next Monday night.
Upon it's return to the town council the
sum of $3.50 for improving Buffalo avenue
will be appropriated,
The Treatment Of Mrs. Morris.