Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-09
TOWN COUNCIL OF TAKOMA
BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE
APRIL MEETING.
Appropriation for Improvement of
Streets and Avenues-Reports of
the Treasurer Submitted.

At a meeting of the town council of
Takoma Park, Md, last evening, $1,000
was appropriated for the improvement of
streets and avenues. The meeting was
called to order at o'clock In the Takoma
Presbyterian Church by Mayor w. G.
Platt, Counclmen Z. E. Blodgett, ]. B.
Derrick, w. w. Dyar, John Hansen. ].
L. Shear and L. r. Grabill and Town Clerk
Ben G. Davis being present.
The appropriation is in addition to $500
recently appropriated by the council for
street work. According to the street COM
mittee, the work Is to be started without
delay under the supervision of the mayor
and chairman of the street committee 1t
was decided to resurface Carroll avenue
with gravel, width sixteen feet, through
out its entire length, at an estimated cost
of $500, and to resurface Willow avenue,
from Carroll to Tulip avenues, width 20
feet, at an estimated cost of 5000. The bal
ance of 500 to be expended in grading,
graveling and repairing the remainder of
the streets and avenues of the town. The
amount mentioned is the largest lump sum
ever appropriated for such work at
Takoma.
Carroll avenue the council granted permits
sion to William A. Mellen, president of the
Baltimore and Washington Transit Com
pany, to remove 800 feet of track for use
al the jamestown exposition.
The mayor was directed to consider the
advisability Of purchasing a parcel Of land
containing good gravel bed in order to OBJ
tain sufficient supply of gravel to be used
in the improvement of the streets and
avenues.
Report of the Treasurer.
The report of the treasurer was submit
ted and approved. 1t showed receipts for
the month of March follows: General
taxes, 1891 rs; special taxes, cement walks,
$27S99: special taxes, water main Carroll
avenue, $29OS; water rents, $40; permits,
Sc, making a total of $1,345.s2. which. with
the balance on hand of. S3,32S. 73, made
grand total of $4,674.5o. The disbursements
during the same period were follows:
Pumping plant, $24; street work, S1.20;
street lighting, SiOSO; general expenses
s31. 50; salaries. s137, making a total of
$2O4 80. leaving a balance on hand of
S4.47O.O3.
The auditing committee submitted bills
amounting TO s15S.SO, which were approved
and ordered paid.
Building Inspector Blodgett reported issu-
ing building permits to c. NJ. Andrews for
the erection of one two-story residence on
lot Z, block 5, on Willow avenue, estimated
cost, 81, sOO George N. Beal, one two-story
residence on lot 80, block 10, on Ethan AL
len avenue, estimated cost, 81 SEQ.
A. H. Koenig was granted permission to
clear a street from lots "a and 20, owned by
him, to Sligo avenue. for the wood which
reported that if upon the clearing of the
street the council has sufficient funds the
street be further improved. Relative to his
request that a road be opened to the Wash
ington Sanitarium College, the committee
reported that it did not appear that there
is any public street following the route de-
sired.
Public Ash Service.
The lack of dumping facilities and pub
lie ash service was called to the atten-
ton of the council by Mr.. ]. H. Clark,
who suggested the advisability of en-
ploying a regular collector under the di-
rection of the council and at public eX-
pense. The committee on streets in re-
porting on the communication stated that
after careful consideration it was deemed
unnecessary owing to the expense in
volved, to recommend the institution of
the service mentioned, however desirable
it might be.
Mr. Clark against the further erection
of unsightly wooden poles for telephone
or electric service, and recommended that
the council require the various companies
to erect small iron poles in place of the
ones now in use. The street committee,
in commenting on the matter, stated that
the poles are necessary and that it did
not think it possible to require the use of
iron poles because of the expense The
committee recommended that in the flu
ture no poles be permitted to be erected
until inspected, ana approved by the
chairman of the street committee.
A delegation of residents of North Ia
koma, composed of Messrs. w. A. Col
cord, F. L. Newton and F. N. McGraw.
were at the meeting, and requested that
public dump be located in that sec
ton for the benefit of the citizens. The
request was granted.
The report of the board of assessors was
submitted and accepted. The real estate
assessments amount to $3.50, 600 and the i'm
provements to 100000. an increase of about
SO, coo over the previous year, which it
was reported is due to the increase in the
number of new buildings. The assessments
remain practically the same, a few in
creases and reductions being made which
do not materially effect the total assess
ment. The board composed of j. H
Clark. chairman; H. +. Rogers and j. H
Van Houten.
Lighting by Electricity.
The special committee appointed at the
last meeting. composed of Mayor Platt and
L. R. Grabill, to consider the .advisa bility
of lighting the town by electricity sub
mitted an adverse report. The committee
reported that it attended a meeting of the
council at Hyattsville. Nd, and later in
spected the system in use there The power
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