Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-16
WAR ON GRADE CROSSINGS
Fight Begun Fifteen Years Ago
Ends Successfully.
NATIONAL CoLORs IN USE
Appointment of Committee to Ar
range Details-Criticism of the
Board of Education.


planned at a meeting of the organiza ton
Mondy night in Northeast Temple He
added that the association was formed for
the purpose of waging war against the
continuance of the dangerous grade cross
ings of the steam railroads.
The last of these crossings are about to
be abolished" he went on to say, land
think the association has good reason to
indulge in a celebration"
President Tucker stated that a commit
tee has charge of the matter of providing
for celebration in the near future. A. H
F. Holster, a charter member, surprised
the others by presenting each with a
small American flag, pinning three to the
coat lapel of each charter. member
large American flag adorned the wall. and
Mr.. Holster also provided floral decora-
tons, presenting the officers of the asso-
citation with punches of autumn blossoms
Two young ladies, Miss Rose Halter and
Miss Mary St Clair, rendered musical Sc
lections.
William J. Frizzell. chairman of the COM
mfttee on steam railroads, submitted a re-
port showing that the tracks of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company east of
I'd street had bee n removed, and that the
streets and avenues which We're obstruct ed
by the tracks are being graded and regu-
lated. 1t was also stated in the report
that the Commissioners have issued an or
der for the paving of 18th street to the
north line Of X street.
81 Street Subway.
THE II street subway the report set
FORTH "is still in an unfinished condition,
the north and south retaining walls being
wet and damp throughout, the seepage
water In many places running across and
along the sidewalks on either side. This.
we expect, will soon be corrected by the
enforcement of the agreement between the
Commissioners and the Baltimore and
OHIO Railroad Company, made in the
early days of the work, that If this condi-
ton should exist (as the Commissioners
held 1t would the terminal company would
face the walls with light-colored bricks,
leaving an air chamber behind them which
will obscure the dampness and present
more agreeable and wholesome effect. The
unpleasant odor which now sometimes
exists will also be eliminated by a more
painstaking method of cleaning and puri-
f1cation."
F. D. Foster, chairman of the school
committee, and Dr. Starr Parsons, a
member of the committee, submitted a
brief report upon school affairs, making
the explanation that time had not per-
mitted more lengthy report. Since the
last report of the committee was sub
mitted and published, Chairman Foster
attorney who made inquiries as to the
correctness of the published reports,
wanting to know If the criticisms of the
board of education had bean exaggerated
Others, he said, had commended and con-
graduated the committee for its report.
That report, Chairman Foster stated
dealt with the so-caled advisory council
which, he said was headed by a person
who was antagonistic to the former school
superintendent.
THAT council was abandoned" the
chairman stated, Showing that the work
of the committee and the efforts of The
star had the desired effect. The state
ments contained in the report were cor
rect and the effect was beneficial"
Report on Schools.
Mr.. Foster referred to the difficulties
that have been experienced in connection
with the conduct of the business of the
colored schools. and said he thought the
conduct Of the colored schools should be
left with the colored members of the
board of education. The troubles in the
colored schools. he said. lasted practically
the whole of the last school year and he
could see no reason why the time of the
superintendent and the who board should
be taken ND with such troubles.
why should the superintendent time
be taken up with the question of whether
or not janitor or teacher paid for in
fuence?" Mr.. Foster asked 1.-THE colored
members of the board are intelligent peo-
pie, who are capable of passing upon such
questions"
Troubles in Colored Schools.
President Tucker inquired If the troubles
In the colored schools had not arisen I'M
der the present school regime, and Mr..
Foster responded in the affirmative.
Mr.. Josiah Willard said he would Ike to
know whose fault it is that Northeast
Washington is without the necessary
school accommodations. He also wanted
to know why children had been required
to go into basement rooms and if it Is
true that supt. Chancellor has taken two
of the finest rooms In the Franklin build
ing for his use.
Chairman Foster said there seemed to be
a division of authority in the matter of
the failure to erect the buildings for which
appropriations had been made He
thought the members of the board of edu-
cation had been lax in not having urged
the erection of the buildings. Their fault,
he thought, was one of omission
Mr.. Hoisten, referring TO the question of
closing the shallow wells, presented res
olution recting that wells are of inesti-
mable advantage to the public more es-
pecially to the poor people, who are unable
to purchase ice and asking that the Com
missioners include in their estimates an
amount sufficient to sink deep wells in
localities where the shallow ones were
located.
The resolution was favored by every one
in attendance, the discussion bringing to
the attention of the association the claim
Of the health officer that the water in the
shallow wells had caused typhoid fever.
President Tucker read statistics to indi-
cate that the number Of typhoid cases had
increased since many of the wells were
closed. He suggested that those who had
been drinking the pure well water had
been driven elsewhere to contract the
fever.
Cases of Typhoid Fever.
DR.. Walter said there is no more typhoid
fever in this city than there was years
ago. Under the law, he said, physicians
are now required to report such cases.
These reports he declared, "are mis-
leading. They are similar to the reports
of the police department in the matter of
arrests. People are arrested here for vio-
lating great many petty ordinances and
the aggregate number of arrests is parad-
ed to make Washington appear as a GRIM
inal city, when as matter of fact it is
far better than other cities"
Mr.. Millard said he was tired of so much
. humbuggery about water and milk
spreading typhoid" He declared typhoid
Is due to the air that is brcathed.
Complaint was made to the association
about meats and vegetables being han
died by dealers so that they are fire.
quently covered with dust. one member
saying the conditions about some of the
markets are such that the health officer