Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-08
MEETING OF CITIZENS
EAST WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION
TRANSLATES BUSINESS.
Questions Relating to Street Rail
ways-Necessity for a Cross
town Line.

Seserai matters of interest were dis
cossed and acted upon by members of the.
East Washington Citizens Association al
the meeting OF that organization last even
ing in Donnely's Hail. Questions relating
10 street railways occupied almost the en-
tire evening. Mr.. w. Mosby Williams.
chairman. presenting several reports and
resolutions from the railway committee.
The railway matter of most Importance was
that which had for its object the enact
ment of law authorizing a crosstown
railway fer the people of East Washington
The same question had been discussed at
other meetings Of the associations but last
evening Chairman Williams and President
smith were particularly anxious that some
thing definite should be done to secure
favorable action upon the measure at the
present session of Congress
chairman Williams spoke OF the neces-
sity Tor ascrosstown railway in East Wash
ington, dwelling at length upon what has
ALREADY been attempted in the matter of
urging congress to take favorable action
upon the measure, He offered for the ac-
tion OF the association a resolution setting
1orth that as crosstown car line from al
least M street south to Florida avenue
north IN the eastern section of the city Is
much needed and the project has been in
oofsed Dy citizens, without a single dissent
ana as the most feasible route Is an extern
sion of the Capital Traction line from sth
street and Pennsylvania avenue southeast
north to Florida avenue and thence west
along that avenue to 18th street northwest
the East Washington Citizens Association
asks that any legislation providing for an
extension or change of tracks OF the two
systems OF street cars in order To reach the
union station should also provide for a
crosstown line within the limit named
10 iurther accomplish the result in Ques-
ton the Officers of the association, with the
street railroad committee. were authorized
and empowered to use their best endeavors
with Congress by personal interviews petit
tons or otherwise in the name of the asso-
citation as in their best Judgment may an
pear to be proper.
Need of Waiting Shed.
Another report submitted by Mr.. Williams
was In the nature OF a resolution having for
its object the erection of a waiting shed at
the transfer point between the Capital Trac-
ton and the East Washington Heights line
near the west end of the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. bridge 1t was recited that the Com
missioners had declined to grant permits
sion for the construction of such a shed
upon public ground. The committee there
fore urged that effort be made to have
Congress authorize the Commissioners to
grant permission for the use of the public
space for the purpose stated. 1t was also
asked by the committee that the two
chase land and erect such a shed.
In another resolution the committee asked
that the thanks of the association be ex-
tended to the Capital Traction Company for
the Improvement of the service during the
early morning hours on the line running to
the Pennsylvania avenue bridge. A further
request Is to be made of the company to
have the improved service begin at 5:57
O'Clock am. instead of 1921 o'clock.
Another resolution from the street rail-
way committee contained complaint
against the service on East Capitol street
between the hours of o'clock and $50
pm. 1t was set forth that the conditions
could be remedied by having the Capitol
cars go as far as the barn during the hours
mentioned. e, ,,.-.-
Chairman Williams also submitted a re-
port from the committee favoring the pas
sage of the bill which provides for uni
versal free transfers between the local
street car companies. The several meas
ures were discussed and approved.
President Smith called the attention of
the association to the pending bill TO give
the Washington. Spa Spring and Gretta
electric road the right of way over the
BladenSburg road from the District line to
18th and H streets northeast. He stated
that the matter is before the District COM
mittee this week, and suggested that the
railway committee take prompt action upon
the proposition. President Smith said that
line of cars along Bladensburg road is
badly needed. He not only fators the
granting. ofthe charter asked, but, he
stated, he ndu sent MS SANCTION 10 the
chairman of the committee
Chairman Williams said he would have
the committee giTe-the matter prompt at
tention.
At Jail and Workhouse
DR.. c. M. Emmons made a verbal report
upon sanitary conditions at the Jail and
workhouse. and also referred to the propo-
sition that has been made to expend 3d.
900 the old almshouse building for use
..1I
detention of persons suspected of being in
sane. He said the committee making the
inspection expressed disapproval Of the plan
to use the old building for the purposes
indicated. believing that the building should
be in another section of the city or county.
1T is a burning shame" the doctor
stated, ''to have the present jail treatment
of prisoners continued. l have no criticism
of Warden Harris to make, but my crit
icism is of the building and what the war
den must necessarily do
Dr. Emmons referred to the lack Of prop
er sanitary arrangements at the Jail and
to the overcrowding of the institution.
The building was constructed to accom-
modate 800 prisoners" DR.. Emmons ex-
planned but at the time the committee
visited the prison there were 553 prisoners
confined there, sixty-two of them being fe-
males"
Complaint was made of the size of the
cells, and DIR. Emmons, in response TO in
quiry by a member of the associa ton. said
the prisoners are unemployed. The ques-
ton of furnishing the prisoners employ
ment of some kind was discussed, and the
suggestion was made that they might do
the laundry work for the District or make
clothing for the inmates of the orphan
asylums and the poor. At the workhouse.
he stated, the conditions are much better
new buildings having been recently erected
there. During the discussion of the condi-
lions at the Jail it was suggested that the
health officer and grand jury might make
ff,x-a loot md aTli Qh
An assembly room and sanitary plumbing,
it was stated. would remedy the trouble.
President Smith stated that a written re-
port upon the conditions at the Institutions
in the eastern section of the city will be
made later. Before the association adj
journed, President Smith stated that the
item in the river and harbor bill making
an appropriation of $4,000 for the i'm
provement of the Anacostia river will be
the means of greatly advancing the work