Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-06
OBJECT TO ST ABLE
RESIDENTS OF BLOoMINGDALE
ARE AROUSED.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
noticed in one OF our ming papers
yesterday an article headed. District
Stables Not a Menace" in which 1t was
claimed that THE feared contamination Of
the filter beds will be impossible, as the
proposed site of the stables is three squares
from the pumping station" and that the fl
tration beds forty feet above the grade
of the stables. Now, l am optimistic
enough to believe that the Commissioners
are DESTROYS of promoting the welfare of
our city in every possible way within their
power but | am unable to reconcile this
choice Of location for the stables with such
a desire. and | am, therefore, prone to be-
li,ve that whoever is responsible for such
choice is either unacquainted with the CON
ditions is Indifferent to the interests of
the city IN general and of the citizens of
the community IN particular.
The pumping station, instead of being
three squares away, is almost directly
across the street from the proposed site,
and iuts about 100 feet therefrom. The
open reservoir is only about forty rods to
the north and while the bank surrounding
1t is thirty or forty feet above the grade
of the stable site, the bottom OF IL Is JUST
about on a level herewith, 50 that con-
tamiuation thcrefrUm underground Is not
only possible. but probable, TO say nothing
OF oyerground conditions, due to proximity
and to prevailing winds. L appeal 10 every
citizen of Washington who IL interested IN
the water supply of the city to Visit the
proposed site of the District stables, and
the reservoir, etc. few rods north. ana
then pass judgment on the proposition
Whoever heard of building stables on the
very banks of the basin containing the
water supply of a great city! great
problem mas puzzled the city health au-
thorities to discover the causes of disease
especially of typhoid fever, which mas oeen
attributed to germs in the water ana ihe
government has spent three or -FOUR inillioh
l.,,fl1 &c emit ~.
furnish with pure. clean water. and now
comes the District and proposes to build It's
stables on its very banks. 1t seems TO me
that government or District reservation
should be more carefully guarded against
dirt and filth than the place whence the
city gets its water supply; that we should
take no more pride in beauufylng any pub
lie park than in identifying this place
with flowers grass and surroundings that
will make it not only picturesque in beauty,
but ideal in cleanliness as nearly as pos
sible
There are other reasons-minor
far as public interest goes, but none the
less good oneS-why this building should not
be erected on the proposed site. During the
last session Congress appropriated Tor the
opening up of I'd, Adams and w streets
In this section. Property owners in the
vicinity are to be taxed for the same on
the ground that the value of their property
will be enhanced thereby. Is 1t right that
the District should establish and maintain
a nuisance, to the detriment of these peo
pie, who are to have the additional burden
of the extra tax? If there We're no places
in the District where sta bleS could be built
without njuring property or endangering
public health there might be reasons for
carrying out the proposed plans, but as
such places are available there seems to be
no justification for SO doing.
We. as citizens of Bloomingdale, are
naturally interested in beautiful sec
ton in particular sense, and We likewise
have interest in whatever affects the
| a
heard speak of this matter approves the
site for the stables in consideration of the
proximity of the city's water supply. So
l am not voicing my own sentiments only
in making this protest. l appeal again to
every citizen who is interested in the
purity of the water used in our homes; l
in other things beneficial to the city's good,
to help protect the purity of our water
supply from the danger Of contamination
which would come from the building of
stables on the very banks of the open
reservoir through which flows the water
that supplies our 100000 population.
j. E. HIATT.
To the Editor of The Star:
Realizing how deeply interested The Star
Is In the Improvement and beautifyng of
the city, | beg to solicit its interest and
assistance in demonstrating against the
erection of the proposed District stable on
Bryant street northwest between I'd and 3D.
This stable Is to be erected directly in front
OF the new pumping station-a building OF
beautifu architecture and dimensions Not
only will the stable spoil the beauty of this
building, but ii will depreciate the value of
surrounding property This is new sec
ton of the city, all the houses are newly
built ana are fine. large residences, and all
owned by the occupants.
When the purchase of this land was made
by the District government we all thought
the Commissioners had realized the beauty
of the pumping station and We're going to
place a park in front of it. We daily
{ watched the real estate transfers hoping to
see that they had purchased the adjacent
land and would clear away the shanties
and develop one fine. large park that would
make this one of the beautiful sections of
our city. But our hopes blasted and
instead of velVety turf, playing foun-
tain, waving trees and pure, sweet air, we
are to be insulted with the curses of
drivers, the paving and stamping of fifty
horses and the foul impure air certain to
surround building of this nature.
Other cities place their reservoirs in mag
niticent parks, and have fine surroundings.
In Pittsburg the reservoir drive is one of
the finest in that city. Philadelphia also
prides itself on the location of its gigantic
water reservoir. Other cities are likewise
progressive But 1t remains for the capital
for the nation to build a stable at the base
of the nation to build a stable at the base
Industrious tax-payinG citizens by such
building.
But, laying aside all sentiment as to the
destruction of beauty, tranquility and pu-
rity. let me for one moment call your atten-
ton 10 the great loss it means TO the prop
erty owners in this section. Who would
purchase a six, seven or eight thousand dol
lar home near stable?
Adams and Bryant streets are lined with
houses. almost all OF which have been COM
pleted less than one year ago. What will
this property be worth after colony of
horses is planted in their midst? Do the
Commissioners contemplate reimbursement
for the depreciation of our properties?
MRS. VIM. l.. THURBER.