Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-03
ROCK ClEEk IMPROVEMENT
DIVISION OF SENTIMENT IN
GEORGETOWN ASSOCIATION.
Compromise Reached Which Pre-
vents Resignation Of President
King-Plans Discussed.

The temporary disruption Of the
Georgetown Citizens Association through
the proposed resignation Of the president
and the refusal of the first vice presi-
dent to serve in his stead was averted
last night only by changing a resolution
affecting the Rock Greek improvement
plan. The crisis of the meeting came
when the association, after protracted
discussion Of the various Rock Creek
Improvement schemes by W.. ]. Doug
las, engineer of bridges for the Dis
trict, adopted the following resolution:
THAT the treasurer is hereby authorized
to pay to the chairman of the committee
on public improvements the sum of $40,
or as much thereof as may be needed.
which sum the said committee is hereby
authorized to spend in the preparation
and dissemination of 1000 Illustrated
pamphlets bearing upon the immediate
and permanent Improvement OIL ROCK
creek from Q street to l. street by the
covered conduit plan, and also vigorously
demanding remedial legislation by the
present Congress. said pamphlets to DE
prepared under the supervision or the
president and vice presidents or TINS as
ISOLATION. and to bear the name OF the
Georgetown Citizens Association as au
thor"
Expresses Disapproval.
Upon the adoption of the resolution
Mr.. George A. King stated that he was
not in sympathy with it, and in view OF
the fact that it was preceded by reso-
luton of the association last Noyember
indorsing any plan for the Improvement
of Rock Creek valley the Commissioners
might adopt. he would be forced to oher
his resignation as president. In doing so.
Mr.. King appealed to Henry s. Matthew's.
a. tn foH
which he declined to do for the same
reasons which prompted the president to
offer his resignation. The differences
were finally adjusted by an appeal on the
part of Mr.. a. X. Paris to the assoca-
ton to stand together. which ended in
changing the resolution in question so
that it read that the committee submit
ting the report would prepare the data
and other material matter provided for,
instead Of the executive officers.
The meeting of the association last
night was called principally to hear En-
gineerW. ]. Douglas on the various
Rock creek improvement schemes. Mr..
Douglass brought with him several as
a dozen stereopticon views showing the
several plans discussed in the past
At the outset he stated that in his
opinion the open valley treatment, with
parking and drives on each side OF the
creek and from four to five bridges
from Massa chusetts avenue to L street.
was the most feasible and practicable
and the cheapest plan to adopt.
In making this statement the engineer
gave number Of reasons for his belief.
and concluded by saying that though
all the plans would be submitted to Con-
gress, in accordance with provision to
that effect. he would earnestly recon-
mend this method of improving the creek.
He showed several drawings, running
from Massachusetts avenue to street
and from street to l. street. The plans
provided for driveways and parkings.
grade crossings. consistent grades. sub
stantial bridges and conduit from L
street to the Potomac river. Mr.. Douglas
stated the cost of the open valley i'm
provement would be s., 100000. divided as
follows: From Massachusetts avenue to
P street, s., 100000; from street to L
street, s1,eOo,VoO. and the conduit from
ed it would take about six years to COM
plete the work.
Conduit System.
In the conduit plan Mr.. Douglass showed
views calling for conduit from Massa-
chusetts avenue to the river, over which
ran boulevard 400 feet wide. and numer-
Gus drives and bride paths. which, he
stated, it was estimated could be &C
complshed at a cost of about $500, 900.
with from ten to twelve years to COM
plete it.
The third plan was what was known
as the semi-conduit idea. providing for
a conduit from o street to l. street and
then to the Potomac at cost of S. 4OO,-
600. with parking above the conduit.
At the end of Mr.. Douglass explana-
ton of the several plans members of the
association deluged him with questions
relative to the several schemes of inn
provement during which the engineer
stated that in considering the best plan
to adopt the wishes of the entire city
must be consulted, and particularly OF
the northwest section east of Rock creek
as it affected them to the same extent
as it did the citizens of Georgetown. The
contemplated Improvement. he said. is OF
general municipal character and not
purely a sectional one. and this fact was
being given careful consideration by the
governing powers of the city.
After Mr.. Douglass business with the
association was concluded motion was
made to adopt the resolution demanding
the conduit plan which was placed on the
table at a meeting two weeks ago, pend
ing the engineers talk with the associa-
ton. The motion was carried by vote
of IS to 23 At this juncture the episode
mentioned--the proposed resignation of the
president of the ssociation-occurred.
Previous Action.
At the reorganization Of the association
last November, it was stated. report
was made to the District Commissioners,
practically unanimous, assuring them that
any plan they might agree upon for
the improvement of Rock Creek would
be agreeable to the association. and it
would indorse the Commissioners action.
The Rock Creek matter consumed the
entire business session Of the association,
the reports. of the several committees being
dispensed with. A letter from President
Charles w. Needham. president of the
C,aoroe wa Sbjng ton IrniVerSitY was read
requesting to be informed OF what action
the association took in reference to the
Rock Greek Improvement. 1t was stated
that the trustees of the university con-
templated the placing of the university
along Rock creek should the improvement
deyelnn the marking scheme.