Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-08
PARK As PLAYGROUND
East Washington Citizens 0p-
pose Use of Garfield.
VIEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Opposition Also to Change in Names
of Two Avenues.
GRADE CROSSINGS DISCUSSED
Effort to Procure Appropriation Of
$4,000 for Enlargement Of
the District workhouse.
GRADE CROSSINGS DISCUSSED

Members of the East Washington Citi-
zens' Association put themselves on rec
ord last night as being unalterably op-
posed to the use of Garfield Park for the
esta blishment of public playground. 1t
was stated that the occupancy of the
park is a matter OF experiment which.
members of the association declared. was
all the more the reason why 1t should not
be SO used Mrs. Adelaide Solberg, living
in the vicinity of the park. addressed the
meeting, stating her objections to the
use of the park for the purposes stated.
people living in the vicinity of the
park feel that the place should not be
dem olished by crowds of children and
the trees and shrubbery destroyed"
Mrs solberg said that the park has long
been regarded as a resting place for many
people who labor hard all day. and. she
Of rest where crowds of children are Oc-
cupying the park as a playground. The
playground committee, she said. should
get unimproved spaces and beautify them.
| The few days the park was used, Mrs
Soiberg said. the children came at 8
o'clock in the morning and remained until
after dark. and many of the children who
used the merry-go-round were made ILL.,
Part Of the apparatus, she stated, has
been locked up.
What were the ages of the children
who patronized the ground?" Mr.. W.
Mosby Williams asked.
From six to seventeen or eighteen
years" Mrs. solberg responded ''One
day some of the larger ones had fight
There was a stone battle between white
and coored boys"
rectors on the grounds at any time. Gar
field Park. Mrs. Solberg informed her
hearers. has always been the proper kind
of playground. Girls took their dolls
were taught to respect the grass and
shrubbery and they never injured either
President Smith read the resolution of
the executive committee. which reads:
/ grounds. but enter our earnest protest
against the use Of any parts of Gar
field Park for a public playground, having
thereon gymnasium apparatus. and
are opposed to an uninciosed playground
at any point in this city"
Mr.. NJ. l. Weller. Mr.. L. n. Foutz.
Capt w. M. Potter. President Smith and
others entered their objection to the con-
version of public parks into Fairgrounds.
Mr.. Foutz said the more he had inves-
tigated the question Of establishing pub
lie Fairgrounds the less he thinks Of
! them. Parks, he said, were established for
the purpose Of giving the people places
to enjoy the beauties of nature and their
conversion into public Fairgrounds will
mean a great menace to the beauty of the
| city. II the experiment is success. he
said. and 1t is bound to be reported as
being a success, other parks will then be
taken.
May Take Others.
do you think Franklin Park will be
j taken?" Mr.. Williams asked.
Il think not" was his response. neither
do !. think Dupont Circle will be taken.
bat they may take Lincoln Park
| Capt. Potter suggested that the install
| n n
| theater would probably follow.
| Mr.. Weller argued that the use of gym
nasium apparatus on pubic Fairgrounds
should not be permitted unless competent
| instructors were in attendance. He said
| he had predicted fatal accidents should
| the children be permitted the freedom Of
the grounds and use of apparatus. In
| conclusion he made an earnest plea for
| the protection of the parks.
| President Smith said he feared the con-
( version of these breathing spaces into
Of teaching children to have no respect
| for the parks. The resolution was
| adopted.
Change in Names of Avenues.
| Capt. Potter took up the question of
the proposition to change the names of
Georgia and Brightwood avenues. He
! could see no reason why the name
| Beightw wood should be changed to Georgia
avenue. nor could he understand why it
was desired to have the name OF the lat
ter thoroushfare changed to Naval ave-
nue.. Capt. Potter told of what had been
done to prevent the changes from being
| made. and u resolution opposing the
changes was introduced and passed.
| President Smith spoke of the work that
| is in progress that is being made on the
work Of retaining the Anacostta hats.
Part Of the retaining wall, he said. has
| been constructed and mud machines will
soon be making the mud fly. The work
| Of widening and deepening the channel
will then be well under way. slice OF
hard earth, he stated. is to be taken from
Buzzard's point and a channel 100 feet or
wider will be provided from the mouth OF
the Anacostia river to the navy yard.
The association passed resolution pro-
testing against the use of I'd or Sd street
from East Capitol to street south for
car lire. The association recommended
the use of LIST street. which, 1t was set out
is twenty feet wider than the other
Mr.. w. Mosby Williams. chairman Of
the railroad committee. brought up the
question Of crosstown street railway in
d,tionai saeilities to the Washington Spa
Spring and Gretna Railroad Company
The additional facilities involve the ex-
tension provided from 18th and II streets
northeast to the Union station and steam
company to construct a road along Mary
land avenue northeast and street to
the station. In order to reach the steam
boat wharves, 1t Is intended to construct
tho tracks south on 18th street east,
thence along M street to the river.
! Mr. Williams read a letter heN had re-
ceived from Gen. 8. 8. Yoder. vice presi-
dent of the railroad. in which he gave
history of the road.
Elimination Of Grade Crossings.
On motion of Mr. Williams the associa-
ton adopted a resolution favoring the
complete elimination of grade crossings
including the spur to the navy yard
The association voted to favor the
enactment Of the Sims and Carter SUBJ
stitutes for other measures.
Mr. g.. w. Curriden presented a reso-
luton directing the president of the asso-
citation to make an effort to secure an item
of $4,000 for the enlargement Of the
workhouse. The resolution also directed
that an effort be made ITO have the con-
ditions of the Jail and Workhouse investi-
gated. and that the prisons be relocated.
and that new ones be provided in which
work can be done by the prisoners. The
resolution was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Weller a resolution
of thanks was rendered Senator CALM
ger for what he has done In securing sew
eral improvements In the District
!
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