Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
SUBURBS OF THIS CITY
1900 -
Takoma Park Regarded as
Ideal Home Community.
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS
- -
Prospects for Erecting Branch Of
Public Library.
RISE IN. PROPERTY VALUES
Winthrop Heights, Benning Heights,
Brookland, Mt. Rainier, Lang
don and Kenilworth.

Less than Ave miles directly north Of the
city, so near the division line between the
| District and Maryland that one portion
| of the town owes its allegiance to the
federal city. while the remaining portion
| laps over into Maryland. Is one of the
most attractive of Washington's lovely
suburbs, Takoma Park Its altitude VARIES
according to the locality, from three to
four hundred feet above that of Wash
| ington, and this, taken with the fact that
/ it is hidden in the depths of denseiy
wooded country, where fresh air and pure
water abound, makes it a most desirable
retreat from the city's streets In the
scorching days of summer. Takoma wa
ter. the virtue OF which is simply Its per-
feet purity, is famous. 1t rises In springs
that are crystal clear and flows in spark
ling rills into the valleys below.
A home in the country without shade
| is without the greatest charm or country
| life Here is shade in abundance. and the
veteran resident declares that with shade,
pure air and wholesome water Takoma
holds all that is dear. to the homeseeker:
and more. The wonderful growth or
Washington has pressed its boundaries
farther and farther beyond the circum-
scribed lines of Florida avenue, away to
the northward toward the higher ground
| the tall trees. the winding streets ana
| beautiful villas of Takoma.
Name of Indian Origin.
The word "Takoma" is said to be of In
dian origin and signifies "exalted-a high
place." and in this instance. the enthusi-
astic Takoman declares, the word has
| been most worthily and fittingly applied.
Nature seems to have concentrated her
efforts In making the suburb not only
healthful and attractive, but beautiful as
WELL
gressve of towns Its wideR wake citi-
zens, several years ago, installed and
now have in operation water and
sewer system that is a model of it's kind.
1t is said to have received the morse
ment of engineering experts all over the
country. The water supply Is the Sllgo, a
springfield stream, that courses through
sand and gravel beds. over rock and
boulder. and flows abund 6san! within the
into steel reservoir of fifty-thousand-
gallon capacity. one hundred and forty
feet above the ground. 1t fs then dis
tributed throughout the town; the press
ure being so great that ample fire pro-
lection is afforded without the necessity
of an engine. The sewage system Is con-
structed upon broad lines OF modern
thought and progress. two farms erect
lively and hygienically disposing OF the
sewage matter.
Easy Of Access.
Another feature in which. Takoma Park
is said to excel as q suburban town Is
that of its easy access to the business
centers of Washington. The resident has
at his service daily suburban trains on
the Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. as we'll as the service
by electric car over the Brightwood cleo
trio road. a part Of the extensive system
Of the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. The town has a public school
on the District side. known as the Ia
koma School. erected at a cost OF $4,000.
Takoma Park IL an ideal place for chill
dren. for there they are exempt from the
dangers of city streets and escape the
Pcircumscribed area OF sunless back YARDS.
There are churches of every denomina-
ton and stores of every description
throughout the town. The general char
acter Of the houses Is admirably adapted
to the requirements of the majority OF
the homecoming population OF the Dis
trict, the government employees and others
of moderate means Whether coy cot
tage or pretentious villa. there Is the
same inviting picturesQueness enhanced
not only by natural surroundings. but
flowers, that give completeness to an
ideal landscape. In point of architecture
the dwellings present a pleasing variety.
and evidence the exercise OF taste and
provided with gas and recently electricity
has been introduced into several of the
business houses and residences. To- the
owner of a home In Takoma Park every
indication points to the fact that his
property is constantly increasing n value.
This suburb has never been doomed"
It's progress has been gradual and con-
slant.
Seventh Day Adventists' Buildings.
Among the more extensive improve
ments made within the past few years are
! the spacious buildings constructed and
| now occupied by the Seventh Day Ad-
| ventists for various purposes. Fully a
| half million dollars have been spent by
| them in the purchase of land and the
erection Of buildings of different charac-
| ter They have a training college, con-
sisting of four buildings. costing approx
| imately 10000; printing establishment
erected at a cost of $4,000: a general
| conference building. costing $4,000, and
| the Washington Sanitarium. costing more
| than 100000. The sanitarium Is situated
| on a fifty-one-acre tract in the outskirts
| of the town on the banks of the Sligo.
| The building is lighted with electricity
| and is modern in every. respect. The other
| buildings of the denomination are 10
Gated in the central part of the town. on
| District line. In this vicinity will be
found also a large number OF handsome
residences. which are owned and occu-
pied by Seventh Day Adventists. who
! have built them in close proximity to
their various places OF business. The
| large printing establishment Is constantly
| printing the various organs Of the denom
| nation, as well as reports and other mat
| ter received at the headquarters at Ia
! koma Park from all over the world.
| The erection of a branch of the Wash
ington Public Library is anxiously looked
for by the residents of Takoma Park.
The Senate recently passed a bill author
izing the acceptance of donation OF
$4,000 from Andrew Carnegie for the
| construction of a handsome building for
| this purpose in the heart of the town, and
the House is expected to take favorable
action The site has been donated by the
| citizens, and is located on a prominent
| corner. on the south side of Cedar street
| at 9TH street.
Army General Hospital.
The new United States Army General
Hospital. on Brightwood avenue. just
west Of Takoma Park is about completed
and will be q decided addition to the Sec
ton. The hospital cost 100000. and Is
the first of series Of buildings which
will be erected on reservation contain
ing more than forty acres. The main
| building will bear the name of Maj. Walter
| Reed. U.S.A.. whose discovery Of the
spread of yellow fever by the stegomeia
MOSQUITO and whose death in consequence
of experiments connected with that dis
L tv,ov ~ {c onH