The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-10
MUNICIPAL CONTROL
OF FAIRGROUNDS
Directors of Association IN
dorSe Appointment of Gov
erning Board.

To place the Fairgrounds OF Wash
ington under municipal control and TO
exercise this control by means Of
playground commission IS the project in
dorsed in a resolution by the Board
or Directors of the Washington Play
grounds Association and forwarded 10
the Commissioner today
The recommendation was made as a
result Of a report submitted by a special
committee. That report said:
your committee believes that when
ever the Government Is called upon 20
and does contribute the larger share OF
the expenses, the management Of the
municipal Fairgrounds should be placed
under official control.
The Commissioners are urged 20 rec
omnerd 20 Congress the appointments
Of a commission of five or seven per
sons such as IS now done I'm other cities
where the playground movement Is far
advanced This commission should be
provided with an executive officer, the
directors say, TO have direct charge OF
the administration of all Fairgrounds.
Highly Desirable.
The resolution points out that condi-
lions I'm Washington are such as TO
make the appointment OF a commission
Congress, the engineer in charge Of
puniic buildings and grounds. has for
some years allowed the use OF Govern
ment reservations upon which some OF
the most successful Fairgrounds have
been operated. A tribute * also paid
TO the cooperation Of the Board Of Ed
IcatiOn--
The resolution is signed by Frank IL.
Hitchcock. president of the Fairgrounds
Association, and James +. West. its
secretary.
| was forwarded 10 the Commissioner. At
IA meeting in the Evening Star Building
yesterday after noon, occasion was taken
10 present TO the members Of the asso-
citation the mai estimates agreed upon
as those which the Commissioners were
asked TO present [ C Congress.
The Comm issiopers have recommended
1900 for Fairgrounds. $1,000 TO provide
Tor toilets, storage houses. and swim
ming pools and $4,000 for supplies.
equipment. and maintenance.
The recommendations.
Upon invitation OF the Appropriations
Committee, Arthur c. Moses, vice prosi-
dent Of the association and James Il.
West. secretary, app cared before the
subcommittee yesterday and urged that
the amounts covered in their original
estimates 10 the Commissioners he
granted. or II the committee were UNI
able TO allow the amount asked TO pur-
chase three new sites, that money be
one site and the renting of ground for
Two additional Fairgrounds.
Hearty applause greeted the report Of
the work Of the association for the
Year
The treasurer's report showed that
over $1,000 had been collected, and that
there was a balance on hand OF about
$3.50, 500 of this being a fund given
through Major Richard Sylvester by
Mrs James Tor a special purpose.
/, The secretary, Mr. West, reported that
sthe unusually good weather TINS fall had
made possible the keeping open Of the |
Fairgrounds longer than usual and that
the attendance at the Georgetown play I
ground which was opened about the /
middle Of October, had been phenom- /
email
lie also reported that he had received !
parents OF children who had used the /
Fairgrounds In all parts Of the city. I
commencing the work OF the association I
and urging its continuance and devel- /
opment.
Those Present.
At the meeting were:
William II. Baldwin.
' Judge William H. Delay.
DR. Merrill L Gates
Prof. p. T. Janney.
Or. George NJ. kCber.
Arthur c. Moses.
3 W. Murch.
Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter.
CUuO II Rudolph.
John i. Sleman. ir.
Eugene l.. Stevens.
James r West.
Miss Edith G. WestcOtt
Or. j. Elmer Wiber.
The recommendation for n commission
was unanimously Endorsed BY these d. [
rectors