Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-15
PROPOSE 70 SECEDE PLEA FOR A PARK
Residents of Takoma Park,
Md, Prefer State Rule.
PETITION TOWN COUNCIL
Ask Leave to Return to Mont
gomery County as Means to Sc
cure Improvements.

Declaring that they do not receive the
benefits commensurate with the taxes they
are compelled to pay into the corporation,
twenty-seven taxpayers and property
owners have petitioned the mayor and
council OF Takoma Park, Nd. to be per-
Enitted to secede to Montgomery county.
Nd, where they believe they will receive
improvementssandb better roads.
The existence of this condition Of affairs
was unknown to the mayor and council
until the request was presented at reg
ular meeting last night The petition
was signed by twenty-seven property
owners, including the wife of a member
of the council representing that particu-
lar section. The petitioners request abso-
lutte separation from the corporate rule
and control of the town of blocks 50. 60.
81, g.. S. 64 and IS. North Takoms
Park, Md, and to be allowed to return to
Montgomery county.
Plea of Petitioners.
The petitioners claim that they do not
receive the benefits commensurate with
the taxes which they are compelled to pay
into the corporation of Takoma Park,
Md. They say they have been assessed
for years for water which they never
yet received. and further. that they are
situated remote from the park as to
practically eliminate them from active
participation in the affairs of the town,
as part of the county separates them from
the corporation proper.
They claimed further in their petition
that the records of the corporation will
develop the fact that the amount APP
tod for
ten years demonstrates that they have
not only been neglected. but absolutely
ignored, in the distribution of funds dis
bursed for improvements.
The petition concludes by stating that
the welfare of that part of North Ia
koma can only be enhanced by its release
from corporate control, as property can.
not advance under the present conditions
The petitioners urge in conclusion the
granting of the petition. The petition
was presented to the council by A. g.
Hilleary, who made a brief address De-
fore the council at the time
List of the Signers.
The signatures attached to the petition
include the following property owners: H.
III. BeaIl, Allen WahIstrom. Frank Van
Horn. CHARLES Barnes. William B. Shires.
Eliza Van Horn, A. G. Hilleary, Joseph
B. Parsly, George T. Sinclair, Harry
Kendall. Thomas Waters, William r.
Saunders John A. Ray, NJ. d. Beach, NJ.
l.. Erner, John I. Schaefer, J. s. Punk
EFT, Julia II. H. Crosby. Sarah F. Hodges,
G. w. Shaw. Oliver Van Horn. William
Parsiy, Chris Schaefer. Daniel w. Barnes,
Bartlett Bowling. Eliza s. Green and
Susie A. Saunders.
MIR. Hilleary. in speaking last night 10
a Star reporter of the situation and
causes which led up to the petition, said
that about q year ago Ridge avenue. one
OF the main thoroughfares through that
section, was torn up by q property owner
in silver Spring. with the consent of the
council who removed considerable earth
to fill in his property. The road was to-
have been replaced in good condition.
which was not done: Last August the
council appropriated 800 to improve the
roadway. and up to the present time the
money has not been expended nor the i'm
provement made. The reply OF the coun-
ell to the property owners was that the
weather was too dry. preventing inn
provement of the road.
Property Boundary.
The SQUARES included in the petition
contain the property bounded by Blair
road. Mississippi avenue, Sligo stream.
Niagara avenue, Oswego avenue, Hodges
farm, Santiago avenue, Merrimac avenue
and Chesapeake avenue. The portions re-
ferred to were Incorporated in the town
in 1890, when a charter was granted by
of that section are highly indignant of
the condition Of affairs and think they
will be greatly benefited il they return
TO Montgomery county.
The council last night informally dis
cussed the matter and referred it to W.
w. Dyar. the corporation counsel. No
matter what action the council should
take. the request OF the petitioners could
not be granted, inAsmuch as it would re-
quire a special act Of the Maryland leg
islature before the release could be con-
Guided. The town authorities are very
much perturbed over the matter and will
endeavor to reconcile the petitioners.
Mayor Platt. In speaking Of the petit
ton. informed Mr.. Hilleary that the Pc
titioners should take into consideration
the money expended for erecting and
that section and also the improvements
which had been made from time to time
which he said would about equal the
taxes.
Business Transacted.
The council last night signed contract
with the Pittsburg Filter Manufacturing
Company to construct new filter plant.
The new plant will have a capacity of
10000 gallons of water a day The COM
pany will construct filters. filter beds and
all necessary buildings and will install
the machinery for pumping the water
throughout the corporation. Work will
completed by May 20. The cost of the
improvements will be about $1,000
The report Of the town treasurer, Ben
q. Davis. was received and approved.
The report showed receipts for the month
OF January, amounting to $2906.17, which,
with the balance on hand OF 1854 ~.
made . total Of IS. 462.5S. The expendi-
lures In the same period amounted to
81 ,097.42 leaving a net balance on hand
of $685.. 16 The auditing committee sub
mitted bills amounting to $17627. which