Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19
LOOK TO CONGRESS
East Washington to Protest
Against District Stables.
HOPE TO SECURE HEARING
Citizens Association Expects to Take
Matter Before Committee.
L0BECK GIVES HIS SUPPORT
Representative From Nebraska Fails
to See Where Commissioners
Are Justified.
HOPE TO SECURE HEARING
LOBECK GIVES HIS SUPPORT

citation will request a. hearing before the
House District committee on the action
of the Commissioners in awarding
contract for the erection of stables for
the District street cleaning department
on the square bounded by 18th, 18th. E
and G streets southeast. This announce
ment is made by Capt. w. NJ. Potter.
president of the association.
Because of telegram sent last Thurs
day to the Commissioners by Representa-
tive Lobeck Of Nebraska, member OF
the committee, asking that the awarding
of a contract be deferred until Congress
meets, members of the association feel
that their protest against the erection Of
the stables will be given consideration
by the committee. This belief was
strengthened today when it was learned
that Representative Lobeck had written
to the Commissioners in regard to the
matter.
The Commissioners last week, replying
to the Nebraska members telegram.
stated that they had given the question
careful thought and saw no reason for
changing their decision. The next day
the contract for constructing the stables
was awarded to the Davis Construction
Company, the stipulation, it is under
stood, being S61.476. Work on the stables
was commenced yesterday.
sent 1oDeck explanation.
Following their telegram to Representa-
tive Lobeck, the Commissioners sent the
Nebraska member a letter explaining
their position In detail. In this letter it
was stated that the stables are to be
built in the rear of the square and re-
moved from surrounding residences; that
they will be kept In sanitary condition,
so that they will not prove nuisance.
1t was pointed out that private stables
would have been erected on the property
had it it not been bought by the District.
The reply of Representative Lobeck to
this letter, which was made public today,
is as follows:
Il desire to thank you for your prompt
answer to my telegram of the 18th, ex-
planning your decision to the location
of the street cleaning stables.
Il have no means of knowing why the
property has been so long on the market
There may be many reasons not even
known to you. But / do know that new
residences were being built in the vicin-
ity and naturally demand would arise
for this property. The tract was easily
large enough for subdivision, so that resi-
dences could be arranged conveniently
for private or public use.
"The reason assigned by you, that
private stables would be built on the
alley, does not appeal to me. They
are neither useful nor profitable since
the automobile garage has taken the
place of the horse stable. You know
the condition at present Stables near
the Capitol have not enhanced the
value of residence or business prop
erty, and why you. as good business
men, should locate a street cleaning
stable with it's accompaniment in a
character, against the protest of the
property owners. who pay their full
proportion Of taxes, seems incredible
to me.
Other Property at Hand.
There is plenty of vacant property not
far away near the jaiD that could have
been secured if there had been opportun-
ity given to submit proposals, which
am informed there was not. The people
who cared then to invest close to the
stables would know beforehand what
they were UP against and not have to
submit to the dictations of public Of
ficials.
Il believe that you gentlemen should
insist, as you state, on as cleanly man.
ner of handling the stables as possible,
but history has shown that Pharaohs
have arisen that did not remember
Joseph. Conditions under succeeding
arrangements became intolerable. Before
you secured title to this property, you
erected temporary buildings and spent
public money thereon, which l am sure
you, as sensible business men, would not
have permitted in your private business.
The trend of the times Is to make
cities beautiful. The government officials
of the city of Washington. the capital
of the nation, should lead, instead of
taking backward steps. You have plenty
of property, not desirable for residence
or business purposes. that could be Sc
cured and used for STRENGTHENING stables.
Maybe not so near by the work, but every
year these modern days are lessening dis
tance. Therefore. 1 cannot agree with
you in your decision. 1T is not fair to
the property owners in that vicinity, and
hope you will not enter into a con-
tract until a hearing can be had before
the District committee of Congress-"