The Washington herald., 1911-07-10
STREET CLEANING STABLES.
History OF the Protest of the East
Washington Citizens.

origin and the present status of the con-
troversy between the people of Washing
ton and the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
On the 18th of May last I learned that
it was the intention of the Commissioners
to locate a stable in Southeast Washing
ton for the use OF the street cleaning
department Of the city. The same day
called at the District building to inquire
about the matter, and especially whether
1t was contemplated to build the stable
on square No. 1043, Southeast Wash
ington.
was directed to call upon Capt. Mark
ham of the Engineer Corps, U. s. A.,
who had the matter in charge. called
upon Capt. Markham during the after
noon of May ID last. and was informed
by him that the commissioners were con-
stdering several sites, but that no site
had been purchased at that time.
asked him II the Commissioners contem-
plated building on square No. 1O43. He
informed me that they considered that
square the best location for the stable,
but that no part of It had been pur-
chased. I, then and there, protested IN
the name Of the citizens OF East WASH
ington against the location of any stable
on that square for the street cleaning
department of the city and asked that
the Commissioners give the people an
opportunity to be heard before any fur
ther steps be taken toward building the
stables.
I presented the matter to the East
Washington Citizens Association at its
monthly meeting. which was May IS last,
in the form Of a resolution protesting
against the erection OF a stable on square
No. 1043, through the influence of per-
sons who were interested in the sale Of
the ground for the stable. My resolution
was referred to the executive committee
of the association and I was unable to
get action on 1t until the 24th of May
last, when It was amended and passed.
On the 10th Of May prepared a protest
and circulated It among the property
owners and residents of square No. 1O43
and adjoining squares. On the 18th of
May the work of constructing temporary
stables commenced. On the 10Th of May
l appeared before the Commissioners
with a protest signed by It's persons,
property owners and residents OF square
1043 and the adjoining squares 1 was
informed by the Commissioners that they
had commenced building the stables and
that they would continue the work. The
same day, May 19. in the name of
twenty-five property owners who own
property within less than 200 feet of the
frame stables and within the fire limits.
employed counsel and commenced a
suit in equity. which resulted in the
issuing OF temporary injunction, June
II, which was dissolved June %. and
the temporary stables were completed
and occupied by horses, in violation of
the building regulations Of the District
of Columbia. Issue has been Joined in
the suit of Henry Jaeger, ct al. plain
tiffs. VS.. Cuno H. Rudolph ct al, Com
missioners of the District Of Columbia.
Testimony will be taken and the case
Will be tried on its merits, unless some
understanding can be had whereby the
stables can be located in a section of
east Washington practically unimproved,
which will be more centrally located for
the performance of the work contem-
plated, and where site can be purchased
at a much lower price than In square
1043.
Briefly the facts are as follows: BY
act Of Congress the street cleaning of
the City of Washington was transferred
from contractors to the Commissioners.
to take effect July l, 1911. Preparatory
to assuming the work, the Commission
ers asked Congress for an appropriation
of $4,000 for the purpose of rebuilding
the street cleaning stables located be-
tween Ninth and Tenth and N and o
streets northwest. The House passed the
item in the appropriation bill, and it
went to the Senate, where, upon the
statements made by the Commissioners,
the amount was increased to $l2S6Oo.
When the bill came back to the House,
1t struck out the amendment of $50, 600,
and the bill went to conference where
the s5S6OO was restored and the bill
passed, and was approved March 2, 1911.
Upon investigation the facts are that
the Commissioners entered into negotia-
dons with a realty broker for the pur-
chase Of site for a street cleaning
stable before the appropriation was
available, for either the purchase of the
ground or the erection of the stable
They have erected two temporary frame
stables on the north side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets southeast, and they
are occupied by horses in violation of
law. The neighborhood in which they
are located is a strictly residential sec
ton of the city, compactly built up with
beautiful homes owned by working peo-
pie who have invested the savings of a
lifetime in making their homes attrac-
tive and credit to our city
Now, in conclusion, what is the remedy
for this evil? The Commissioners have
at their disposal S12S,6OO. available July
!, 1911. They have informed me through
Capt. Brooke, OF the Engineer Corps, !
that they intend to rebuild the stables
at N and o, and Ninth and Tenth streets |
northwest. They asked for $4,000 for
that work. They will have $53.6OO to |
purchase a site and build a stable in |
southeast Washington. The entire people |
Of East, and might say of all, Wash |
ington object to locating the stable |
on square 1043 A bill has been intro |
duced authorizing and directing the Com |
missioners to purchase a site between |
street on the north. C street on the |
and Twentieth street on the east in
Southeast Washington, and to erect a |
stable thereon of such dimensions as
may be necessary for the work contem-
plated.
The citizens in the vicinity of square |
1913 are willing to have the temporary |
stable remain where they are until the |
sfahla ran ba 1