Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.

w review OF TIE progress made in the
Dlstrlct along various lines during 1910
could be considered complete without
mention of the legislation of Importance
10 the National Capital and it's residents,
enacted during that period.
The year just ended saw authorizations
made for construction of the great group
of department buildings on the newly ac-
auired land south of Pennsylvania avenue
between 14th and 18th streets; the incep-
ton Of the plan to greatly enlarge the
Capitol grounds: the extension Of the
northwestern park system; the improve
ment OF neighbOring waterways; the en-
larging Of school equipment; increased
facilities for the bathing beach, enact
ment of the much-desired probation and
parole law and the passage of numerous
other measures of local importance
In the omnibus public buildings bill pass
ed at. the last session a new three-milion-
dollar city post Office to be constructed on
the already purchased site near the Union
station was authorized. At this session
of Congress it is proposed to appropriate
$1,oOO,OOO of this sum to begin the work.
The same bill contained authorizations
aggregating $1O.5OO,OO for buildings for
the departments Of State. Justice and
Commerce and Labor and for the geo.
logical survey.
Pledging itself to the purchase Of the
twelve squares Of land between the Capt.
toll grounds and the Union station plaza.
worth approximately $3,aOO,00O, Congress
$JO3.OOO a year until the entire tract is
government owned. Authority was also
given for the purchase OF two tracts OF
land on the heights In the northwestern
section, ten acres on Meridian Hill and
sixteen acres on Georgetown Heights. An
appropriation to carry out the authorize
ton and complete the purchase will prob
ably be made in the near future.
Anacostia River Being Improved.
After long delay Congress finally de.
cided to go ahead with the general I'M
provement of the Anacostia river and
the reclamation of the Anacostia flats
Nearly $1,000 was appropriated for this
purpose last spring and in the District
appropriation bill now before Congress:
an additional 100000 Is recommended
For the Improvement OF the Potomac
river at Washington, $4,000 was ap
propriated: for similar work at Alex
andria, $50 900. and at Cedar point, $4,000
1t is intended to appropriate $6O,OOO add
tional at this session for river improve
mentS.
Nearly s11,OOO.OOO. carried in the Dis
trict appropriation bill, is being spent fol
running the local government and fol
other purely local purposes this year
The bill made provisions for enlargint
the equipment or the SCHOOLS ana 1Or Iur
nishing additions to the Business, West
ern and Mckinley schools, $lOO,OO0 toward
a two-hundred- and-fifty -seven-thousand.
dollar building for the white norma
school and many other smaller sums Il
be expended here and there about tn,
District in the remodeling of old build
ings and the construction of new schools
Increased facilities for the bathin:
beach at a cost of 5000 are provided
for. There was q slight increase in tn,
fire department equipment.
After several years of delay, Congress
finally decided to begin the extension O
the Public Library by permitting the Dis
trict to accept donations Of money fo
the establishment of branch library a
Takoma Park.
Among the laws of importanc,
passed during the year just ended ar,
the following: Empowering the Com
missioners to institute proceedings for tn,
condemnation of land for street ex
tensions when new subdivision i.
opened and donation Of land is refused
authorizing the opening of road alon,
the Anacostia river. creating a commits
sion OF fine arts. establishing a probation
and parole in connection with the loca
criminal courts. directing the construc
ton of navy yard switch and settlin,
the long-standing controversy thereover
creating a bureau Of mines and man,
Lot hor Ile,