Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-15
RECORD PASSED IN REVIEW
President fuckers Statement 0utlin.
ing Work of Organization.
ALL OFFICERS ARE REELECTED
Members Discuss Proposed Merger
of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES The
Stars Anti-Fly War.

ington Citizens Association was organ
lied in hall at Sth and l streets north
east as the Anti-Grade Crossing Associa-
ton. its promoters having in mind the
elimination of the grade crossings Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad in that sec
ton. Later the name was changed. and
last night the members Of the organizA-
ton met at Northeast Temple and cele-
brated its twentieth anniversary. Sew
eral OF the charter members were on
hand. although many Of them had passed
away.
Evan III. Tucker. who has served as
president of the association during the
last eighteen years, speaking of the work
OF the association during the twenty
years of its existence, said:
In the summer of 1892, after numerous
accidents had occurred on the grade
crossings of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road In Northeast Washington, causing
the death of many persons and injury to
others, as well as the destruction OF
property, due not only to the fact tina,
1t was necessary for all traffic to pass
over the railroad tracks in going from
one section to the other, but to the total
disregard, by the officers and employees
tons regarding the speed of trains with
in the city, the placing of proper safe
guards at all crossings and the employ
ment of competent watchmen thereon, the
citizens became aroused to the necessity
of taking vigorous action to protect the
known as the Anti-Grade Crossing AS.
SOciation.
Associations Object.
The objects of the association were to
insist upon the enforcement of the laws
and regulations limiting the speed of
locomotives within the city, and provid-
ing for the protection of the public at
Grade crossings, and to secure legisla-
ton for the abolition of all grade cross
ings in Northeast Washington.
After the association had succeeded
in accomplishing many reforms for the
protection of life and limb at grade cross
lngs, it was dec. ded to broaden the scope
Of its work. and to convert II into an
organization to advance the Improvement
and general interests of the northeast
ern section Of the District of Columbia,
and to promote the welfare of its citi-
the Northeast Washington Citizens AS
sociation was duly organized by the
adoption Of a constitution. the election
Of officers and the appointment Of stand
ing committees on the various subjects
to be dealt with.
There can be no better evidence of the
growth Of the northeast section during
the past twenty years than the large in
crease in It's population. In 1897 the
population was 23.,Ei, while in 1912 1t is
1i6 per cent. while the increase in the
entire District during the same period
was 4,JOi. or only 81 per cent.
There is no room for doubt that this
wonderful increase in population in
Northeast Washington is largely due to
improved conditions which have rendered
1t more desirable as a residential section,
and to those who have observed the en-
ergetic work of this association during
that period 1t must be apparent that the
improved conditions have been accom-
plished largely through it's influence and
untiring efforts.
Elimination of Grade Crossings.
AT the beginning Of the work Of the
association ii was realized that this Sec
ton could not thrive as long as the eX-
listing railroad conditions were maintain
ed, consequently one of its earliest acts
was to draft bill providing for the
elimination of all grade crossings in
Northeast Washington, which bill was
introduced in both the Senate and House
of Representatives ii being the first bill
introduced in Congress providing for the
solution of the embarrassing problem
by the viaduct plan. After constant and
ISOLATION to secure the necessary legisla-
tioD Congress in 1901 enacted legislation
for the abolition of the grade crossings
of both the Baltimore and Ohio and
Pennsylvania railroads by the viaduct
plan, which legislation was I'm 1908 sue
ceeded by the Union station act, provid.
ing for the solution of the vexatious
problem by plan similar TO that which
had been suggested by the association
ten years previously.
"As had been prophesied by members
of this association, the enactment of
legislation for the abolition Of grade
crossings marked the beginning of an
area of great prosperity for Northeast
Washington. as might be seen by the fact
that from 1903 to 1912 new private build
ings were constructed in the urban portion
of this section alone to the assessed value
of 81. 766.315. and this does not include
the 100000 expended In the construction
of the Union station.
after the solution Of the grade CROSSING
problem, the most important Question
which confronted the association was tn,
reclamation of the flats of the Anacostia
river. and after persistent agitation anf
effort Congress recognized the importanc.
of the project to improve the hygienic con.
di:ion of the entire city, and to restore
the usefulness of the river as a navig-
able stream. appropriations having been
made to date amounting to s7S7OO0 to
improve that part of the river from Its
mouth to the Navy Yard bridge, and
work has been progressing satisfactorily
on that part of the project for several
| years
Two hundred thousand dollars has