Evening star., 1913-12-06
President of Board of Com
missioners Discusses Ap-
preparations and Reforms.
iNDORSES TORRENS PLAN
IN GUARANTEE OF TITLES
Assures Park View Citizens No Rec
ommendation for Improvements
Will Benefit Spectators.

Oliver p. Newman with members of the
Park View Citizens Association as to
the plans of the District heads for pro-
viding needed improvements in Wash
ingtoD featured largely attended meet
ing of the association in Whitney Avenue
Christian Church. Park road. last night.
Among the statements of the Commits
sioner which ELECTED applause from an
audience that taxed the church to its
capacity was the declaration that no
street improvement provided for in the
estimates. if approved by Congress,
would result in enhancing the value of
vacant property in the interest of real
estate SPECTATORS. The speaker also in
6icated that he would favor plan
similar to the so-called Torrens system,
whereby the Distrnct government would
guarantee titles in the case of real estate
transfers.
The meeting proved TO be one of the
most enthusiastic ever held by the asSo-
Cation, and Commissioner Newman. by
the frank manner III which he outlined
the plans of his associates on the board
OF Commissioners for bringing about i'm
provementS that Will rebound to the bene-
lit of the people OF Washington at large,
was applauded time and again during the
course of his address. He predicted that
the long-felt want of new school build
ing in the Park View section would be
provided for at this session of Congress.
and that appropriations also would be
made for important street improvements.
Discusses School Needs.
Preceding Commiss Newman. Ste
phcn Elliott Kramer. supervising princi
pal of the third school district. spoke of
rhe school requirements of Park View. He
stated that in the section north of Ken
yon street. south of Randolph street and
cast of 11th street. which includes the
Park View neigh5orhood there are but
four schools for the accommodation OF
ISL pupils. exclusive OF those o? kinder
s,arten grade. These inadequate faciii
ties, he said. 'necesstate, in many in
stances. the grouping of as many as fifty
pupils under one teacher in a single room.
Under such conditions. he stated. a teach
er Is able to give each child but 81 min
1tes of attention each day.
President John G. McGrath of the asso !
citation read from the District estimates. |
recently transmitted to Congress. items |
showing that the Commissioners have !
provided for a school building in |
Park View, TO cost $l3o.0Oo. and also for |
!. number of. street improvements recon- |
mended by the association:
This led up { othe Introduction of Com |
missioner Newman who, extemporaneouS-
ly proceeded TO tell the members of the |
steps taken by the Commissioners To inn
prove conditions in Park View as we'll as |
other sections of Washington. He said |
that the need of another school building /
there was obvious and that the Com
miSsioners had been of one accord in urg-
ing favorable consideration of this mat
ter by the subcommittee of the House ap- |
propliationS committee, which is franz |
ing the District budget. Il
Rule Governing Improvements.
The president of the board of District |
officials stated that. in the preparation |
or the schedule of street improvements. |
the Commissioners had been guided by |
TWO theories. These were that improve |
ments should be provided only in the |
case OF streets running through finished |
blocks" or squares completely built UP on /
both sides, and ..through-traffic" streets,
or streets furnishing the main travel-way /
from one section to another.
Improvement of no street contained in |
the schedule will result in enhancing the
value OF vacant property in the interest
OF speculative realty Dealers he de-
clared.
Commissioner Newman told of the eff
fort Of the Commissioners to obtain the
views Of every citizens association as to |
improvements desired for the various sec |
tions of the city. in order that the Dis |
trict heads might have the fui est in |
formation upon which to base their es-
Inmates In practically every instance. he |
sslus Tie anu MS eaSSOtldlSS ndu HiSpetlti
the streets and other places recommended |
for Improvement. and decided that the re- |
quests of the citizens We're of character |
demanding immediate attention.
lie spoke in glowing terms of the in |
terest being shown in the preparation Of
the Districts budget by the five members /
Of the House appropriations subcommit |
tee, and declared that every member of |
that body had expressed desire to ac
company the Commissioners on an inspec- |
tion trip for the purpose Of obtaining |
first-hand information regarding the va
riouS improvements recommended in the |
estimates.
Fees of Abstract COMPANIES.