The Washington herald., 1913-04-27

community entirely to white residents.
These questions have not been handled
from the point Of view of race hostility,
but rather from a standpoint Of the mu-
tual advantage Of both Senator Varda-
man of Mississippi will bring up the
lin crow bills in this session of Con-
gress. 1t Is understood.
Much good work has been done by va
rious associations during the past year
in obtaining better service from public
utilities of the District Mr. McGrath, in
speaking OF this division of the work of
his association. said that in cases of
desired improvements in the street rail-
way service the associations act in an
advisory capacity They deal directly,
in most cases, with the officials of the
street railways, and in the case of the
Park View residents, according to Mr..
McGrath, the railway company has al
ways co-operated with the residents in
seeking to establish service best suited
to the needs OF the community.
The George report upon the, methods
and conduct of the District Assessors
Office was debated upon by nearly every
citizens association in the Northeast,
Southeast. and West sections of the Dis
trict last year. and while the opinion
upon recommendations varied greatly,
every association which discussed the
present methods of assessing Washing
ton property expressed the opinion that
there was great room for Improvement
in the work of the Office Resolutions
adopted by several associations sustained
the charges brought in the report that
property in the North and Southeast
sections was Disseminated against. in
tentionally or unintentionally. by the
existing methods of assessment. Many
a >eSfe
Reclamation of the Anacostia Flats
has been a question of interest to the
East End citizens associations for some
years, and various association commit
tees to whom this project has been re-
ferred have brought in carefully pre-
pared detailed reports of ways to make
the most out Of this Improvement. These
reports have been transmitted to the
officials in charge of the work.
The Minnesota Avenue Improvement
Association, according to recent state
ment made by its president, DIR. George
c. Havenner, has aided the project of
the reclamation of the flats with prac-
teal efforts. This association. through
efforts of special committee and its
officers, has been instrumental in getting
owners Of property abutting on the Aria
costa to sign over their riparian rights
to the government greatly facilitating
the work of improving this territory.
Between the Anacostia and the Penn
sylvania Avenue bridges. DR.. Havenner
has stated, all necessary signatures
have either been obtained or have been
promised, with the possible exception
of two. The East Washington Asso-
citation also adopted resolutions favoring
the reclamation work.
New Bridge Talked About.
One feature OF the retaining of the
flats and the improvement of the East
ern Branch which was opposed by the
neighboring communities was the project
to eXpend $4,000 to put a draw in the
Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge. General
reasons given by the associations which
condemned the project were that the
present structure is too narrow FOR
present purposes, and that economy de-
manded a new bridge; that the floor of
the bridge was Of wood. and that mains,
carrying water to Randle Highlands and
other communities beyond the river. one
thirty-inch steel main and one twelve
inch cast-iron main, are suspended to
the present structure, and before con-
struction of a draw other provision
would have to be made for the mains.
Appropriation for a new Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge will be asked of Con-
gress by several associations in the
Eastern section this coming gear.
A movement for legislation allowing
the use of the public schools as social
centers. which originated in the Park
View Association. has found Endorsement
all over the District. Not only have
other citizens associations approved the
opening of public schools in the even
ings for the purposes of public lectures.
\ &fv,rc fAy-
provement or relaxation Of the adults of
the communities, but religious. women's.
and other organizations have expressed
their favor of ii.
Dr. w. NJ. Davidson, Superintendent of
Schools, and E. S. Martin, Supervisor of
Fairgrounds. approve the use of the
schools as social centers, and it is prob
able that a number of the associations
will present their desires strong enough
to the District heads and to Congress
this year to secure the necessary legis-
lation.
Rock Creek Valley Project.
Among the largest improvements in the
District which have been advocated by
citizens associations Is that of the con-
version of the Rock Creek Valley into
beautiful interior park. Frank P.
Leetch, president of the Georgetown Cit
liens Association. which organization
long has worked for the realization of
the Rock Creek Park project, told the
members of the association that they
had cause to congratulate themselves for
their efforts in promoting and working
for the project in an address to the as
sociation meeting which followed the
passage of legislation by Congress pro-
viding for the acquisition of the Rock
Crack Valley land. looking toward the
development Of splendid national park
here, running through the heart Of
Georgetown.
One of the members Of the association
drew a picture Of a beautiful park in