The Washington times., 1914-10-19
'GipeU Us VacantLotS, is Plea
Of City'S Play-Starped Boys
Driven Into the Streets With
Nothing to Do But Hang
About on Corners, Writes
One Lad of Sixteen.

Lend Grounds for Young
Sters' Sports.
"Gipe us the pdcdnt lots for play
grounds" is the plea of Washing
ton boys.
Supervisor of Fairgrounds Mar
tin says the youngsters are "play
starred" He is leading a move
ment to obtain the "Ioan" of lam
for the youngsters.
"They do not know hon to play,
he declares, "but NTH a little add
tioHal money and the privileges o
the pacant spaces NE could teacI
them."
~&~ANNANASAA SSS4 ASADs
Washington's growing boys are
play starved" They want the use
Of vacant lots throughout the city
upon which they can hold their
neighborhood football games which.
within week or two at most, are
destined to replace 'sandlot" base
ball. E. S. Martin, supervisor Of
Fairgrounds, agrees with them that
there should be at least one play
authorized by the owners for the use
of the children, within one-half mile
of every boys home. At present, the
city possesses but one-quarter Of the
Fairgrounds needed to make this
possible. So Mr.. Martin has already
begun the preparation Of a list which
will show all the vacant lots of the
city which might be loaned" to the
youngsters OF different neighbor-
hoods, who do not want to congre-
gate upon street corners, but who
are forced to do so because they be-
come nuisances when they gather, as
at present, upon vacant spaces, with
out proper supervision.
Boy States Typical Case.
Here is a typical case Of the op-
position the youngsters Of Wash
ington encounter today whenever
Trey congregate for recreation
upon a vacant lot. 1t is given in
The words Of one Of the interested
bows.
ITO the Editor OF The Times:
Il live in the vicinity Of 1 street,
. between North Capitol and First
streets northwest. 1 am sixteen
years of age and have been working
for quite little while. l have been
In the habit after getting off in the
evenings Of going over to a vacant
lot at North Capitol and l. streets
northeast and getting a little exer-
else, which think every boy should
have, which lot is right around the
corner from my home. We play ball
on the grounds as we'll as many
other games, and try to enjoy our
selves
There is on the lot besides us
quite number of colored boys, who
cause lot of disturbance and noise
among themselves. Well, Of late
people Of the neighborhood made a
complaint about the boys playing
on the lot, and the worst of 1t was
we boys got all the blame, as we
usually do. The policemen ordered
us to keep off the lot and, further
more. to stop hanging around in the
neighborhood
We'll, there being no other vacant
lot about the vicinity, we have had
TO stop playing not only baseball, but
every game, and everything that is
enjoyment. We have to stand on
h. I'D - ha
of the sidewalks or in the middle
of the streets. but we are not even
allowed that privilege, for the cops
keep after Us and tell us to scatter,
but they realize what they are say
ing, and one Of them told US: The
only thing / know for you boys to
do is to get an airship and hang
around up in the air. then get ar
rested for not having a license
Then he laughed for all he was
worth. why should he worry?
Denied Chance To Play.
Now what are the boys going to
do? Stay in the houses when they
should be out getting as much exer-
else as possible? There are no other
lots in our vicinity. and now that
we are to be kept off the grounds
known as the Sand Lot we will
have to hang around in the streets.
IL not on the corners.
"A very prominent man in the city
owns the lot, and from what have
heard, has no objections to our play
ing on It. So, if this be true, we
have the right to play on it. We
wish that Congress would appro-
pirate some money to buy the
grounds.
VINCENT J. HART"
Playground Martin today raid Vim
cent Harris letter.
The boy is right he declared.
''All through the city they are driven
from vacant lots. and this in the
face of the fact that the owners Of
the property very seldom object to
its use as a playground. Nor Is this
always the fault of the policeman.
He usually appreciates how difficult