The Washington times., 1914-04-03
ACTION ON LIGHTS IS
PROBABLE IN JULY
Commissioner Harding Hears
Petition of the Fourteenth
Street Citizens.
Continued from First Page

Continued from First Page)
street any night between 7:3O and 10
o'clock in order that he could see for
himself just what the conditions are.
He assured the committee that he
would make a trip through Fourteenth
street some night next week.
Walter c. Allen, electrical engineer
Of the District, was present at the
hearing and at the rekuest of Commits
sioner Harding submitted figures show
ing the approximate cost of installing
up-to-date lights on Fourteenth street.
He said TO put in lights like the ones
On Massachusetts, avenue would cost
approximately $1,000. while to run them
closer together, such as the new lights
on seventh street, would cost one-third
more.
Mr.. Allen said the estimate of 500
was based on the number CO lights
nheded on Fourteenth street from F1orl-
Ia avenue to Park road.
A particularly strong plea Tor iShts
WAS made by Col. Charles c. Lancaster,
who also entered a protest against the
new lights now being installed IN
street Colonel Lancaster asserted that
there was no special need and had been
no general demand Cor lights IN
street. while the residents OF COLUMBIA
Heights had made concerted appeal
for better illumination in Fourteenth
street.
Colonel Lancaster said that Columbia
Heights was the best built-up and most
populous section of the District. He
compared upper Fourteenth street a:
night 10 Broadway. New York.
Traffic Is Heavy
Other members of the committee told
the Commissioner that there was no
OTHER street in Washington where SO
much shopping was done at night. and
where the vehicular and pedestrian
traffic was so heavy after dark as on
Fourteenth street.
DR.. BENJAMIN F. Gibbs, one of the
founders of the Northern Dispensary
and Emergency Hospital. told of the
serious and fatal accidents on Four
teenth street which had been brought
to his personal attention. and which
might have been aVerted had the street
been better lighted.
The statements made by the various
members OF the committee made much
impression on Commissioner Harding.
and he interrogated the different men,
hers in order TO bring out certain points
regarding the conditions on Fourteenth
street. which had not been made en-
Jirely clear 10 him.
Among the other members OF tl~
committee who addressed the Commits
sioner we're Elmer E. Rainier. Charles
l.. Gross. F. W. Clements and Commo-
dore George Ii. Peters. L. S. N, re-
tired.
Read Brief.
The brief of the citizens association,
which was read by Mr. Hiatt, follows:
We, the committee appointed un-
der resolution unanimously
adopted on March 8. 1914, by the
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton, setting forth the public neces-
sity for improved lighting of Four
teenth street from Florida avenue to
Spring road, beg leave to file with
YOU certified copy of said resolu-
tion and the original petition Of the
property owners and residents on
and adjacent 10 this highway COM
prising over 90 per cent of our peo-
pie who are deeply interested in this
Improvement
From the welI-known position of
Fourteenth street as a business thor
oughfare, its crowded condition espe-
Cially at night. both by pedestrians
and vehicles. it is apparent 10 all of
us that this street should be lighted
by the most improved system, not
only for the convenience OF our own
citizens but for the whole city.
The traffic on this street is so
dense from the afternoon until mid
night that il is very dangerous 10
walk or ride thereon. owing to the
poor lighting facilities: our people
SIC lli aOlleldllI 4tdI VI Aii'ti llNNS
and property.
Ne believe that the cost of this inn
prUvement will be small in comparl-
son to the public benefit derived
therefTOm
We therefore earnestly present this
public need Of our people for your
prompt and favorable considera-
ticn
The bri,C was signed by J. Clinton
Hiatt. chairman, pr. BENJAMIN r.
tiibhs Elmer =. Ramey, Charles +.
,;ross Dau'eI y. l;delin. B. II. Barn
dollar. \. LeftWich Sinclair. Col.
r'karl.s {. Lancaster. Judge Charles
= Rundy. Arthur T. Ramsay +: W.
clements pr. Lewis ]. Battle. William
=. Andrews. charles 7. Claggett. w.
= MINK. II \. Clark. Commodore
George II Peters. Major +. +. Riggs.
and pr Daniel r. Birtwell.
A meeting Of the executive COM
.rIttcc II the c!tizens' association will
no held tonight. at which plans fer
rurtherinE the lighting campaign
will b., consid' red.