Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-09
CITIZENS TO GET HALF
OF s1,5OO,0OO SOUGHT
Commissioner Newman Tells of Es-
Inmates for Street I'm
provements.
Brookland Citizens Association
Formally Endorses Great Falls
Power Project.

washingtons citizens associations
asked for a million and a half hollars
of street improvements this year. The
District Commissioners have included
about half of these requests in their
budget, 95 per cent of which are de-
signed for the benefit of citizens living
on streets already built up.
This information was given the
Brookland Citizens Association by
Commissioner Newman in an address
before that organization last night.
Mr.. Newman and Conrad H. Syme, cor
poration counsel, were the guests of the
association at a meeting in Masonic
Temple, 18th and Monroe street north
east.
The Commissioners address consisted
principally of a description of how the
District heads go about the annual
Understanding task. streets being
taken for purposes of illustration.
He asserted that it would be useless to
expect that the total of street improve
ments requested by the associations
could be provided for in one year.
Visited Every Thoroughfare.
Mr.. Newman stated that the board of
Commissioners had visited every thor
oughfare mentioned and estimated only
for those deemed most in need of i'm
provement. He said that in making
their selections the Commissioners had
followed three rules. The first is to
give preference to streets that are
built up; the second, to streets which
ought to be improved because of their
relation to through traffic conditions.
and the third to streets that demand
improvement because of their national
character.
Ninety-f1ve per cent of the streets
slated for improvement next year fall
in the first class, the Commissioner said.
AS examples of the character of streets
that fall in the third class, the budget
now being framed, he said, provides for
the paving of LIST street and Delaware
avenue southwest. leading from the
Capitol. The District heads thought
these thoroughfares called for attention
because of their national character.
Urges Use of Schools.
Commissioner Newman concluded his
address by urging Washington citizens
associations to use the assembly halls
of public schoolhouses for their meet
ings. He paid a tribute to Miss Mar
garet Wilson, daughter of the Presi-
dent, and DIR. George F. Bowerman.
librarian of the public library. for their
efforts in bringing about the passage
of the social center law under which
schoolhouses may be used for civic
gatherings.
Corporation Counsel Syme intrenched
himself in the good graces of the femi-
nine contingent OF the association when
he commenced his speech by declaring
himself in favor of woman suffrage
The corporation counsel said that the
citizens associations are becoming
stronger organizations and more i'm
portant factors in awakening the civic
consciousness of the people of Wash
ington in behalf of better government.
8 m nj G re
tion is doing it's best to give Washing
tonians a square deal and referred to
the Commissioners methods in franz
ing the street improvement budget as
an example of how they are trying to
provide for the needs of the greatest
number and the development of the
capital along safe and sane lines
Endorses Great Falls Project.
Mr.. Syme referred to the proposed
Great Falls water and power develop
ment project as an improvement that
the people of Washington are entitled
to and that they eventually will get,
because il is right.
Following this statement, which con-
cIuded his address. the association
unanimously ADOPTED a resolution in
dorsing the Great Falls project.
The meeting, which was presided over
by NJ. NJ. Mclean, president of the as
ISOLATION. was largely attended, though
little business was transacted In the
absence of A. A. Ormsby, l.. r. Wilson
filed the position of secretary
The association approved the plans
for the citizens testimonial to the gov
eminent bands. which is to be staged
at Brightwo God reservoir next Saturday,
and appointed a committee to solicit
funds for the testimonial. Those ap-
pointed on the committee are L. r.
Wilson, E. c. Saltzman and B. c. Hutch
inson
The program was interspersed with
several vocal solos, sung by Miss Helma
cheesman, who recently has been study
ing abroad. She was accompanied on
the piano by Mrs. c. V. Burnside, Re-
freshments were served at the conclu-
sion of the meeting.