Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-12
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Citizens Association Of Rosemont
Calls Attention to Spare Near !
Spring. Park

One year ago, after the Court OF t,
Appeals of Virginia had considerably
enlarged the boundaries of the city
of Alexandria, the Gazette called at
tention to a dangerous cesspool OPP
posite Spring Park station, upper
King street, and suggested that as
that territory was now a part OF this
city, immediate steps should be taken
to eliminate a standing nuisance
which not only bred mosquitoes but
dangerous fevers. No attention, how
ever, so far we know, was paid tc
the suggestion, and now the Citizens
Association of Rosemont, which Is
laboring to beautify that portion OF
the larger Alexandria, is extending
it's work to a square of ground ad-
Joining this pool on the east, winch
has for some time been used as
public dumping ground. Mr.. E. II.
Kemper, president Of the association
has addressed communication tt
Mayor Fisher and the Presidents Of
the two boards Of the City Council
calling especial attention to this eye
sore and menace to health. The com
munication followed the recent issu-
ance of orders to the police to inau
gurate cleanup day in Alexandra.
The communication from Mr.. Kemp
err, together with the report of D. L..
Van Dine, chronological Attache o:
the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture, together with the precautions
now being taken by the residents o.
Rosemont at the approach Of sum
mer, were presented to Council last
night.
Mr.. Van Dine made personal in
spection of the nuisance complained
of, and some of his observations vii!
be of interest to those who endea
vor to keep their premises and neigh
oorhood in a sanitary and slightly
condition. Among other things hi
says:
within Rosemont proper there i!
little evidence that would point tt
mosquito breeding. There i:
natural drainage, the town is sup.
piled with sewage and water systems
and the dooryards are in good SAM.
5ary condition as regards discarded
refuse. The cnvirons of the town arc
not so favorable as regards the op.
portunities for mosquito development
Any attempt to obtain control al
Rosemont must include also Washing.
ton Park, and the territory to the
west as far as and including the ole
site of Fort Ellsworth and the rescr,
voir of the city of Alexandria; the
hillsides and low territory to the
north as far as BraddocK; the right
of-way of the electric railway and
the area between the same and the
embankment of the Washington
Southern Railroad, to the east; and
as far as and including the Immediate
portion of the city of Alexandra
Joining the town to the south anc
southeast.
"The dump of the city of Alexan-
dria in the vicinity of the Union Sta
ton to the south of King street, Of
fers unlimited possibilities for the
development of the common Culex, or
house mosquito, both in respect to the
numerous refuse containers which
hold water and in the low depres-
sions where water is standing, the
latter being rendered still more like
ly by reason of the refuse vegetable
and animal matter. This area may
possibly be drained by ditch to
Hooff's Run, The surface water should
be eliminated as far as the leve!
will permit by ditching, and any
further drainage required can be
accomplished by filling. Until this is