The Washington times., 1916-03-29
Association Pleased That House
Committee Is In Favor Of
New Playground.
FOR DRILL AND ATHLETICS
Report in Favor Of Deeper
Channel for Vessels to Navy
Yard.

News that the attitude Of the sub
committee on appropriations or the
Hcuse District Committee was highly
favorable to the purchase OF the Pat
terson tract for a public park and play
ground was enthusiastically received
before the Southeast washington Iiti-
zens' Association last evening.
Allan Davis, principal OF Business
High school. and a member OF the as
sociation's educational committee. told
OF n hearing yesterday before CHAIR
man Page, OF the subcommittee, AT
which Percival Hall. president OF Gal
laudet College; Judge Charles 8. Bundy
from the Columbia Heights Citizens
Association; Evan II. Tucker. OF the
Northeast Washington Citizens' Asso-
citation. as we'll as Mr.. Davis. made
plea for the purchase Of the eighty
acre Patterson estate.
Our strongest point in urging this
measure" said Mr.. Davis, lis the fact
that 1t may be used as drill field for
high school cadets. and for an athletic
field.
ut is so situated that It Is within
easy access of four OF five high schools.
Business, Eastern. Mckinley. and the
new Central.
For Schools Use.
1T not only would be a recreation
center for the large northeast section.
easily accessible to thousands more In
the southeast. but 1t would furnish
what the high schools OF this city have
long needed. a place other than the
streets for cadet drills. and an athletic
ground for pupils of all schools and
children OF this section"
Mr.. Davis reported that the recon-
mendation OF the southeast association
that the tract be purchased had gone
through the last meeting OF the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations without
| dissenting vote.
The southeast association last evening
took steps to further Its effort TO get
| the channel OF the Potomac deepened
| to thirty feet. as far as the navy yard.
| Capt. w. +. Luckett. Government pilot.
now on the Maysower, said such step
would be of great advantage In time OF
war.
Would Help Defense.
up to 1902 no vessel came to Wash.
ington with safety with II draft Of
more than twenty feet. Then the cham
mel was dredged until vessels twenty
four feet deep could comc up.
| with a channel thirty feet deep Ves-
sells could be brought here in time of
war and their batteries changed IN
twcnty-four hours. which would great
ly increase the efficiency and reduce
| the expense in our operations. l UNDER
stand the War Department already he's
made a survey Of this projec Tho work
would not 10 expensive. Only for q
distance OF fifteen miles would the Po-
| tomac channel have TO he dug out, ana
then only in spots, and at no point
would the dredging haze to be more
than six feet
To Interest Others.
| ]. w. Lucas. secretary of the associa-
ton, was instructed TO bring this mat
ter to the attention OF the Board CT
Trade, and Allan Davis was commits
stoned 10 lay 1t before the Chamber OF
Commerce. An EFFORT will be made to
have these bodies. and the Federated
| Citizens Associations unite In an ef-
fort to push this project. Captain Luc-
kett said that not $4,000 had been spent
on the channel since 1902
Allan Davis urged a resolution. when
was unanimously adopted. to request the
public utilities commission to require
all Washington railway lines 70 nave
round. Mr.. Davis scored the "hermeti.
cally sealed" cars on Ninth street: and
said their condition IL ''aoo1dnaoie SO
lie urged that the smokers have a
chance, and included in the resolution
was a provision that at least half OF
the open cars be given over to smokers.
You'll Aid "White Wings"
Upon motion of William ID. Cullen
the association went on record as favor
ing increased pay for white wings,
They also will ask the Commissioners
to suspend the operation OF the order
against roller towels, so far as the
schools are conceT-Ned, until the schools
get money with which to purchase pa
per towels.
In discussing this point, the Health
Department was criticised for multi
pllcity OF ordinances which were said to
, be not enforced.