Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-18
D. c. TRUCK STICKS
IN ANACOST|A M|RE
Photographs Sent Commits
sioners as an Argument
for Improvement.
CITIZENS ASK FAIR DEAL

One of the big motor trucks of the
District water department a few days
ago became mired in Anacostia avenue
between Benning and Twining City, one
of the important thoroughfares in that
section and one that is said to be in
cluded in the permanent highway plan.
1t was because of the muddy condition
of the road that George Shilling, an
old and highly respected resident of that
section a week ago was forced to walk
the railroad tracks and while so doing
was run down by train and killed
F. " Patterson, Son-in-law of the vic
tim of the accident long ago made an
effort to interest the District Commits
sioners in the necessity for the improve
ment of AnacoStia avenue, and now that
his father-in-law has been killed he is
more anxious than ever to have the dan
gerouS condition remedied.
Mired Truck Photographed.
Photographs of the mired motor truck
and a smaller truck of the water de-
partment that went to it's assistance
and also became mired were inclosed
in a letter Mr.. Patterson sent to the
District Commissioners under date of
February 10. The heavier of the two
the mud about o'clock in the afternoon
and it was not until noon the following
day that it was moved. A block and fall
and several horses were employed in
the work of getting it out of the mud.
THE road at the present time is prac-
tically impossible to pedestrians and
almost impassa BILE to traffic. Mr.. Pat
terson stated in his letter to the Com
missioners In the first place there
is not now. nor has there ever been.
path or sidewalk over which residents
of that section could pass. During the
thaw of the last few days there has
been from two to six inches of sticky
clay mud. making it, in places, i'm
paSsable."
After telling of the difficulties expert
enced by children going to and from
school. the writer continued: For some
ineXplicable reason your street depart
ment has, for several years past, in the
early fall. made it a point to start in
scraping the surface of the road, dig
ging out the cutters and throwing the.
loose dirt on the road. etc, and with
the freezing and thawing. the above
described intolerable condition results.
ITO say the least" Mr.. Patterson con-
cluded. lit is absolutely unfair and un-
Just that the taxpaying citizens of this
section should be compelled to use this
road under such unfavorable condi-
tions.'
Have Paid Their Quota.
In response to n letter from Capt
j. ]. Loving, Mr.. Patterson wrote that
owners of property abutting on Ana
costa avenue have contributed their
quota for the maintenance of various
highways of the city, but an infinitesi-
NAL amount of the money has been ex-
pended for the benefit of the residents
of the section through which Anacos-
tia avenue passes.
1T is unjust. to say the least, to ex-
pect the taxpayers of this section to
contribute their share of the taxes to-
ward the maintenance of other sections
and to await an indefinite number of
years for the prospective opening of a
street which will only be benefit to
future generations" he wrote of ref
lerence to the prospective opening of
Minnesota avenue.
We are living in the present, not in
the future" he added That it is con-
templated Anacostia avenue should be
a permanent thoroughfare is evidenced
by the fact that few years ago a
water main was laid along said ave-
nue. from which laterals will eventual
ly radiate."
Mr.. Patterson informed the Commits
sioners that the installation of the
water main and electric lights was the
only improvements made in that sec
ton during the past twenty years. He
says it is his intention to continue his
fight for the improvement of the road
until something is accomplished.