The Washington herald., 1919-06-23
Georgetown Up in Arms
Against Road Conditions
Citizens Plan Direct Appeal to Congress-Wis-
consin Avenue Disgrace" They Declare.
Charge Discrimination by Authorities.

The Rocky Road to Dublin. famous
in song and story. Is a boulevard de
luxe compared with certain stretches
of Wisconsin avenue. Georgetown.
This street is not only one of the
principal thoroughfares Of the West
End. but 1t also Is a main artery to
Rockville. Frederick and Hagerstown.
Md. Harpers Ferry. w. Va. and the
fertile Shenandoah eailey of virginia
With the proper kind Of roadway 1t
would be one OF the most picturesque
avenues in the District. Il - lined
with historic dwellings with beautiful
surroundings OF open spaces, flower
beds and parks. Great shade trees
along its length add to its comfort
and picturesqueness.
But the roadway along Wisconsin
avenue, in the language of J. Mcken-
ney Berry. one of the leading business
men OF Georgetown, is "a disgrace 10
civilized community" There are
great ruts in the concrete. while the
cobblestones between the railway
tracks in many places protrude almost
lhcAE cullto anu az a
to pedestrians and vehicular traf1c.
The business men Of Georgetown are
up in arms against continuance OF
these conditions. They say appeals
have been made to the District Com
missioners. the Board of Trade and
Chamber OF Commerce. but no relief Is
promised. 1t Is now proposed to carry
the matter direct to Congress. 1t Is
suggested that both Senator Sherman
and Representative Mapes, chairmen'
respectively, of the Senate and House
committees on the District of Column
bia, be invited to motor through
GEORGETOWN and observe for them
selves the shameful neglect" to which
the West End people have been sub
jected.
wisconsin avenue all the way from
the District line to the waterfront Is
in very bad condition because Of neg
lect." b. A, Bowles. president Of the
Georgetown Citizens Association. said.
"In the center of the roadway occupied
hy the tracks of the Georgetown and
Tennalltown Railroad. the ties are laid
in mud instead of having concrete or
stone bed, and the cars, some OF wnlcn
weigh approximately thirty tons, In
passing over these ties throw their
ends up and the cobblestones also.
This has resulted in creating many
danger places, and a number OF auto
mobiles have been seriously damaged
while passing over these rough places.
"A country village would not toll
crate the conditions along "lscon-
sin avenue if such existed in one OF
their county roads" another proml-
nent merchant declared.
Attention was called to the un-
slightly and dangerous trolley poles
and overhead wires on upper Wis
consin avenue, well within the city
limits, which are declared to De
maintained in violation of the law.
The traffic along this street mas
greatly increased since the opening
of the Q street bridge Some of the
beauty spots on it are the Ma
val Observatory, Industrial Home
School. and the old reservoir. now
converted into a public park. but
never patroniZed by the public be
cause of lack of improvements. The
old reservoir. perched on grassy
and tre-covered eminence. Is a pic
turesque reminder of old George
town. and citizens say it Is shame
that it has been neglected so long
after being announced as a public
park.
other pressing needs of George
town. for which the citizens organi-
zation and individuals have fire.