The Washington times., 1920-10-07
PLAN QUIZ OF
COOP STORE
Park View Citizens to mvesti-
gate Methods Of Failing
Community Enterprise.

Park Views cooperative store,
which is scheduled for early closing
because il was unable to compete
with chain stores In the vicinity, will
come in for a severe investigation
at the meeting of the Park View
Citizens Association next Tuesday
evening.
WILL sIFT CHARGES.
Charges have been made against
the conduct OF the store and these
will be sifted out at the next meet
ing. II Is charged that during the
month OF February, the only month
In which a strict account was kept
OF things. a gross business OF S2,70O
was done, and that during the past
year the officials in cb Srge OF the
store admit a business OF $4,000. The
cnly expense incurred was in clerk
hire, II Is said. and the store, with
proper management. should have
made a showing that would have jus
tined It's continuance, IL Is claimed.
The community store is being
forced TO close, 1t Is charged, because
OF the friils that some of the officials
connected with it's management insist
upon.
After everything Is cleaned up and
the store is closed, II Is said the
children of the school, who through
their entertainments and dances have
raised a fund OF about S4O0, will have
few fixtures and a scale for their
money. 1t is this feature of the clos
ing. 1t is said, that is causing most
OF the dissatisfaction.
ORION or THE STORE.
The country produce part of the
business will be continued at the
school by Miss Edith shannon, who is
in charge of the branch postoffice in
the school. 1t was to conduct this
line Of business that the Park View
community store was first established
several years ago by John G. McGrath,
who as president of the Citizens As
sociation in that section of the city
took a leading part in the welfare of
the community. After several months
of work. Mr.. McGrath had Congress
pass a law authorizing a branch post
office there and also allowing the use
of part of the basement as a commun-
ity store. Mr.. McGrath was appointed
in charge of the postoffice.
Shortly afterward it was decided to
add groceries to the line and $500 was
subscribed among the residents of the
neighborhood to obtain the necessary
stock This stock was liQuidated
some time ago and the groceries dis
continued After a short time it was
again re-established and this time a
fund of 5000 raised. 1t is this ven
ture that is to be discontinued be
cause, il is said, it is not able to
make expenses.
Back of the closing of the commun-
ity store, il Is said Is community hght.
between one faction led by Miss
Frances Farley, principal of the Park
View School and another faction that
is opposed to some of her methods.
HOUSING QUESTION FIGURES.
One Of the particular fights centers
about the seventeen residents OF
Sixth street between Otis street and
Newton place. They charge that
Miss Farley is trying to have the
Government condemn their houses so
that the grounds about the school can
be beautified, and an addition made
to the school. If the houses are con-
demned. II is said, il will mean that
about ninety children will move from
the vicinity of the school. thereby
eliminating the necessity of an en-
largement
With the housing situation as il
is, tney CnaFRe IL Is sTedt haf
ship to force them to move. In
order to bring the situation to an
issue, several of the owners OF
houses on the street, today began
to advertise their houses for sale.
They intend to explain to anyone
making application to buy them. just
why they are selling. In seven OF
the houses the head of the family
is in the Government service. and in
another a crippled soldier lives with
his sister. who is employed in the
Government.
Miss Farley. principal of the Park
View School. said that the subject of
taking over the houses on Sixth
street was begun about three years
ago, long before some of the present
residents lived there. The Board OF
Education and the municipal archi.
tect have approved the project, she
said. The property in question is
the only available ground for the ex-
tension of the school, she said. as
IL is situated Just across. an alley