The Washington herald., 1922-05-21
Anacostia Citizens Fight 40
Years for Civic Betterment
Association, Organized in 1882, Has Won
Bridges, Car Service and Paved Streets
For Its Community.

Capital Railway Company in 1895.
Col. Arthur E. Randle. the builder of
Congress Heights, was the head OF
this new railway company.
Charter Is Amended.
No construction work was started
under this grant, probably because
no provision was made in this charter
for crossing the Navy Yard" or
Anacostia Bridge. However, the
charter authorized the operation of
street or South Capitol street south
side of the Anacostia River to First
street or South Capital street south
west. The 1895 act was amended in
May, 1896, to permit the Capital Rail-
way Company to operate cars over
the Navy Yard Bridge" by horse
power or the underground electric
system" This act was further
amended in June, 1898, to permit the
use of the overhead trolley over the
bridge. and 1t was not until 1898 that
Anacostia saw its street cars pro-
PEELED by electricity to and from
the center OF Washington.
New Era Opened.
This opened up a new era in Ana
costa and the surrounding territory
new homes sprang up and dotted the
hillsides in all directions. Under the
act Of 1900 the Capital Railway Com
pany was absorbed by the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company.
Shortly after 1898 the association be-
came inactive for awhile. It was
revived by Charles r. Burr and DR..
James A. Watson, and from that time
to the present II has been an active
working organization. instrumental
in obtaining many public improve
ments and doing much to inculcate
the community spirit among the resi-
dents of Anacostia and adjacent terri
tory.
Long Roll of Honor.
Among the major improvements
obtained by the association --nY be
mentioned the electric street rail-
way, new Anacostia Bridge, old
Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge, opening
of Minnesota avenue, erection Of
modern fire engine and school houses.
new police station. reclamation of the
Anacostia flats. paved roadways.
water. sewage and lights.
The roster Of the association from
its first inception Is a long one, among
which are many deserving of special
mention. In addition to those citi-
zens previously referred to may be
found at one time or another active.
in the affairs of the association the
following: DR.. r. A. Pyles, DIR.
George w. Fisher. Julius w. Tolson.
James w. Barley, Charles r. Dodge
Thomas Gray, w. NJ. King. DR.. c.
H. Weiss. Alex. Garden. S. NJ. Frazier,
George o. Watson, Eugene E. Thomp-
son, Adolphus GUIDE. James j. Glen
nan. DIR. Thomas d. Mudd, Walter
Tolson. Maurice otterback, A. E.
Beck, William L. Quad. H. R. Haar,
George S. King John E. Earnshaw.
J. F. Campbell and William ].
Latimer.
How They Helped.
In this list of names there are a
few that stand out prominently for
some particular activity during the
life of the association. These are:
H. A. Linger and DR.. VIM. L. White
for their activities for Minnesota
avenue and the Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridge; H. A. Griswold for the first
street car line in Anacostia: DR., A.
M. Green for Anacostia's first bank;
Dr.. Geo. c! Havenner and his assoc
ciates of 1895 for modernized street
car facilities; DIR. James w. Watson
for obtaining the support Of the
medical association OF the District
for reclamation OF the Anacostia
hats and Eugene E. Thompson for
his efforts to secure appropriations
for this work; Maurice Otterback in
his work for new streets. Later we
find Charles r. Burr steering for
New Anacostia Bridge, new school
and engine houses and a new police
station; Geo. A. Williams for his
untiring efforts to promote war
gardens; Robert Thompson and VIM.
5. Latimer for their consistent and
effective work toward all civic and
business betterments. -
In Two Sections.
In 1921. under the leadership OF
VIM. ]. Latimer, jr., the association
was reorganized and its name
changed to AnacostIa C,itI1an.' A..