Evening star., 1922-03-02
BARRY FARM NEEDS
F|x|NG,SAYS WRITER
Most Neglected Section in
Washington Called to
Attention.
To the Editor Of The Star:

pearing in your valuable paper con-
cerning the much neglected streets
in and around the city of Washing
ton, may we not hope. that you will.
by printers ink and photograph, de-
pict the condition Of the streets con-
fronting owners and residents of
property in Barry Farm, part OF
the extremely southeastern portion
of this city, Of which former Com
missioner Brownlow spoke as the
most neglected section of the city Of
Washington" with a view OF possibly
ready begun. and particularly in
hope of bringing about the more i'm
portant task of their Improvement?
The history of this property Tor
dwelling purposes dates back 10 !ne
war, when the late Gen. o. Q. Howard
made the subdivision for the benefit
of the then recently freed. Lots were
sold to them for the sum of ap-
proximately $500; and sufficient lum-
rooms. the lots containing an acre OF
ground. This opportunity. gladly
seized upon, was often followed by
the purchase of additional lumber and
many times subdivided. are now
largely owned and controlled by the
descendants of the original pur-
chasers, in many cases title having
fifty years. These have spent many
hundreds Of dollars improving their
properties, are thrifty and prosperous,
and number among them many OF the
best of Washington's citizens. Que
to the way the plats were drawn az
the time, together with the wording
of the deeds, title to these lots carried
with it title to the abutting roads or
streets, and this technicality has
caused considerable embarrassment
to the Commissioners in the upkeep
and repair of these privately owned
streets, roads and avenues. fhls mas
been in a measure overcome py recent
condemnation PROCEEDINGS, partie- ,rtns
ularly in so far as the part lying
west of Nichols avenue.
Streets stiIl Unimproved.
Unlike the streets of which you
write. they being. comparatively
speaking, new thoroughfares. these
streets stand now exactly as they
stood fifty-five years ago, entlrely
unimproved, even lacking ordsnary mary
compelled now as then to share the
roadways with vehicles. Your picture
of a street almost impossible 1or. au.
tomobiles during the recent pad
weather was impressive. but some OF
these avenues of Barry Farm notaply
Sheridan, were impossible either on
foot or in machines, water standing
for long stretches in some places more
than a foot deep. This is not an 1so-
lated case. either. and yet, as numDie
burden of taxation for many years
without greatly complaining. only be-
ing successful in recent years IN oo-
tanning such ordinary benefits as
lights and small-pipe hydrants, most
sparingly distributed.
IT residents
no regular sewerage system, no nre
plugs, no regular water flow, depend
ing in a large measure upon "els
and springs for fire emergencies,
in times of such distress their utter
futilfty in battling SO formidable a
foe. have known Of instances
where the, nearest water Tor mousse
hold purposes was contained IN
spring a city block distant. The
streets or.roads are of clay. without
solid bottom, and. being of necessity
upon a grade, the approach OF nre
apparatus, with any degree OF speed.
in any weather, to put 1t mildly, Is
very problematical. | have known OF
it's becoming imbedded in mud and
remaining there for at least the rest
of the day. when even with it's limit
ed capacity Qargely chemicaD for
help, it's actual arrival upon the scene
might have saved hundreds OF doie
lars worth of property.
Unable to Run Cars.
Nany of the residents of this local.
ity not only this winter. but last and
others, owning machines. some OF
whom depend upon them for the earn
ing of their daily bread, have been
unable to use them for weeks because
of the impossible condition or the
roads in their immediate vicinity.
Is it any wonder. then. that fire in
; surance companies decline risks very
often in this vicinity, and in some
cases. even when taken, upon be
coming advised of the exact condl-
tions, cancel them?
| CLARENCE w. TIGNOR.