The Washington times., 1923-05-09
n. WASHINGTON
HAS ACTIVE
GROUP
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Citizens Association Has 20
Years Record of Community
Achievement.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

Stories of. accomplishments have
come to epitomize the history of
citizens associations in the District
of Columbia. Practically every city
improvement tells the tale of civic
activity initiated by such organiza-
tons or later supported by them
vigorously when threatened by de.
feat.
No section of the city emphasizes
more emphatically what can be ac-
compIished by organized effort than
! North Washington where for the
past twenty years it's interests have
been fostered and advanced by the
North Washington Citizens Associa.
ton.
Any attempt to detail the achieve.
ments of the organization during
this period would be little less than
writing a history of the neighbor-
hood in which its activities have
been centared. A few OF them
however. may be mentioned.
Many Accomplishments
What is considered one of it's
greatest triun1phs is seen in the
repaving of Rhode Island avenue
between First street and FLORIDA
avenue. This was no small under.
taking for the association when it
decided to secure the needed i'm
provement. 1t pushed ahead, how
ever. with thesresult that eventually
it accomplished its aim.
Allied with the Improvement eff
fected in this instance can be men.
toned the opening and paving of
v and w streets, from Second
street to North Capitol, as well as
the paving of Thomas street.
Constructions of the Gage Public
School marked the elimination of
a consistent effort on the part Of
Hthe association to secure greater
school facilities for it's section of
the city.
Another victory won by the or
ganization was the securing of a
postoffice substation which was
established at North Capitol and
Bryant streets.
Increased police protection and
the development of fire protection
enjoyed by the association district
are also to be credited 10 the lat
ter's activities.
Secured Fairgrounds.
Along recreation lines the asso-
citation has played a conspicuous
part. Through it's efforts the
Bloomingdale playground was Sc
cured as well as additional play
ground space at the Gage school.
Removal of the street car switch
ing tracks from North Capitol and
V streets resulted from the efforts
made by the association to improve
conditions in both of those thor.
oughfares. Establishment of safety
zones where they are most needed
is another accomplishment to be
credited to. the association. Placing
of traffic policeman at the inter
section of North Capitol street and
Rhode Island avenue is another.
Just now the organization is cen
tering it's efforts to secure the
removal of the pillow pit at v street.
1t recommends placing it out past
Trinity College. 1t is also fighting
to secure a reduction of electric
rates, while, on the other hand,
it stands firmly behind an advance
in the salary of school teachers.
Within the association district
are some 1900 homes. This is i'll
teresting, considered in connection
with the fact that the organization
has a membership of more than
5000 local residents. The associa-
ton was formed in 1903 when
twenty-five residents of the neigh.
borhood Of Bloomingdale, LeDrcit
Park and Reservoir Heights got