Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-06

pointed and made a complete revalua-
ton of all taxable real property in the
District.
A year later the board began a fight
for the razing of the old Long Bridge
urging separate causeways for railroad
and vehicular traffic. About the same
time a partial water famine started a
determined effort for the construction
of an adequate reservoir system and
filtration plant.
Just "a years ago-1896-the Board
of Trade made an exhaustive survey of
sites for the various District courts and
municipal buildings. Strangely enough
the place selected was the tract now
being purchased for the proposed new
$14,000,000 municipal center.
1898 and 1899 Drives.
The years 1898 and 1899 were busy
ones. Within this period the board
fought for a codification of District
laws, going so far as to have code
compiled, printed and submitted to
Congress. 1t also strongly urged mu-
nicipal hospital, now realized in Gal
linger Hospital; sought more books for
the recently established Public Library;
published the first handbook OF Wash
ington, and started a struggle, which
continued for mar, years, for the $3.50
the Federal and District governments.
The first year of the present century
saw the beginning of real work on the
problem of local taxation and tax
survey was made and used In s tight To
keep the taxes at a reasonable figure
This same year the parks committee OF
the board made recommendations that
gave birth to the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
a
struggling for betterment of housing
conditions and particularly for the
elimination of alley dwellings.
Open Armory Fight in 1908.
In 1908 the attention of the Board
of Trade was turned toward obtaining
an armory for the District National
Guard, and since then the organization
has stood consistently behind the prof.
ect. An investigation into the entire
local prison and reformatory system
was launched at the boards instigation
by a committee appointed by President
Taft. The outcome of the inquiry was
the establishment of the workhouse at
Occoquan, Va, and numerous prison
reforms.
Various projects sponsored during the
next five years by the trade organi-
| cation included a high-presSure water
system for fire protection, new bridges
over the Rock Creek gorge at Connect
cut avenue and over Klingle Ford, Gre
alton of public utilities commission
lower freight rates, a municipal code tt
supplement the District code of laws
and the enlargement of Rock Greek
Park.
1t was few years later that the
tight for national representation fol
the people of the District was begun
From this time to the beginning oil
the World War the board occupied
itself principally in pressing this issue
bringing about a suitable adjustment
of the fiscal relations between the Dis.
trict and Federal Government, anC
working for needed building develop.
mentS.
Seek Street Railway Merger.
With the war, the resources of the
trade body were turned toward assist.
ing the Government in all possible
ways. Many of the members served II
France, while many others engaged IL
civil wartime work. s.
The five years following the wal
witnessed activity for a business man
ager of the public school system, higher
pay for teachers and a teachers re-
ttrement fund, rehabilitation of Chair
Bridge, establishment of Americaniza-
ton schools, traction company
merger and the promotion of loca
business.
Since then the interests Of the or.
ganization have been too numerous tt
catalogue. Outstanding among then
has been its continued fight for ma.
port, for freight rate reduction and fol
q Roosevelt memorial stadium.
In addition, committees of the boarC
have made numerous statistical sur.
veys in the interest of local business
as well as on related subjects.