Evening star., 1934-07-09
SOUTHEAST MOVES
FOR IMPROVEMENT
Business Men Assert That
Section Is Deprived OF
lust Share.

A united drive b. Souiheast cisi-
KenS against what they term discTim-
inatory improvement Of the city 70
the disadvantage o. their section vas
opened today when the Southeast
Business Mems Association circulated
q memorandum setting forth that the
section has been deprived Of its just
and proportionate share Of expenoi-
tures for improvements.
The business mems group urged that
Gil Southeast citizens and organlza-
tions assume the initiative in arous-
ing the citizens Of this section Of the
city TO a concentrated movement to
better conditions" and submitted a
platform" for the section which, II
says, would benefit both citizens and
business men.
Excerpt From Memorandum.
The memorandum tn part, follows
We desire 70 direct your attention
to a few facts pertaining to the con-
ditions OF this section OF the city and
the expenditures allotted b. the Com
mLssioners for the maintenance and
upkeep OF the Southeast section In
return for the taxes paid by the bust
ness men and citizens Of this division
OF the city.
"A survey Of the statistics discloses
that this section Of Washington is one
Of the most intensiyely populated
divisions Of the city. that 1892
families reside in Southeast, consist
ing Of 67,337 persons who contribute
TO the payment of all levied taxes and
assessments. The records of the Dis
trict OF Columbia disclose a number
Of streets and payements in Southeast
that have been, or should have been,
listed for improvements for many
years without results. From your own
knowledge, you are aware Of number
OF streets and pavements that nave
been neglected, inadequately repaired
or absolutely ignored for years.
Further, you must consider that
Southeast lacks an adequate approach
from the downtown area, whereas
Northeast has recently obtained new
and splendid approach in the con-
struction of Constitution avenue. To
reach Southeast, the motorist must
detour around the Capitol and become
entangled In the traffic Snarl ada
cent to the House once Building.
Your attention is further directed to
the fact that Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridge has been condemned, but per-
mitted to remain after some Incl
dental repairs, and at the present time
affords an inadequate approach to the
city and Southeast from Maryland
and Twining City.
Lacks Rest Room.
Southeast Washington also lacks
rest room. But despite these condi-
tions of this section of the city and
in disregard to the pleas of the South
east citizenry, the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia have recent
ly expended monies in the conStruc-
ton of the Calvert Street Bridge.
In brief, 1t is evident that the
Southeast section of the city, that
embraces as many taxpayers as any
other division of Washington accord
ing to population, has been deprived
of Its just and proportionate share OF
expenditures for improvements. This
condition is perhaps attributable to
some extent to the failure of concen-
trated effort on the part of the citt-
zens of Southeast to obtain what is
Justly due Southeast. II is suggested,
therefore, that all Southeast citizens
and organizations assume the initia-
tive in arousing the citizens of this
section Of the city to a concentrated
movement to better conditions and In
II. e. -att.a fnF
your consideration the attached plat
and business men"
The platform submitted follows:
u. To provide an adequate ap-
proach TO Southeast from downtown
section in a boulevard across Mall
from Seventh street and Constitution
avenue to Third and B streets south
west; widen B street southwest from
Third street southwest, east to Sec
ond street southeast. to be called
Roosevelt boulevard.
p. The construction of new
four-line bridge to replace the obso-
lete and inadequate Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge.
''3 The location of rest room and
comfort station at Eighth street and
PENNSYLVANIA avenue or some other
important point,
a. To effect the repair of streets
and pavements in Southeast.
Tree Removal Urged.
"5. To effect the removal OF trees
and center parking from Pennsyl-
Vania avenue southeast.
g. Widen Minnesota avenue from
Central avenue TO Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
u, Clean up lower Southeast, Vir-
ginia avenue to river, Sixth street to
South Capitol street.
g Demand more street money for
unimproved streets.
g. No traffic lights to be installed
without consulting the Southeast
business men,
10. Clean out slum alleys in
southeast.
III Housing developments to be
made from Government funds appro-
priated
IL. Our share E. w. A. purchases
from merchants in Southeast
"l3, One additional mail delivery
and TWO additional collections.
IA Erection OF high school in
Anacostia"
The memorandum was signed by c.
F. Donohoe. president: r. 5. English
vice president, and Louis FTlck, act
ing counsel Of the Southeast Business
Mems Association
"Grand Slam Wins SIS Fine.