Evening star., 1934-03-04
Achievements of
Young Group
Reviewed.
DRIVE MAINTAINED
FOR d. C.. SUFFRAGE
Originated Movement to
Get National Guard
Armory.

Lacking but three months for COM
pietion of five years service for the
welfare of its community, the Bur-
roughs Citizens Association reviews
with pride the growth Of that section
and the advantages secured for 1t
through organized citizenry.
The association was formed, under
leadership of William E. RabenhorSt,
in June, 1929, and has since worked
necessarily for Improvement Of its ter
ritory. which lies north of Rhode
Island avenue and east of Sixteenth
street northeast.
Similar to the formation of many
other civic organizations, an emer-
gency created in this section by an
order of the School Board was neces-
sary to bind together in common
cause the residents of the territory.
There had been talk about the forma-
ton of civic organization, but until
the issuance of an order by the Board
Of Education transferring the seventh
and eighth grade pupils of the John
Burroughs School, Eighteenth and
Monroe streets northeast, to a school
in Langdon, about a mile distant and
south of Rhode Island avenue, such
talk had not crystallized into any
definite action.
Hazard Pointed Out.
Besides objecting to the distance
the students must travel. parents in
the Burroughs section pointed out the
hazardous crossing of the much -trav-
eled Rhode Island avenue during the
time children would be going to and
coming from school. Thus the par
ents affected, and others with neigh
borly interest, acting almost sponta-
neously out of regard for these chill
dren, brought to fruition the idea of
a citizens association, which had been
in the minds of many for some time
The order of the school authorities
was not rescinded, however.
A campaign was Immediately be-
gun for a Junior high school in the
Burroughs territory and has resulted
In the completion of the central unit
Of the Taft Junior High School, which
accommodates at present over 500
PoPlLo. llC dsoOOSidllOll Id IlOW SSeh-
ing sufficient appropriations for the
erection of a wing to the school. The
Burroughs Citizens Association gained
city-wide attention some time ago in
its fight over cupola for this school.
This cupola was approved in the plans
submitted to the Fine Arts Commis-
sion and later left out
Among the Improvements secured
by the association is the Taft recrea-
tion center, formerly a tract of waste
land and now one of the best and
most up-to-date recreational centers
In the city.
A very important improvement OBJ
tanned by this association was the ex-
tension of the storm water sewer sys-
tenn IN the community, especially the
one on Twentieth street northeast
running north from Randolph street,
which opened up for further develop
ment a large part of the northern
end of its territory.
Center Being Sought.
Several years ago the association
had established in the John Bur-
roughs School a temporary COM
munity center, and is now actively
engaged in obtaining the establish
ment Of a permanent center in the
new Taft Junior High School.
mnumerable streets and alleys have
been opened up and improved, side
walks laid, street lights installed, trees
planted and triangular parks land
scaped through the efforts of this as
sociation. Two of its principal activi-
ties at the present time are the ex-
tension Of South Dakota avenue
northeast north from its present
terminus at Randolph street, and the
widening and improvement of Eight
zenith street northeast from Perry
street to Bunker Hill road.
For the protection of the residents
Of the community the association has
had many stop" signs placed at
dangerous intersections.
Besides being a member of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
1t Is also member of the Public
School Association and of the North
east Suburban Citizens Associations
Conference, the latter being COM
posed of delegates Of the Brookland,
Burroughs, Dahlgren Terrace and
Michigan Park Citizens Associations,
who meet informally to discuss and
recommend united action by these
associations in matters of mutual in
terest to their respective communities.
Interests City Wide.
In addition to the many COM
munities, the association has also
taken an active interest in city-wide
affairs. It instigated the movement
among citizens associations for an
adequate National Guard armory:
favored the Capper bill for national
representation for the District, and
the GaSque bill for election of the
School Board; proposed a plan of
liquor control for the District; pre-
pared and sent to all other citizens
associations for discussion plan of
local suffrage for the District; opposed
the purchase or construction of an
airport In the District with District
funds, and has generally discussed
and taken a stand for or against
legislation introduced in Congress hav-
ing reference to the District.
The present officers of the associa-
ton are Raymond L. Gilbert, presi-
dent; Lars M Eidsness, vice presi-
dent; Robert M. Furniss, secretary;
Mrs. Audrey E. Koons, treasurer;
Kenneth P. Armstrong, financial
secretary; Wilbur S. Finch, assistant
secretary; Raymond L. Gilbert and
David Babp, delegates to the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations, the
latter now serving his tenth year as
secretary Of the federation. Its past
presidents were William E. Rabenhorst.
Kenneth P. Armstrong, Wilbur S.
Finch and John M. Stockard.
UNDERPASS SOUGHT