Evening star., 1934-01-21
BATTLE TO OBTAIN
RAIL SPAN HEADS
BENN|NG PROGRAM
Elimination of Dumping and
Widening of viaduct
Also Are Sought.

The Benning Citizens Association
under the leadership of its president,
Frank E. James, is girding itself for
the most strenuous battle for COM
munity improvements in its 33 years OF
existence.
Although the organizations improve
ment program is extensive, the plans
mapped out by Mr.. James and his fol-
lowers call for concentration on the
following, for the present, at least:
/. Construction of a footway over or
under the tracks of the Pennsylvania
and Baltimore & Ohio Railroads from
Minnesota avenue and Gault place
northeast to Kenilworth avenue north
east.
2. Widening of the viaduct carrying
Benning road over the tracks.
3. Elimination of dumping on unde-
veloped tracts Of land in the Benning
and Kenilworth sections.
4. Retention of the seventh and
eighth grades of the Benning School.
Many Letters Written.
At the last meeting of the organiza-
tion, held in the school. it was decided
to carry the fight for the footway to
Senator King, chairman of the Senate
District Copmittee, and Representative
Norton, chairman of the House District
Committee.
We've been working on this for the
last three years" Mr.. James told the
association, land all we've gotten so far
is a lot of experience writing letters.
Within the last couple of years or so,
two persons have been killed while
walking across the tracks, and, before
that, there were half a dozen other
such deaths.
Unless present plans are changed,
this is the last year for the seventh
and eighth grades here. In the future
to a junior high school, and that means
they'll have to cross the tracks twice a
day or else walk about half a mile to
reach the nearest street car STOP
Members Of the organization also tbld
of children being attacked or otherwise
harassed by colored boys while crossing
the tracks. The victim of one of the
assaults, it was said, was a crippled
boy, who was chased by colored youth
with knife.
School Attitude Explained.
1t is chiefly because of the lack of an
underpass or overpass, Mr.. James Said,
that the association disapproves of the
proposed elimination of the two upper
grades. Personally, I'm in favor of the
junior high school plan in principle. p"
he said, but it would be a hardship for
residents of this area under existing
conditions"
In connection with the proposed wild
ening of the Benning road viaduct, Carl
Beale. secretary of the organization
read a letter from Daniel c. Garges,
secretary to the District Commissioners,
poStponing consideration of the project
indefinitely. On behalf of the Commits
siOners, Mr.. GargeS wrote that the prof.
ect was important" but not so much
so as others. The association voted to
carry this proposal, too, to Senator
King and Representative Norton.
Protests against dumping in the sec
ton also will be carried to the District
Committee heads, as well as to DR.. Will
liam C. Fowler, District health officer.
Dumping Protested.
There were several complaints of un-
sanitary conditions in the area. but
most of them centered around the use
of the old Beck and Barnes properties
by trucks from various Government de-
partments. This was termed ''an ouI-
rage to the community"
Federal trucks. it was said. have been
dumping all kinds of refuse, including
old bed springs, tin cans and papers
since the District incinerator was
closed. Citizens from other sections of
the city also have been throwing rub
bish on vacant lots in the section, it
was said.
1r this connection, Lieut.. Emil Desch
promised the fullest cooperation of
the eleventh precinct police in prevent
ing continued dumping by citizens and
in prosecuting those for whom warrants
are obtained
When the wind blows from the East
Mr. James said, the odors from the
dump carry for two blocks, making it
necessary for residents in the neigh
borhood to keep all windows and doors
shut. Last Wednesday. Mr.. James de-
clared, smoke from the burning trash
in the dump was as thick as fog for a
radius of one and half blocks sur
rounding the property from 2 until
about 6 o'clock in the afternoon.