Evening star., 1934-05-08
ELGEN ADDRESSES.
MANOR PARK UNIT.
Citizens Hear Survey of
Transportation Facilities
in City.

A survey of transportation facili-
ties in the District of Columbia Wa:
given last night by Riley E. Elgen
chairman of the Public Utilities Com
mission in an address before the
Manor Park Citizens Association.
Commissioner Elgen opened his ad-
dress with a brief history of street
car transportation in the District
since 1912. He showed that the Pub
lie Utilities Commission has endeav-
ored to experiment on transportation
to satisfy the public as much as pos
sible. He remarked that the consoli-
dation of the street car companies in
this city has brought a decided in
crease in the number of street car
patrons. The pass system inaugu-
rated last December /, was satisfac-
tory both to the street car company
and the public, he said.
Commissioner Elgen also stated that
the number of street car employees has
increased. their wages have increased
and the fares have decreased, show
ing that conditions have been i'm
proved and it would only be a mat
ter of time before greater improve
ments will be made He said many
delays in transportation had been
corrected by the cooperation of the
commission with the traffic director
and his department.
Commissioner Elgen then discussed
the particular needs of the Manor
Park Community and said nothing
definite could be arranged and it
would be unwise to extend transpor-
tation facilities into the Manor Park
area until after the proposed merger
of the Washington Rapid Transit Co..
and the Capital Transit Co.
Criticisms Invited.
In conclusion Commissioner Elgen
said the commission invited sugges-
tions and criticisms from the Citizens
Associations of the District
In addition to Commissioner Ell
gems address, C. Marshall Finnan, su-
perintendent of National Capital
Parks, spoke on The Takoma Park
Recreation Center" Mr.. Finnan gave
three purposes for the Takoma Park
Recreation Center: l. To provide
recreation and safety to the children.
2. To provide competitive drills. 3.
To provide adult recreation. He said
the number of accidents to children
had decreased 80 per cent as a result
OF recreation centerS.
Finnan said the swimming pools
would be ready by June l and would
be under able supervision. Ample
space and equipment has been pro-
vided for the many games that can
be played on the large recreation
field. Also parking space is avail
able
Seek Change in Name.
The association is seeking to change
the name Of the recreation center
from Takoma Park Recreation Gen.
ter to Manor Park Recreation Cen
ter, claiming the ground on which the
center is located is in the Manor Park
area.
A discussion of The Evening Stars
Home Improvement Contest was held
and the project was approved.
A brief talk on the cooperation Of
the Citizens Associations and the
great Importance of citizenship was
given by Jesse C. Suter of the Citi-
zens Joint Committee on National
Representation.
Other speakers included J. L. Mar
tin. executive secretary to Public
Utilities Commission; A. j. Driscol.
president of the Mid-City Citizens
Association, and L. w. JOY. president
Of the Chillum Heights Citizens As
SOciation.
Fifty-one new members were added
to the association as a result of
membership drive now in progress.