Evening star., 1934-08-26
CENTRAL CITIZENS
REVIEW 25 YEARS
OF ACHIEVEMENT
Original Five-Year Plan Was
Start of Continued Civic
Betterment.

The Soviets have nothing on the
Central Citizens Association.
The first flve-year program was not
conceived by the Russians. 1t was
the brain child OF the civic minded
citizens Of Washington in the area
bounded by New York avenue, D
street, Fourth street northeast and
Fifth street northwest.
Shortly after the association was
organized, in 1909, its members pro-
mulgated a five-year program of i'm
provements-and 1t carried the plan
to a successful conclusion.
The program called for general i'm
provement of streets and sidewalks,
better street car service and increased
illumination. All of 1t was accom-
plished. North Capitol street, New
York avenue, H street and a half
dozen lesser thoroughfares were re-
surfaced and street car service on
the H street. North Capitol street and
New York avenue lines was improved.
Rover First President.
Leo A. Rover who recently resigned
as United States attorney for the Dis
trict, was the first president of the
association. He served from 1909 to
1912, and it was under his guidance
that the fve-year program got away
to a good start.
DR.. James j. Kilroy, second presi-
dent or the organization, saw the plan
carried to its conclusion. He served
from 1912 to 1915 and was succeeded
by Martin J. McNamara, an attorney,
who occupied the post until 1918.
Thomas J. Donovan, the next presi-
dent, served until 1924, when Francis
de Sales Ryan, the present president,
took Office. Under Ryan's 10-year
tenure Of Office the association has
accomplished as much, If not more,
than at any time during its long his
tory.
Five years ago it decided an i'm
provement in the schools was i'm
perative. As a result, Blake School
was completely remodeled. New floors
were laid, new plaster was placed,
new lights were installed and the
whole building was painted, inside
and out. Also, the playground was
extended.
Street Lights Obtained.
After petitioning for five years, in
1929 the association succeeded in
having installed modern electric street
lights throughout the entire length
of North Capitol street. from the
Capitol Plaza to Michigan avenue.
Also, within recent years, the or
ganization has brought about better
traffic conditions had an officer sta
toned at North Capitol and H streets,
had traffic lights installed at North
Capitol and H and K streets and ac-
complished improvements at the
Jones, Blake, Gale, st. Aloysius and
McGuirl Schools.
In 1928 the association, then under
the presidency of Donovan, organized
the first Fourth Of July celebration in
which the citizens associations of
Washington had complete control. 1t
was held on the Capitol grounds and,
according to those who participated,
was huge success.
Undesirable Tracks Blocked.
President Ryan believes the most
important and perhaps the most sue
cessful achievement of the association
was the blocking of move by the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to estab-
lish switching tracks on North Capitol
street, from M to Fenton streets. 1t
took some intelligent campaigning by
the Central Citizens Association mem
bers to register this victory.
A bill had passed the House au-
thorizing the railroad to lay the
switching tracks. Residents Of the
neighborhood and officials Of Sibley
Hospital rose up in wrath. The resi-
dents we're afraid the tracks would
ruin the value of their property and
the hospital was fearful they would
ruin that institution.
Members of the association ap-
pealed to several Senators, Of whom
J. Hamilton Lewis of Illinois and
Millard ]. Tydings Of Maryland, both
Democrats, agreed to fight the battle
on the Senate floor. That they won
is matter of history.
Police Protection Increased.
But back in the halcyon days, the
association got the then Police Chief
Pullman to increase police protection
and so strongly indorsed the first
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson's campaign for
alley and slum clearance that that
topic, now one of the major issues
facing present authorities, was brought
to the forefront of public attention.
More recently, however, the asso-
citation was commended by Col. Mar
vim H. Mcintyre, one of President
Roosevelts secretaries, for its sue
cessful drive in lining up merchants
in its territory behind the Nation
wide campaign for the Warm Springs
Foundation.
In addition to President Ryan, the
present officers are John G. Nc
Mahon, first vice president and sec
retary; Thomas G. Reinhardt, treas
urer; with DR.. William P. Kenealy
and Ryan as delegates to the Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations.