Evening star., 1939-09-30
Arkansas Avenue
Flood Victims Form
New Association
SpIitoff From Piney
Branch Group Deemed
Best Way to Relief

Residents of the area abutting
Arkansas avenue. Delafleld place
and Thirteenth street NV, who
recently banded together to obtain
redress for damages they suffered
in a flood Labor Day, last night
formed a new citizens association.
Meeting at Telford's to vote on
the report OF a committee of nine
selected by the temporary chair
man, Hugh v. Keiser, at a previous
gathering. the residents unanimously
supported the recommendation to
form a new association.
The basin area where the flood oc-
CURED is nominally in the territory
of the large Piney Branch associa-
ton, which is bounded by Kennedy
street on the north to Shepherd
street south, from west of Georgia
avenue in the east to Rock Creek
Park on the west.
Capt. G. L. Shorey, president OF
the Piney Branch group, made a
plea at the meeting last night for
the embattled residents to remain
within the jurisdiction of the older
group. Capt. Shorey outlined the
difficulties new organizations meet
in the infant days of their forma-
ton. He told the group, before the
I'm hn1
be accomplished if the two organi-
cations worked together for the OBJ
tainance Of the common needs.
Older Groups blessing"
Answering Capt. Shorey, Mr..
Keiser replied he thought the needs
of the areas were no longer COM
mon. Mr.: Keiser said he felt the
needs of the Arkansas avenue area,
much smaller in size than the Piney
Branch section, of which it is part,
could be administered much better
by the people who live there than
by large and uninterested group
with diverse needs.
Mr.. KeiSer asked the Piney Branch
association to act as a godfather
so as ito permit us to 60 to work
with your blessing" Capt Shorey
said his group would try to help the
new organization in every way
The residents voted to name the
new group the Arkansas Avenue
Community Association. Mr. Keiser
was elected president for a one-year
term: DR.. John r. Lapham, first
vice president; A. M. Ensor, second
vice president; Mrs. Fred Telford,
third vice president; C. H. Dexter,
secretary: Mrs Clyde Filley, treas
urer, and c. H. Newell, general
counsel
Will Define Boundaries.
A Boundary Committee will meet
within a weeks time at the home
of Mr.. Keisei to map the borders
OF the association. The Executive
Committee will also meet next week
to lay plans for the campaign to
have the flood conditions in the area
eliminated by the District.
The elimination of the floods,
which nave been reculrent in the
section for many years, was the
prime object of the formation of
the group. Other objects of the
association, which expects to apply
for membership in the Federation
Of Citizens Association when or
ganization is more complete, include
maintaining better traffic conditions
In the section, installation of traffic
signals and additional bus stops on
the Thirteenth street bus line from
Kennedy street to the downtown
area.
Two weeks ago. the Office of ]. B.
Gordon. sanitary engineer of the
District, announced leftover funds
from the Rock Creek sewer prof.
ect would be made available for the
installation of larger sewer system
in the natural basin at Arkansas
avenue and Delafield place to pre-
vent recurrence of disastrous floods.