Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-28
LOCAL NEWS.

WARD ON THE RAILROAD QUEsTIoN-Iast
evening, numerously attended meeting of the
citizens Of the Seventh Ward was held at Wal
ker's Potomac Hall, (1lth street and Maryland
avenue to take some action in relation to the
bill passed on Wednesday night by the Board
OF Common Council
DR.. ]. f. Morgan was called to the chair,
and Mr.. Joseph l.. Pearson appointed secre-
tary.
The Chair stated that he presumed all were
aware of the object Of the meeting. A look at
Msrylandi avenue was sufficient they saw it's
condition. railroad in il which disgraces the
city, and would disgrace any country village.
1t was an impedimentto travel. No one could
drive across 1t unless at the intersection of a
street. Yet the Council had passed a bill Civ
ing the railroad company the right 10 keep this
road as II is for twenty years, and in il have
not even provided that the road shall be placed
as 1t was before. the war, on the grade of the
avenue. 1t wa: no doubt passed hastily, with
out due consideration, and no man having the
interest of the city al heart, not mentioning the
interest OF the Seventh Ward, would have
voted for il.
DIR. Allen moved the appointment of a COM
mittee to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense OF the meeting; which was adopted
The Chair appointed DR. Chas Allen John
r. Elyans, Jonas b. Ellis, John knight DIR.
X. Z. Croggon, w. j. Murtagh, ]. III. Bird.
Messrs Elyans and Ellis declined, and Mr.
Robert Graham was appointed.
AFTER short absence the committee returned,
and reported the following preamble and reso-
lutions:
Whereas the Board of Common Council did,
at special meeting held for that purpose on
wednesday evening. pass an act granting the
right OF way with steam power through our
streets on the railway now laid there:
ResOlred That as citizens of Washington we
solemnly protest against the aforesaid act.
which consents to the running of steam engines
through the center of the city at all hours of
the day and night, as being dangerous to the
lives and limbs of our citizens, and being
greatly injurious to the property on or near
said route.
ResoIred, That the present railroad track was
dnx hxrf a
military operations a temporary expedient
without reference to the con nvenience or inter-
ests OF the city, and was submitted to us as a
military necessity to end with the war: and
that the war being at an end, the road should
be restored TO its proper condition. The track
now laid being above the grade of the street,
with excavations rendering il impossible for
vehicles to pass from one side of the street 10
the other, and which is to remain, according to
the provision of the first section of said act
is an unmltigated nuisapce, which would not
De tolerated by any respectable village in our
country.
Resofred, That we are in favor of manufac.
lures, commerce, railroads, and all other inter
nal improvements, but we ask that they NAV
be managed and regulated as in other cities so
as TO be benefit and not an injury to our CITY:
ana as four miles per hour is the rate Of speed
alloWed by the bill to steam cars, horses could
draw them quite as fast, which would obyiate
nearly all the objections to the use of steam
for that purpose, the security and comfort of
our citizens being of at least as mucn inn
portance as the interest Of a railroad company
when has not appreciated fayors already be-
Resolved, That the thanks of our citizens .ra
Que, and are hereby rendered, to Messrs Ham.
Ilton, Mead, Williams, Joyce Wright, DudIev
ana walker 1or their strenuous opposition to
the above named iniquItous measure passed.
indecent haste.
DR.. Allen addressed the meeting ON the above
resolutions stating that action was proper The
Dill was passed at special meeting against the
enorts OF the ward delegation; the Council could
not wait for regular meeting. 1t was a very
suroltly drawn bill in the interests of the Rail-
road Company, and he did not think the mem
bers could have given il due consideration: the
right being given to the Company to continue
the road as at present. The tracks are far above
the grade, with ditch between them, being
impassable for vehicles; engines gpnnirS
their shrill whistles, and ANNOYING citizens.
soaring horses, &c.
1t is proposed the road should run up Sixth
street, and 1t was ultimately intended to con-
unue it out that street to the Depot of the r. A.
0. X. r., which is understood will be built i'm
about ~ months. This would not benefit the
G cry; ~ was .nose eltes where roads terHinate
or centre which were benfited. They tell the
people that the 100000 subscribed to the bonds
of the Company would be paid back to the cIty,
but that was our due and the Company should
be made to pay il. The road now was one of
the best paying ones in the United States.
Dr Allen lnstanced a number of cases of ac-
cidents, fatal and otherwise. He did not know
put that the late trip TO Richmond had some.
thing to do in the matter of the bill passing.
The Chair stated that the meeting would he
glad to hear from the Aldermen present
Alderman Lloyd said he did not know
tnat himself or colleague should saw any-
tning, as the bill had net yet come before the
Board OF Aldermen. He would, however, say
that they would endeavor TO act In such a
manner as would best subserve the interests of
the ward. There was no Disgusting the fact
that the influence of the ward would be but
little felt in opposition TO the bill but they
could temper IL and make il less Objectionable
than at present 1t was a question whether
the Councils had the right to grant such fran
chise as proposed in the bill as Congress had
placed all the avenues under the control of the
Commissioner of Public Buildings. IL was A
question also whether the act Of Congress Civ
ing the company the right to lay the track in
Maryland avenue was not obsolete If thev
could not prevent the bill from passing.
they would urge such amendments as wouid
place the running Of cars under proper CON
troll, and would throw guards around ~ He
did not believe that the passage of the hill
could be prevented; but they would attempt to
have steam power substituted by horse noTver
railing In which, they woulo move To amend
by providing for the running during certain
hours; prohibiting the blowing of whistles, and
competing the company to station signal men |
every TWO or three hundred yards, and to |
lower tn fha ~ faff