Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-16


1icient light to distinguish a flag. At the time
of the occurrence it was dark. and the driver
MIR. Hall, says that he had no notice of the ap-
proach of the train until his horses were more
Than nalf way across the track, when it was
too late to escape except by driving across, and
ne Immediately whipped up his horses, but
tailed to get the caT out of danger in time.
BOARD OF TRADE-The Directors of the
Board of Trade assembled at their rooms, cor
ner OF 9th street and Pennsylvania avenue, last
night, for the purpose of meeting committee
OF the Board OF Aldermen, which had been ap-
pointed for the purpose of comforting with the
Board Of Trade on the subject of the running
OF steam cars through the streets of the city.
Aldermen Magruder, Barr, and Cross were
present on the part of the committee of the
Board of Aldermen
Mr. A. h. Shepherd, from the committee ap-
pointed at previous meeting of the Board of
Directors to prepare a statement to be submit
ted TO the committee of the Board OF Aldermen,
expressive OF the opinion OF the Board of
through the streets of Washington, submitted
the following statement:
To The Board Of Aldermen Committee to ,ohom ,o1s
referred ''1H act gTdHtlHg certain privileges con-
ditjOHGIIy 10 ne Washington, Alexandria and
Georgetown Railroad Company
The undersigned. in behalf of the Board Of
Trade, respectfully submit for your candid
consideration the subloined reasons against the
bill now pending in your honorable Board,
proposing to grant to the Washington, Alexan-
dria and Georgetown Railroad Company the
privilege of using steam in the streets of this
metropolis
The right of the Corporation of Washington
20 grant such privilege is incontestible, but we
urge that the exercise of such authority would
be Inexpedient and contrary to the best Interests
OF this city and District. 1t is true that the
consideration offered for this privilege is the
payment of a debt of about sixty thousand dol
lars, (6O,oO0,l with accumulated interest, justly
due from this company 10 the Corporation of
Washington. 1t is conceded that this amount
would very materially prosecute important
public improvements. It is suggested, how
that e a
mere speculation-a mere matter of sale on
the part of the COrporation-betterr results in a
pecuniary point Of view would be attained by
allowing competition for so valuable fran
Chise, for we presume il Will be admitted that
the privilege Of through communication by
steam between the North and South, for a
period of twenty C2O) years, should yield a
larger sum than sG0,OOO. 1t is further submitted
that this particular company is hardly entitled
10 such favorable legislation, for the very terms
of the bill exhibit the fact that, after having
successfully resisted the payment of a debt in
Cured by the Corporation for the aid of the
company al a time when such assistance was
greatly required, the company now only pro-
pose TO make payment for a valuable consider
alton. The past conduct OF the company can
hardly be taken as guaranty that in the
future conduct of Its affairs much regard will
be had for the interests of the city of Washing
ton.
In addition TO these considerations, would
not the Corporation, by passage OF the bill in
question, lose more than would be gained by
the proposed legislation The decrease in he
value Of real estate fronting and adjoining the
streets and avenues through which it Is con-
templated to allow the use of steam would in
the course Of twenty coy years amount to ten
1old the sum which the company offer for this
privilege.
In another point Of view the Corporation
would be iDJuriously affected in aceeding to the
proposition made by the company. The inter-
6sts of the Corporation require that in all of
Its legislation II should have in view the best
terests Of the business of the community, and
to this end il should do all in it's power to build
MP, enlarge and encourage trade Grant the
tran yEIll m mi r.
be positively detrimental to the business inter-
ests of Washington-already made subservient
TO the interests of the all-absorbing city of Bal
timOrel Pass this bill, and is there anything TO
prevent the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany and Orange and Alexandra Railroad
Company from obtaining entire control Of this
right Of way! 1t is well known that these
companies are even now discriminating against
our merchants IN the matter of freights. Daily
complaints are made by our leading business
men that Baltimore merchants can freight
goods 10 the South cheaper from Baltimore than
can our merchants from this point.
1t is well known that the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad invariably dlscriminates in favor of
Baltimore and its interests, and If this privi-
lege be granted, what prospect il there for the
business interest of Washington! We feel that
this city has suffered sufficiently from this
source, and that TO give such an opportunity
10 this graspIng monopoly TO secure the right
of way through the metropolis would be
equivalent TO commercial suicide. That the
Baltimore and Ohio and the Orange and Alex
7ndria Railroad Companies will eventually
control the read from Washington to Alexan-
6ria is inevitable, for upon them must depend
this short intermediate line, which proposes
10 pay its debt only for so valuable consid-
Grafton.
II is an undeniabIe fact that it is the duty OF
the Corporation TO protect the interests of every
part Of the city, and it is not consonant with
justice that the public treasury should be BEN
Emitted al the expense of any considerable por-
non OF the community. II is apparent that 70
grant The privilege would be 10 effectually de-
suOy the principal avenue of one of the largest
ana most rapidly improving wards Of the city.
ne Iast l9uI years have demonstrated this
TACT beyond all controversy. MARYLAND ay-
enue-one OF our noblest thorou oh fares Is
Stunned by all, and while the inconvenienc e
has been cheerfully submitted to as a miIitary
necessity, the propriety Of its continuance NAV
well be questioned. Why heavy trains shouId
be allowed to cross our principal streets TO the
peril OF life and limb, and the shrek of the
iron-hOrse disturb the serenity of our beauti.
full Capitol grounds, is a question not easily
answered.
All cities are properly Jealous of this priyi-
1eEe. Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York
compel the abandonment OF steam at the city
limits while Wilmington, Newark and other
places through which the locomotive dashes
IN its needless course. are, and will ever re-
main, second class cities.
The tendency of such unrestricted steam
communication as Is proposed would result in
making this an unImportant stopping place SO
far as trade is concerned, and could not benefit
the city in any possible manner, while IL would
inevitably damage its best interests.
What possible advantage can accrue 10 this
city from granting this franchise Is II not
yielding very large portion, II not all, the
business interests Of the city for the next twenty
years 10 a company which has already broken
faith with Us, and which would inc vitality place
our communication, North and South in the