Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-08
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

RUNNING CARS THROUGH THE STREETS BY
STEAM. Tho case against the Orange and Alex
andria Railroad Company was resumed this af-
ternoon, before Justice Walter, in the Criminal
Court room, at the City Hall.
Mr.. Joseph II. Bradley, jr., appeared for the
Corporation Of Washington, and Messrs. W. B.
Webb, A. q. Riddle, and Joseph b. Stewart for
the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and General
Wells for the Washington aud Alexandria road
1t will be remembered that this case was COM
| menced on Tuesday evening last, when several
Witnesses were examined, after which It was
adjourned until this afternoon. The case Is on
a warrant against John shultz, James Doyle,
Robert Hinzman, and L. J. Gilbert, employ yees
Of the Orange and Alexandria railroad, W hO were
arrested on the train some days ago aud broug ght
before Justice Walter for running the trains
through the streets.
The hrst witness examined this afternoon was
the Hon. b. b. French, Commissioner OF Public
thought the aims ran slow enough for any one
to get away. Always heard the bell ringing and
blowing Of whistle as they came around the
curve At the foot Of Capitol Hill.
charge Of the railroad bridge across the Potomac
Coming up the grade between the bridge aud
Eleventh street the trains ran about six miles an
hour; from there to the Baltimore depot mau
could walk as fast as the trains ran. red flag
was displayed In the day time, aud bells rung
at night, lanterns were displayed. Did not see
any flag before the 10th Of November.
DR. ;hn1 LANES e.. S.S aSsoG for the tss
avenue and Twelfth street. Since the 10th Of
October trains had not been run so frequent as
before. As far as speed was concerned the com
pany had managed 1t as well as any could. But
what was objected to was running by steam,
causing horses to run away. He thought run
ming the cars through the city by steam was pre-
Judicial to the lives and health Of the citizens. 1t
was the use OF steam which was generally COM
planned Of, and 1t was now q public ineonye-
nience and Injury.
By the defence: Witness thought TO run the
cars BY steam through the streets Of any city was
a nuisance. Had seen some OF the engineers on
the road blow the whistle when horses would
pass them 80 the horses would run off, This was
complained Of, and 1t was stopped. For the past
two years the cars had been run very slow while
the Government had charge Of the road.
Capt. James L. Mcclure testified that he thought
the engines ran very slow over the road now
witness had walked as fast as the cars ran alJng
the streets,
Col Wells remarked that at least forty trains
per day passed through the city OF Rochester,
New York, and sixty five per day through the
streets Of Newark, New Jersey.
Mr.. Bradley remarked that II trains did pass
through other Cities IL was reason why they
should run through this city, and those compS-
niles had legislative sanction to run the trains
through those cities, which this company had
not,
Norman Harlston had known the trains to run
slow after getting this side Of the Long Bridge.
Was night Waterman on the Long Bridge. Flags
were on the train during the day, and lanterns
at night.
The testimony was here closed, and
Mr.. Bradley, for the prosecution, said this
proceeding was instituted at the instance Of the
Board Of Police Commissioners. The formAlites
Of u warrant and an investigation had been gone
through with the parties appeared, pleaded
and defended: The purpose Of the warrant was
to ascertain II a nuisance was being committed
here. He called attention to the statute Of the
18th OF July, 1862, and read 1t.
The present company who were now running
cars over the road had leased the road from the
Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company.
Mr.. B also read from the 18th vol. Statutes at
Large page sos, granting certain privileges to
the Washington aud Alexandria Railroad Com
pany, which forbid said company to run cars by
steam through the streets OF Washington or over
the Long Bridge without FIRST having obtained
the consent OF Congress and the corporate
authorities Of the city Of Waskington.
Also, regulating the speed to such rate as the
authorities Of Washington shall from time to
time prescribe. He asked that suitable means be
adopted to prevent the recurrence OF this nuis-
ance
Col. Wells, for the Washington and Alexandria
road, WAS engaged In making the argument for
the road when our report closed,