Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-26
THE FUTURE OF WASHINGTON.

This evening our City Council is to decide
cehnltiveiy question Of vital importance to
Washington IL Is Joint question of power
and Of the proper location of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad depot. The question of power
Is vital, and goes almost to the existence, GER
tainly to the prosperity of our city. That
question is this; Shall n Railroad Company or
the City Council establish the grades of orr
streets. If the Council yield ", the question
may be regarded as permanently decided
against
We consider the legal question almost too
plain for argument The fixing the grades
of the streets OF a city-whether as a matter of
law or preeedent-has been universally held 70
BE- police or municipal question, belonging to
cycTy city Of the Union, and entirely unaffected
by the post route or commercial power. That
Congress can establish post route Is very
true, nut net so rs to interfere with the
police, or municipal, OF quarantine power
If city. Establishing the grades o.
the streets of city Is as much q
health ordinance as a quarantine regulation
Proper grades, essential TO good drainage and
sewerage, are even more necessary for the
health of the city al all times, than quarantine
regulations guarding against the occasional
advent of PestIlence, such as cholera, or yellow
fever. Yet such health regulations of a CITY
have been universally held TO be powers with
which Congress cannot interfere. or control.
SO rs TO questions affecting life, as well as
health, Congress, under the commercial power
can cause foreign goods to be warehoused in
any part of city, but this is held not 10 extend
90 as to Over-rule municipal regulations as to
powder and other combustibles. In this case
however, as regards this very road, Congress
has granted the power TO nix or change the
grades of the streets of the city, and requires this
very read to conform to those grades.
In this case, however, it is the true interest
of the railroad Company, as well as of the city,
that the depot should be removed to street
We have no disposition to make war upon the
railroad Company. but it must, like all other
roads, conform TO the grades established by the
city ordinances. On this point ve can never
agree that the Capitol city of this Union,
which ought 10 be among the largest and
most beautiful III the Union. shall surrender
This vital power to any company.
It's said that there are few improvements
now in the region east of the grounds and
streets 10 b. effected by this grade, although
within few hundred yards OF the Capitol
But the reason why there are so few improve
ments there now, is this-that the grounds are
too ioar as they now exist; but proper grade
must be permanently established, and 10 one
VIII ouIld houses or make improvements there
until such grade Is fixed. Let this be done AZ
once, and we shall soon have an immense adj
oitlOn- IN that region, 70 the wealth and popu-
l3tiOn Of the city. 10 be followed by decreased
rate OF taxation, and the city Will not only fill
up rapidly 10 Boundary street. in that dIrec-
hon. but VIII pass over it to the north. In
coming TO the present depot. the railroad,
IN the short space OF about half mile. has
10 pass over no less than four curves, all of
which VIII be avoided by change u the pro-
posed depot. We are in favor OF aifordIng all /
reasonable ana proper facilities 10 The Railroad /
Company. but We cannot allow II TO fix the /
grade Of OU- streets, and we hope this question /
viii be promptly ana definitely settled by the 4
action OF the City Council, AID that the money
appTCI rated by Congress VIII be used az once
IL aid of ihrse great Improvements
The wretched and f0IloTn appearance Of this !
portion CT cur city. within 4 few hundred ya-ds
OF the Capitol, Is a subject OF most uatlvortbI.
comment by all strangers, and must remain so
untIl the grade "a now directed by ordinance.
Is permanently established and carried 0gt mon
he grand.
1t Is weli-knOwn that CapItol Hill. and the /
capitol itself, have been, al times. unfayorably
affected by malaTiOus inf uences. which must .
continue until tue proper grades are esrlb-
ilshed, accompanied by the corresponding /
drainage and sewerage. Capitol Hill, and The I
region in the yicinage. Will then become one
The most healthy and beautiful portions of the
city.