Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-20

The people of Washington are quite unani-
nous in their purpose to have an improved
railway system, and nothing seems wanting but
the ability to decide upon some plan Of opera
tOns- This decision once made, il will be easy
To concentrate all effort upon the particular
roads to be built. Manifestly we can do nothing
TO force the construction of the Point Of Rocks
road, or the Baltimore and Potomac road faster
than it suits the purposes Of the managers to let
the work go on. These two companies seem to
lie playing game Of rival interests, which may
result i'm affording w Washington competing roads,
or may end in a compromise by which we shall
remain "as we were' in regard to railroad IA
cilities- But however the little game may end
between the Northern Central and the Bal
timore and Ohio players, Washington can only
look on as passive spectators. Quite certainly
our work must be in the opposite direction from
their play. What aid We give must be to the
enterprises struggling for existence, and whose
interests are identical with ours Ii Is not nee
essary to say at this late day that the construc-
ton of the additional roads proposed means
cheap living and plenty of work for the poor,
becsrse by cheapening living, manufacturing
enterprise viii be developed and enabled to COM
pete with other cities; that IL means large adj
Nantages to the property holders by increasing
the valve OF their ground, and immensely en-
larging the amount of business done here there
by returning To them tenfold the amount of taxes
they may have to pay to help the immediate con-
struction of the roads.
Now what roads shall we help, and how shall
that help be extended? We have the roads
south already in operation. The Loudon and
Hampshire road is being built The Point
OF Rocks road and Baltimore and Potomac
road, As above mentioned, are also in such pro-
crra- of a.
them choose. The Southern Maryland road en-
terprise Is gaining strength and friends. If all
these roads were constructed we should have
very satisfactory system OF roads.
The duty, then, of Washington is TO helm the
two national rOads-the Loudon and Ham,
shire, sending its main stem to the Ohio. and
bringing in the wealth of the West, together
with the coal Of the Alleehanies; the Point
Lookout and southern Maryland road, connect
ing by fast steamers with Norfolk and the sea-
hoard cities, and bringing the early vegetables
OF the south and the Injuries of the Bay. tn be
distributed from here North, East and West; and
IN return carrying the superabuntiance OF coal.
that must come here, to the deep waters of the
Potomac below the freezing point IL win he
seen that the construction Of these two roads.
connecting in Washington city, win afford a
dlreet communication between the Ohio river
and the coal mines, with the Chesapeake at a
POINT navigable all the year.
by the time these roads are completed we
MAY DC sure that the growing restiveness of the
People OF maryland, under Mr.. CARROTS rail-
road rule, viii have shown itself i'm q wav IN
compel the construction of the Point of Rocks
road, and when the Point of Rocks road ia bujIt
the Baltimore and Potomac road will he bnilt
All the signs indicate that the MARYLAND Ieuis,a-
lures of the future will grant charters to anv
bona hde companies seeking to make new roads
IN the State, and the companies having charters
VIII be compelled either to build or TO allow
Others to do so.
How shall the city aid these roads-the Lou
cIun and Hampshire, and the Southern Mary
iand: There are two ways, one by subscription
Z" the stock, the other by endorsement of the
ionds. Now the first requires a heavy tax at
once uron the taxpayers to raise the money tn
ay for the stock; and then should the necessi-
ties Of the roads compel them to issue bonds
Nkieh are lien on the stock, the city's stock
interest may be lost, but by endorsing bonds the
city itself holds lien on the stock Of the entire
road, ard has only to raise tax to meet the in
ierest- Thus the city can better afford to en-
dorse the bonds of railroad company for a
million Of dollars than to subscribe to the stock
tor three hundred thousand. or course care
should be exercised to see that the city,s liens
ale properly secured; and the bonds should
only be issued at a certain rate as the road is
built--say in sections of tive or ten miles.
The fear has been expressed that the endorse
meEt Of these bonds may lower the value of the
city bonds, but the experience OF all cities, Bal
iImOre especially, has shown that the bonds of a
rise in value in some proportion
TO the public investment in roads that build UP
the place..
The public interest in this matter of railroads
should not be allowed to lull until the work has
cen blocked out and fully entered upon. Now
- the time 10 move in the matter