Evening star., 1869-12-14
The BsfIrca.s and the Ccrpo o.,,o,

INV t~'N''@' -.gcTt1ct5-fWISEs1a
Corr. ..coaienct.
The fc.svwing Is the correspondence which
has recently passed between q number Of our
prominent citizens and Mayor Bowen, m refer
enee 10 the differences existing between the
Baltimore AMI ohio railroad company and the
track OF the Washington branch railroad.
INVITATION TO THE CONFERENCE.
Han. Sayies J. Bo'ceR, HGyo., Gc--Sir: You are
few citizens to be held at Worniiey's, corner of
III and 18th streets, on Saturday, December 4th,
at one O'Clock p. m, to consider the questions at
and the Baltimore ard Ohio railroad with
view to the amicable adjustment OF the same.
(Signed by the Cemaittee.) Dec. let, ;sGs.
To this the Mayor replies:
TgE MAYORS REPLY.
DECENBRR g. Is6o.-Willias, H. Phisip, Esq.-
Dear, SIR have your note OF yesterday inv ting
me to be present at conference OF comInitt2e
af .citizens OF this city with q representatyebf
more and Ohio Railroad Conpanyfto
a. d4s wormley's tomorrow at one O'Clock, |,
FOR he purpose Of Of considering tie e. Questions W at
and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
with a view to the amicable adjustment or the
same.
My understanding Of the conversation had
several days since with you and Mr.. Todd, and
en- account OF which the cases pending in court
were postponed, WAS that Mr.: Garrett, ON the
part OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany, desired to have the matter settled, and
would, within q week or ten days, submit TO the
corporation OF Washington q proposition that
might, an2 probably would be acceptable. In
stead of this, am now called upon TO hold a
conference where misunderstanding may arise,
and where motives and action Of both parties
an Fable to m:SconstructiOn and misrepresef,-
tatior. am fully impressed with the impTo-
priety Of being present at the conference, and,
alter consulting with several gentlemen on the
subject, have concluded that, duty to the corpO-
ration, as well as 70 myself, requires that
should decline the invitation, which most re-
saectfuIS ac.
and II i be deemed desirable by the committee
of citizens 20 confer with me on any matter con-
nected with the subject, will be glad TO see
them. Or any OF them, at such time as shall
suit their convenience. And IL Mr.. Garrett, or
the representative OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Raiiroad Company. has any proposition for a
iull and final settlement Of the whole matter 1
VIII he ready TO receive and act upon it at once.
FTankness, however, cOmpels me to state 10 you
that any proposal that does not copcede to the
corporation fun power to control the grade Of its
streets. and right TO compel the railroad COM
pany, II necessary, In conform the track OF their
road to the legal grade OF the streets Il inter
sects. will never meet my approval. can never
consent that railroad owned and controlled by
persons in the interest OF rival city shall as
sumo the power TO dictate TO this city what shall
or shall not be considered the legal grade of its
streets, TO so construct its road As TO prevent the
improvement and building up of a large portion
Of the area OF the city, or in any wise to inter-
iere with the execution Of the corporation laws
IN IN reference to grades. Nor can l consent that
streets for the purpose of making up trains, nor
as room for empty cars, nOr in any way that
.'the free use Of any street or avenue shall be
impaired thereby"
am as desirOus Of having this difficulty set
tied as any one can possibly be; still, as l admit
II vitality important to the city, would much
prefer to have the matter remain as 1t is-tO be
decided by the courts or controlled by Congress
sional actiOn-than to cOncede to the railroad
company any Of the points laid down i'm the
foregoing brief and hastily drawn statement.
And am satisfied that our entire population
will insist these points until they are carried
into effect. 1t is not required that all this shall
be done at once; but day must be named be-
yond which the railroad company will abandon
all claims to sovereignty within the city limits,
and before which the track of the road shall be
changed 50 as to conform to the established
think you VII agree with me that negotia-
matter should made IN Paff Writing "a to a1oa mis s
your ohcdienf servant, Sd. Bowen, Mayor
Thes es41emittee, Messrs. Philip, Emery, and
oiherss Aited on the Mayor this morning. and
ference on Saturday, referred to elsewhere, to
Vhich the Mayor replies as follows:
SECOND LETTER FROM THE MAYOR.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec 49, 1s69.-GentLemea
q the Colamittee:-1 regret that considerations of
DUTY TO the Corporation and people Of Washing
ton compel me most respectfully to state that I
cannot accept the proposition submitted i'm the
Resolution adopted by the meeting OF citizens,
as a basis of settlement OF the difficulties exist
ing between the Corporation of Washington and
s TSe au and 0S tSel kairoad
tn decline:
First. Tie resolution proposes to settle only
question at issue, ami that but partially. FOR
IL leaves the Railroad Company at liberty to
continue the use OF the track As now laid down
at the depot. (Which ut this point Is several feet
below the grade OF North Capitol street and
north 20 the boundary of the city, without con-
ceding to the corporation the right to change
the grade OF its streets at pleasure, and TO COM
Railroad t'NmnanV "a halo
their road tO such grade.
Second. The resolution does not require the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad CompanytO aban-
don the use Of our streets for making up trains,
and as depot for passenger and freight cars
not in use.
Third The Baltimore and Ohio Ralrod Com
Pany should be required to cOncede the right of
the Corporation to tax Its real and personal
property the same as the property Of its citizens,
and the company should be required to pay the
time, which it now refuses to do.
Fourth. The legal right of the company to
traverse LIST street east or any other street in the
pears to be conceded by the resolution of the
committee-a concession to which can never
Weld, it being against public policy and snbver
enter the city at all it should be on private prop
erty purchased and paid for by the company,
and the streets should only be used where 1t Is
necessary TO cross them, and that as nearly at
right angles as practicable.
Fifth can never Weld my assent to the
of any part Of North Capitol street. betw cen the
Capitol and the Government Printing Cfice, BY
the railroad company either to lay a track on or
to cross the same As now used bv the company
all travel between the points alluded TO is as ef
fectualy barred on that street as If il were bar
ricaded, and the owners Of property binding on
the same suffer irreparable loss without an iota
Of advantage accruing to them.
A basis of settlement should cover all the
foregoing points, for each is a matter of dispute;
and though the question OF grades should be ar
ranged as proposed in the resolution, the others
would remain and give rise to similar difficulties.
And my observation satisfies me that the peo-
pie OF Washington will demand that their re-
presentatives shall not yield a Tot or tittle Of
what have stated a basis Of, and as pre-
iiminary to, An adjustment of the whole affair.
Were to be permitted TO suggest plan that
would be acceptable to the city, i would state
that if the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany would enter the city on their present line,
conform their track to the grade Of the streets
IL mtersects, and remove the depot to point
north of i street north and east of Fourth street
east, many complaints would be avoided, and
several of the objections named would be re-
moved. There would then be no difficulty in
changing the bed Of the road to the grade Of the
streets where 1t intersects them, the impOssi-
bility OF elevating the track thirteen feet above
the present bed Of the road at the intersection
OF with Second street east being now the great
obstacle to be overcome, and this plan would
remove it The road can in this way use its
present line, and not traverse any Of the Streets
nor interfere with private interests. This point
being settled, the Metropolitan road can be
connected with the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
a0d ArffC s.yA fla0