The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-13
gne nsxssnsrs ssa ohio RaiIroad

and the corporation.
| On Saturday an adjourned meeting Of citl-
rens interested In the settlement Of tho diff
cultles between the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
rood and tho corporation concerning the
grade Of the road on the streets OF the city
was held at Wormley's.
DR.. John B. Blake presided, aud Fitzhugh
Coyle, ESQ.,, acted AZ secretary, and the fol-
lowing gentlemen wore present: W. W. Cor
coran, II. d. Cooke,william b. Todd, NV.
Gait, Matthew @. Emery, William II. Philip,
and J. G. Kennedy, csqs. General A. A.
Humphreys, U. s. Al john 5. Barbour,
esq, president Of the Orange, Alexandria
and Manassas railroad, and Colonel James
8. Randolph, engineer Of the Baltimore aud
Ohio Railroad Company, were also present,
the latter representing Mr.. Garrett, president
OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Colonel Randolph referred TO the grade
OF the road In this city, aud expressed the
belief that the company was willing 10 CON-
promise by making any practical change Of
grade, so as to leave no obstacle to sewer
age, and on this he thought the city could
meet them. The proposed change would In
volvo grade Of rs feet, besides an elonga-
ton OF three miles. This would cost $780,
600, independent Of the right of way and the
necessary elongation. Before this could be
effected, II would require an act of Congress
before right Of way could be condemned
for new route. The present route, in his
opinion, could be made to accommodate
both parties at much less expense. IL the
court should declare the Metropolitan road
q nuisance, they could not come into the city
even on that line Of road. 1t was In defer
ence to the wishes Of citizens. expressed
through the Mayor Of this city, that the Me-
tropolltan branch was built where II now Is,
II having been originally intended to run Il
by Bladensburg; and, although II would
have been few miles longer, the saving OF
expense would have been in the distance.
fIo remarked as to freight to and from the
West, that at New York there was tcrml-
nal charge OF i've cents, while there was no
terminal charge at this city. lie stated,
also, that Passengers who travel from the
West to Washington buy ticket to Balti.
more, and thus they have twenty-thrcc
miles travel on the branch road to this city
free. Passengers travelling from Cincinnati
to Now York, and from tho latter to the
former place, have the privilege of visiting
Washington from Relay aud back-a dis
tance Of sixty two miles-for nothing.
Col. William II. Philip read the follow
ing;
,, wtsHiSdroN. D, c., Dee 10, 1880
WliiaI z Phi,ip,,s2. Wdshinst2n, p. o.!
SIai have the honor to transmit herewith
the citizens Of Washington In regard to the
questions at issue between the corportion OF
Washington and the Baltimore and ohio Rail.
road Company.
Very respectfully, N. MIcHLER
Major Of Engineer, BrcYet Brigadier General
U. :. Army, and Chairman OF Committee.
Resolred, That as basis for the settlement
and adjustment OF the questions at issue be-
tween the Corporation OF Washington and the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, 1t is
n nessoy ,esomn me- ,h nc ra,rosS CON-
road with the Metropolitan or Poiut OF Rocks
road At some point most feasible and conve-
the present enter the city TO their present
n MrouLrR,
Chairman Of Committee.
II. ID. Cooks,
A. A. HuMPHREYs,
W. -. ToDD,
W. W. CoRCoRAN
WIN. ". PnILtr,
JAS. O. KENNEDY.
Col. Philip was OF the opinion that the
matter Of compromising graduation would
involve serious questions. Should the grade
OF this road DO changed it would become
necessary to change the grade Of all that
| part OF the city, and II was serious ques-
ton whether or not there was any right to
change the grade OF the city. lie believed
that the Mayor would not accept the propo-
sition. Congress, he thought, would pass
an act to condemn another route by which
to enter the city. The suits against the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad and the Metropol.
ltan Railroad Companies would undoubtedly
be tried, and the Mctrop plltan road might
be declared nuisance. He did not desire
TO SEQ these suits go to trial, when they did
not know that the result would be satisfac-
tory to either party.
Mr.. Gait inquired of Col. Randolph why
1t was that the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
Disseminated against Washington BY charg-
ing as freightage on -four Sl.2O per barrel
to Baltimore and Sl.40 to Washington, or
one sixth more to this city than TO Baltimore.
Mr.. Barbour read the rates of charges for
freights on the Washington, Alexandria and
Manassas road,as well as between Alcxau-
dria and Washington aud between Washing
| ton and Baltimore. The Washington and
Alexandria road charge as frelghtage be.
tween Washington and Alexandria half the
amount charged between Washington and
Baltimore. This they held was fair when
they considered that the seven miles between
Alexandria and Washington was equivalent
10 twenty miles on account of having to cross
the Long bridge. lie thought unjust state.
ments had been made in public meetings
hero concerning his road-the Orange, Alex
andria and Manassas railroad-aud he pro.
cceded to explain that In bringing freight
from Alexandria on the Alexandria, Wash.
ington and Georgetown road they charged
the same rates as imposed by the last named
road, with the slight addition for the use of
was practically, he said, no discrimination
against Washington. Ills road was now In
operation from Alexandria TO Lyuchburg,
and would be soon put under construction to
Danville, Virginia, when II would prove as
useful and valuable to Washington as any
road now leading into 1t. 1t was, In TACT,
the short line from Washington TO the South
west, and more Interest should be felt in It
here than Is now manifested. 1t was con-
al trplg hui lie L.
not by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, as
has been asserted. They were on terms of
amity, good will, and mutually OF interest
with connecting roads, but nothing more.
Instead OF having Passengers who arrive
from the South set down in the rain and mud
In Washington from the road that has no
depot here, Washington should have
through connection between the North aud
South via the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Mr.. Cooke believed that the removal of
the depot OF the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road was mere question Of timc-two,
three, or five years ut most. 1t would have
TO give way for an extension Of the Capitol
grounds. The question should be settled
now, and could be lust as well as five years
hence. They should have union depot at
all events.
Colonel Philip thought the report submit
ted should be adopted at once, as the trial
might be proceeded with on Monday next;
and they should appoint committee to wait
on the Mayor aud inform him oftheir action.
The report was adopted unanimously,
Colonel Philip offered the following, which
was adopted;
fcSoipcd, That a committee OF five he ap.
pointed by the chair to walt upon his Honor
the Mayor OF this city, to consider with him
In regard o the action of this meeting, and az.
certain whether the resolution agreed to by
the committee appointed at the last meeting,
an laa nat tad 80,