Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-12-21
LOCAL NEWS.


NJ street north and others interested for and
against the project of tunneling under the line
Of that street by the National junction Railway
Company was held at the school house on NJ
street, between 10th and 1lth, last night. j.
RUSSELL Barr, Esq, was called upon to preside
and Wilson 4. Brown was chosen Secretary.
Mr.. Barr on taking the chair stated that he
did not fully understand the object of the meet
ing, and called upon some one to explain it more
fully than he could.
The bill pending before Congress to amend
Company was then read, and Mr.. j. w. Wright
entered into a somewhat lengthy and ex-
cited discussion Of the merits OF the prop
1sltion, its effect on the property affected
He stated that the effect of the tunnel ii
built, would be to destroy the present char
an,f acoer OF I'll the E, street and to deprecate The
easily be shown by the effect OF such tunnels
under New York, where everybody knew them
to be an Internal nuisance, belching fire and
smoke from the vent holes day and night.
frightening horses and rendering life unsafe
and unpleasant, and shaking the houses like an
earthquake or a volcano. He did not believe,
however, that the company expected or intended
to construct the tunnel; that il was only another
scheme to play into the hands of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company. But whether the
tunnel was constructed or not, the fact that
authority existed to create such a nuisance
under the length of this fine street would work
a permanent injury to property y-holders and to
Mr.. A. X. Shepherd controverted al, the op;n-
ions advanced by Mr.. Wright, and during the
course of his remarks considerable temper was
displayed on the part both of the speaker and
Mr.: Wri ght, ncomplimentary terms and
epithets passing pretty freely. Mr.. s. spoke
in high terms Of the character of the men com
posing the company, and Of the manner i'm which
they intended to benefit and improve the city
at large, and particularly the section through
which they proposed to run the tunnel He
stated that the bed of the tunnel would be about
forty feet below the surface of the street, and
denied that the effect would be damaging or un-
pleasant, either on account of escaping smoke
and steam, or of the noise and jarring from run
place sewer under the bed of the tunnel. which
would effectually drain not only this part of the
city, but the wet flats north of this line "a
noice-,And dry up our wells, tool As to
the smoke and noise, that objection would be
removed by the use of traction engines and by
llvldng trains into sections of two or three cars
Inc Improvement was demanded by every in
terest worth being consulted. That there Is no
valid objection to it is shown by the experience
in London, where underground RAILWAYS abound
and there is no other route by which a connec,
ern railroads.
Mr.. Wright again took the floor, and offered a
resolution that the sense of the meeting is op-
posed to the proposed scheme He argued that
the true line for junction railway was down
the valley OF AnacOstia and thence up the river
front. But this whole movement was in the in
terest OF the Aqueduct bridge, and the whole
scheme was job in the hands of unscrupulous
spectators, who only intended to sell ont 10
John W. Garrett. Else why was the whole stock
taken by a few men, and the public kept out?
MI. Shepherd-EXpresslyt To prevent its going
into the hands of Mr.. Garrett, either by sale of
franchise or by surrender of its control.
hold them TO il hereafter.
MT. b II. kauffmann rose to a point of order
He thought the debate was taking too wide a
range, and one entirely foreign to the purposes
for which the meeting was called. AS he un-
derstOod it, it was not to discuss the character
oil the gentlemen composing the company, or
their probable intentions, but solely to consider
n1en the effect Of the contemplated work upon the
70 a,a the true % route was by the water line a
hauling them through the city from a distant
depot to the river. But with those questions
this meeting had nothing to do. MIR. Shepherd's
promises, If put into effect, would go far to-
ward removing the objections in his mind TO the
project; but unfortunately they were not pro-
yided for in the bill; and so far as his Observa-
uons went, railway companies are not in the
habit OF doing more than their charter requires
If they comply with its requirements Simple
and few as they usually are, the people are ex-
that the running Of trains, the screaming of To-
comotives, the escape of smoke and steam under
narrow and compactly built street, entirely
most damaging effect; and with the light at pre-
sent before him he was opposed to the passage
of the bill, which was loose, vaguely drawn, and
apparently intended to cover a hidden purDose
which its authors seemed afraid to ayow
After some further discussion and interchange
OF opinion on the subject, Mr.. Wright's motion
senting voice.
Mr.. Wright then read remonstrance against
the passage of the bill, which it was proposed
lures to the paper were invited.
MI. Brown moved that a committee of three
be appointed to canvass NJ street and obtain
the signatures Of such as opposed the measure,
David Clssell and Theodore SheckcI were an,
pointed the committee.
The remopstrance is as follows sc the Hon
undersigned, constituting a large majority OF
the property-owners and residents on nj street
north, between 1st and 18th streets west in the
Guy OF washington, respectfully present this
thelr earnest remonstrance against the passage
OF bill now before Congress Oh. X. 5.0 TO
amend an act Incorporating the National juno
uon Railway Company, in particular, and in
genera! against the passage Of any act giving
authority to any person, persons or COMPANY to
construct q tunnel for railway PURPOSES un,ler
the line Of the said NJ street north, or under any
jacent thereto.
in support Of this remonstrance your petition
ers respectfully beg to represent that, attracted
its quiet character, and its remotcness from the
centers Of business, they have chosen IL as a
street eminently suitable for permanent homes;
thereon; that they have adorned beautiiied and
improved the same, by the erection of residences
and other valuable improvements at a great
cost Of time and money, and solely with the view
and expectation that the said street wouid
remain and continue to be, as Il now is one of
the most desirable in the city for private resi-
dences.
Your petitioners further represent, that the
granting by Congress of the authority contem
plated by the bill above referred to- or auy like
authority would have the effect to at once desfov
the character of said street for private resi-.
dences, to impair and diminish the value OF the
land abutting thereon, and to ruin and render
useless and worthless their Investments and
They further represent, also, that, in their
opinion, such authority Is not required in the
interest or for the Advancement Of any useful
or lawful enterprise, public or private; and that
lf conferred) 1t could only be exercised In vio-
lati0n Of the principles Of sound public policy
and by the sacrifice Of valuable and sacred pri-
vate rights.
Accordingly, your petitioners demonstrate
ever pray, &C."
Twenty-seven names were signed at the meet
ing last night, and the committee will canvass
the street for additional signatures before the
protest Is presented.
The meeting then adjourned, to meet again
on the night Of January Sd, prox., at O'Clock.
AN INTERESTING AFPAIR took place last even
ing at Sangerbund Hall, corner Sth and X
streets, the occasion being the presentation of
handsome gold hunting-case watch to Prof
Carl Richter, the musical director of the Society,"
and massive ring with onyx set, handsomely