Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-03-16


Committee on the District of Columbia, of the
House of Representatives yesterday again
heard arguments on the question Of the pro-
posed Union Depot at the intersection Of Mary
land avenue and Virginia avenue, between 7th
and 9th streets, when Messrs Scott of the
Pennsylvania Central, Garrett of the Baltl-
more and Ohio, and Barbour Of the Orang, Al
exandria and Manassas Railroad were present.
Mr.. Garrett stated that the object OF his
company was simply to secure such action by
Congress as would meet the necessities OF the
people of Washington, and protect alike the
interests of these two great roads, both OF
which are admitted to be large interest to the
country. 10 this end plan had been prepared
in accordance with an understanding between
himself aud the chairman of the committee at
the last meeting, looking to tunnel under
Capitol Hill in order to reach locatl,n sulta-
be for each road interested, Including the
Orange and Alexandria, upon which to erect
station large enough tor all.
Mr. Bart our Of the latter road, said all he
asked was that his road should be allowed to come
into the city of Washington on the most favor,
able terms His road was the northern outlet tor
the Tennessee road and the new Kentucky line
the Chesapeake and Ohio Road-which will
soon be completed. He did not desire MIR.
Scott to have better facilities than enjoyed by
himself, and in making his connections he Mr..
B did not want to be confined to one road. =
1t was his desire to connect with both the Bal
timore aud Ohio and Baltimore and Potomac.
Mr.. Scott stated that the question was SIM
ply whether the committee would approve the
action of the city of Washington in giving the
Baltimore and Potomac road the right to es,,
tabIish depot on Sixth street. His road
would be open to the public in Thirty days and
it was his object to get the question OF depot
determined The question Of MIR. Gar
rett's or other roads was not Included In
the reference of the subject to the COMMITTEE.
Let Congress, he said, give Mr.. Garrett what
he wants I'VE simply want Congress to con
firm the action Of the city" So far as Mr.
Barbour road was concerned, he (Mr. 5. J
had had two conferences on the subject with
Mr. Barbour, and terms had been agreed upon
between them that his (Mr. Scotts) depot
could be used by him MIR. b. for his southern
connections at reasonable compensation; that
be could run his trains over the bridge and
could connect with Mr.. CARROTS road, II he
chose, by tunnel under Capitol Hill. AS sug-
gested
Mr.. Barbour did not"want it to be under
stood that any contract had been entered into
between Mr.. Scott and himself
Mr.. Scott did not so state, sir
Mr. Barbour-We have had negotiations. |
desire to connect with both roads, but certainly
with the Baltimore and Ohio Road. Continu-
ing, Mr. Barbour said he did not desire that
the great Southern highway should be control
ed by Mr. Scott line alone his rates to al
low the O. l.. a. r. r. to connect were for his
road alone ; Mr.. Garrett would fix his rates
also. as he would have to expend at least halt
million of dollars to tunnel under Capitol
hill the national junction road had been looS-
ed to as atfording means of connection, but
that scheme seemed to have been abandoned.
If he had to pay rates both to Mr.. Scott and MIR.
Garrett, he thought that the Southern traffic OF
his line could not be assessed to such large
amount. He regarded MIR. Scott S rates as
too onerous on his company. All that he (Mr.
B asked was that ii other Southern lines were
to come into the city and get superior facilities,
that he might have the same. 1t they should
b e allowed to get to Pennsylvania avenue, he
should be allowed to come there also.
Considerable additional discussion took
place in relation to equal advantages TOR a
depot site, and also in relation to the joint use
of the Long Bridge for the passage of trains,
after which the door of the committee room
we're closed the matter was talked over at some
length By the members, and various opinions
we're expressed but no vote was reached.