Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-15
The Depot site Controversy.
RAILROAD KINGS BEFORE THE SENATE co,

MEETING tllS morning neard MI. John W. OH-
rett, president OF the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. in opposition to the bill recently passed by
the House, giving the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad company authority TO construct depot
at the corner of 9th street west and u street
north. in this city. All the membersofth the COM
mittce we've present as were Mr.. Garrett, Col.
Scott, Mr.. j. l.. Barbour, president OF the
Orange, Alexander ard Manassas railroad; Sen
ator Cameron, j. W. Randolph, chief engineer
OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company;
George 5. KContz, OF the same company; Ed
ward Potts: private secretary to MI. Garrett,
ex-Mayor Wallach, Gen. X. d. Mussey, Hon. L.
l.. Tulloek, +. A. Boswell, and nUmber OF
others.
held at Potomac hall in this city on Saturday
evening last at which series of resolutions was
adopted in regard to the depot bill, and a COM
mittee OF five appointed TO get legal opinion as
TO the power to build q depot on the IE0poSed
site. He asked wheG he could be heard by the
committee.
Mr.. Patterson said he would prefer - hear
him to-day, as the committee desired to finish
the consideration of the entire subject.
Mr.. J. W. GARRETT SAID
that for many years past the Baltimore x Ohio
raliroad has been endesyoring to select site
for a new depot in Washington which, while
convenient for his company. shoEld suit the
conveniC nee of the citizens of the District. Re
peated efforts to effect q satisfactory arrange
ment have been made, but in vain. In the Sc
lection o. sites for new Gepots there arc two i'm
Iortant considerations. First. the wants OF tie
citizens OF Washington must be met; and sec
Ond, a connection must be made with southern
roads. The opening of the new and important
Metropolitan road viii give Improved relations
between Washington and the north, the west
and the southwest.
Mr.. Sumner inc uired in regard TO the termina-
ten Of this road.
Mr.. Garrett said it terminated at the Point of
Rocks, and when opened would be a saving in
point of distance to Washington OF ~ miles, ami
saving 10 Washington as against Baltimore OF
% miles. IL has never occurred to the managers
OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad that it is the
intention of the government to interfere with
the plan of the parks and other public improve
ments in Washington. Now there is strange
inisappTehen existing in regard to this whole
business, both in Congress and among the citi-
Zens of this District. The building of a
depot at the corner of 9Th and reefs has
nothing whatever TO dc with the cheapening of
freights, as it is not be freight depot The bill
provides that width of only 100 feet shall be
used for the new depot, whereas there Is room
enough besides on the reservation TO accOmmo-
date all the roads coming into the city, and all
these roads are justly entitled to the same
comEOdations as the Baltimore and Potomac.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company now
has propositions from Che Pennsylvania Central
Company looking TO the construction of union
depots at GAINESVILLE and Newark, Ohio. ands ret
Colonel Scott is not willing 10 accommodate us
in this city. The value of railroads depends
mainly on competition; and what Washington,
as well as the whole country, desires are COM
peting roads. Now Colonel Scott speaks of the
speedy completion of the Baltimore and Poto-
mae road as ii Washington placed its main de-
pendenCe upon it and their new depot. Mr..
Garrett spoke OF the tunnel being constructed
by the Camden and ADbOy road, and asked
Colonel Scott when it would be completed.
COL. SCOTT RELIED
by the first of October; the contract specifies
that il must be completed By the 18th of Novem-
Der. In regard to the Baltimore and Potomac
road, Col. Scott said it had been in process OF
construction for three yeaTs, mainly because he
had met with some opposition from the authori-
ties OF Maryland. He was now assured BY his
chief engineer that trains will pass over the
road by the LIST of June next.
Mr. Patterson asked Mr.. Garrett if there
would be likely to be more competition if GER
tain roads have depot at one point in the
city, instead of at two points on the outskirts?
Mr.. Garrett said it would be unfair to give
one company superior advantages over another
in the matter of depot, as the road that could
deliver passengers nearest the heart of the CITY
would undoubtedly do the most business.
COL. SCOTT EXPLAINED
why he had made a proposition to Mr. Garrett
but one half of the road at that point, and it
seemed desirable for all to have joint depot
The depot question there and in Washington is
altogether different. Union der DTS are desira-
bic in small places, but not in towns as large as
Washington where each company has its own
depot. The comfort and convenience OF the
people must be considered, and he (COl. S. was
surprised 10 hear Mr.. Garrett argue in the other
direction.
Mir Garrett said the question is how will the
people be most benefited? Col. Scott, in his
argument the other day, referred to the railroad
running through Paramount Park as 2 good
thing for the people. Now, there is nothing of
more importance to the people than public
parks; they are the lungs of a city. Baltimore
has beautiful park, and any attempt TO run a
railroad through it would arouse general indig-
nation. And yet FairTount Park, in Philadei-
phia, hes this Giffi Guilty TO contend with. Here
Mr.. Garrett read from late report made by the
park commission OF Philadelphia, in which
they deprecate the existence of the road run
ming through the park mentioned. but assert
that, under the circumstances, ii would be I'M
wise to remove IL.
Col. Scott said the railroad which crosses five
avenues Of this park carries the heaviest tom
mage OF any road in America. But i'm Washing
ton we don't propose to run our road in SINH
lar manner.
Mr.. Garrett asked Col Scott if the Pennsvl-
vania legislature had taken any action in this
matter.
Col Scott said he did no. know.
Mr.. Garrett said he understood that the legiS-
latUre has passed a law that no more railroads
be allowed to run through parks in Philadel-
phia.
Mr.. Lewis asked Mr. Garrett if he proposed TO
have a union depot where Col. Scott proposes
to locate his, and Mr.. &. replied that he was
prepared for depot there or at the intersection
of Maryland and Virginia avenues. Mr.. Gar
rett referred TO the statement made in the Sem
ate by MIR. Cameron in relation to this subject
and said that the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
company feels that the attack was unjust and
| entirely without basis. The company can de-
monstrate that it has acted with good faith to
the people of Washington in every instance
| The origin of these attacks was that some OF
the very interests at present connected with the
deavoring TO get an opposition line to New York,
and falling, they watch every opportunity to as
| sail the Baltimore and Ohio road.
Col. Scott What interest do YOU refer top
| Mr.. Garrett" Senator Cameron and others"
Col. Scott" Senator Cameron may have at
tackled your road, and others may have
| attacked it; but the Pennsylvania Central
| never had anything to do with the project of an
air lire TO New York. When written to on the
subject have always said We had no interest in
| the matter"
| Mr.. Garrett and Col. Scott had a discussion in
| regard TO the rates for carrying freight on the
| Delaware and Rartsn Canal, and In regard to
rates generally on their TOl ads. which was inter
| rcpted by Mr.. Sumner, who said he looked upon
| these matters as side issues, and would like to
| hear Mr.. Garrett on
| TIE PRECISE POINT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Mr. Garrett said his road b. been attacked,
| and the question was, could he be heard in re-
| ply?
| Mr. Sumner said that in Directing to the wide
range of his ar sument he was only thinking OF
the limited time of the committee.
/ Mr.. Patterson:-sDo 1 understand, Mr.. Gar
| rett, that you are arguing in favor OF a union
GepOt?"
1 MIR. Garrett.-'We want that or equal facili-
| ties.o
| Mr.. Sumner:--'I take it, Mr.. Garrett, that
| you do not want Col. Scott to come in unless