Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-27
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:
WEDNFsDAY..... March ~, 1871.
Scott ys. Garrett.

We have never favored allowing steam cars to
run through the heart OF the city, but ii GER
tainly seems remarkable, in view of the privi-
leges of this kind already granted by Congress,
that we should have this present clamor raised
against the franchise asked by the Baltimore
and Potomac railroad. Mr.. Garrett, through
whose agency this fierce opposition is made in
Congress to the Potomac road passing up 9th
street to b, is himself interested In the National
junction road, which has the right, under Con.
gressonal charter, to literally gridrOn the city.
That this tact may not be questioned, we quote
some of the provisions of this large franchise
The act TO incorporate this junction Railway
Company, signed March %, 1869, empowers the
company TO construct a railway with one or
more tracks, commencing near the Aqueduct
bridge in Georgetown; thence running in a
nOrtheasteTly direction, crossing Rock Creek
into the city of Washington and passing through
either ), Il, or L streets north to a point most
feasible on the Potomac river, or Eastern branch
Of the same at or near the Navy Yard; also the
privilege of locating and constructing a grand
MON depot on the line of said road at some
point between Sd street west and 18th street
west, in Washington city; also, a similar depot
at some convenient point in Georgetown near
the said aqueduct. By the amendatory act of
June y, 1870, these privileges OF the junction
railway company were enlarged to the extent of
authorizing the company to build another line,
viz: Commencing at the northern terminus of
the Aqueduct bridge, in Georgetown; thence in
an easterly or northeasterly direction to Rock
creek; thence along said creek or parallel
thereto to its junction with the Potomac river.
thence along said river bank, or parallel there,
to, to the foot of 10Th street, of Washington
city; thence on the south side of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal to its terminus; thence
by the most direct and eligible route south
OF the public grounds to the intersection of
Virginia avenue and South Capitol street;
thence to the Eastern branch, near the NAVY
Yard. Also, to build a branch road from the
main line commencing at the intersection OF
Virginia and Delaware avenues; thence to a
point on 1st street east thence under said street
by tunnel to a junction of the Metropolitan and
Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
roads; also, the privilege of location and con-
structiOn of a union depot on the main line of
said road; the power to condemn ground for the
location OF the same, restricted to two acres in
area; also, a depot at some convenient point
in Georgetown. Garrett has, also, the control
OF franchises enabling him to cross Pennsyl-
yania avenue at the foot of the Capitol building
with steam cars, and directly through the line
of public grounds extending from the Capitol to
the river. Mr.. Scott will not 20 more directly
through the public grounds in passing up 9Th
street to than does Mr.. Garrett in crossing
Pennsylvania avenue and passing on to Mary
land avenue between the Capitol grounds and
the Botanic Garden. Yet not asingle voice was
raised in Congress against granting the privilege
to run steam cars directly through the center OF
the city, across its leading street, in front OF
the Capitol, and through the public grounds.
Neither was there any opposition to the junction
railroad franchise, under which Garrett as
above shown, can traverse the city, north,
south, east. and west. But now that Mr. Scott
asks 10 come up 9th street to b, from Virginia
avenue, distance of a few squares, not crossing
or touching Pennsylvania avenue, or any of the
principal business streets OF the city, instantly
the Maryland delegation in Congress and Mr.
CARROTS other friends are on the rampage,
resisting the concession by every mode OF par
liamentary tactics. We repeat that we do not
favor giving any company the privilege to run
steam cars through central portions of the CITY
bet We must say that in view of the privileges
of this character already so freely granted by
Congress, this opposition to Mr.. SCOTS moderate
request seems puerile and unjust.