Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-23
THE RAILROAD BRIDGE RILL
Hts Objectionable Features.
WAsHINeroN. Februarv 2ad ,s-

Editor Stdr--Permit us TO thank you in be-
half of ourselves and others owning property
and doing business on the Eastern Branch, for
the manly stand you and other papers have
taken in defence of our rights in protesting
against the passage of the Washington AMI
Point Lookout railroad bill. Not that we are
opposed to the bill itself, Ter any other railroad
seeking to come in and through the District OF
Columbia, for We as business men know that
railroads are highly advantageous to any com
munity,) but we do most decidedly oppose some
of its provisions, especially the one proposing
TO bridge the Eastern Branch. The debate in
the House of Representatives on Friday shows
plainly that some of the new members were en-
urely msiDformed respecting this same Eastern
Branch, and II they will take the trouble of
informing themselves they will learn that the
very first buildings erected in Washington
were erected all along the Eastern Branch from
Greenleaf Point to and beyond BuZzard Point
to near the navy-yard, for the reason thai,
looking forward TO its commerce, the city was
started alsng that stream that had the greatest
depth of water, and which beginning would
have expanded but for the sordid and blind
policy OF land owners, who asked 81 per foot
for land assessed now at six cents per foot, and
which drove the people OFF the Eastern Branch
and off Capitol Hill to seek cheaper land in the
marsh at the foot OF Capitol Hill, where is now
Pennsylvania avenue. The reason which I'M
PEELED the people to build on the Branch inn
PEELED the government in placing the navy
yard in Its present admirable location, where
the channel has always Except since the last
municipal city government, which allowed con-
of the canal) commanded from 20 TO - feet of
water from the Arsenal to the Anacostia bridge
Years ago, before the general introduction of
steamboats,, very large trade was carried on
between the lower counties of Maryland ami
Virginia with BladeDsburg, the head of naviga-
ton, and when the trade was finally directed TO
Baltimore the Eastern branch was allowed to
fill up from the washings of the light arabic
lands abutting thereon; but even now, whilst
the river is full of fats and the channel quite
narrow, the water, even above Bennings bridge,
fhara
fore led to ask: Where is the river, anywhere,
that will preserve its depth and channel with.
out any effort whatever to keep 1t navigable for
commercial purposes? Congress did, once upon
time in the distant past, appropriate q sum TO
partially improve it. 1t was said, in debate
that there was no commerce at all on the East
except about two in q month, for the navy ward.
Whoever asserts il could not have witnessed its
operation during the late war: 1t was simply
immense, and saved more money to the gov
eminent than they can ever appropriate for
1t. We can inform those new members that
in proportion to the accommodation for business
branch and on its banks than any other portion
or the city. 1t has on il five private
wharves, doing a hourishing business in coal,
wood, lumber, and other building materials,
whilst four steam saw-mills and one
Imekiln and nearly the entire brick manufac-
ture OF this city, draws its supply from the
water; and its combined business interests
are between one and-a-half and two millions of
dollars, without taking into consideration the
property interests.
In support of the great value of this channel
OF communication, we will state that every or
nearly every stone in the Capitol had to be
brought from the Eastern Branch, owing to its
great depth OF water, outside of its convenience
as TO proximity, and but few years ago vessels
loaded with stone for the Treasury extension
had to come in the Eastern Branch to tighten
before proceeding to G street wharf, above the
long bridge. Even no later than during the
last war, good sized schooners freiphted powder
to and from the naval magazine, above both
the navy yard and old burnt bridge. As it was
truly said, that there was no channel on the
river front of the Potomac we must implore Con.
gress to pause before taking away from us the
only real channel the city has.
ests the guardians thereof are fully able to pro-
tect and defend the peoples property.
Whilst 1t is not our province to dictate or in
railroad accommodations, 1t is our duty AMI
prerogative, as citizens, business men, voters
and tax payers, whose interests are all together
as exist; The House of Representatives, having
on Friday passed bill for a street railroad
which provides that whenever the route NAV
coincide with the route of any other duly in
corporated railroad, but one set of tracks should
be used bo:h companies, il would seem but
fair and just, both to the companies and the
public, that that provision should be made also
applicable to steam railroads, aud as there is
already one grand avenue occupied for that pur-
pose, 1t and the Long bridge should be made
the great highway for all steam railroads pass
There are now three bridges on the Potomac
and three on the Anacostia or Eastern Branch,
besides the sub structure of the old burnt
bridge near the magazine, some of which
obstruct navigation most effectually, and all
within very few miles of eSch other and we
hope and pray that no additional ones will be
constructed. Under the present system, lately
adopted, OF improving the city we consider il
our duty to contribute our mite to aid in pro-
tecting its interests. and preserving it from any
thing that may mar its beauty. Therefore, as
cd hor-f lar
ty interests at stake, we respectfully but yery
earnestly pray that you and your confreres NAV
60 direct public opinion as to preserve to us and
the city our Eastern BaAsca.