Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-06-10

The Complaint Against the Bstsimor,
and Potomac Railroad.
CONFERENCE OF THE RAILROAD PEorLl
AND RESIDENTS or SOUTH WASHINGTON.

CONFERENCE or THE RAILROAD PEOPLE
AND RESIDENTS on SOUTH wAsaINGrON.
To-day at noon. ~ arpnintment. Governor
hoMSe president. Mr. q &. Wilkins, Superin-
tendenti Mr.. @. A. Stevens. general agent:
ard Col. Joseph Wood. engineer OF the Balti-
more and Potomac railroad, met a committee
81 The property-hOlderS and residents of
N"1'h hington--Dr Morgan and MesSrS.
Z u. Church. j. l.. kIavell. aud O. W. GOOi-
asIl-wno complain That the road As nov
,,ocatcd and operated I'm Virginia and Mary
ana avenues, Is damaging them aud their
property. Aster mutual introiactionS,
stated 20 the rcprSsentf.fivsS M the r,as thu,
~ II located IN portion OF the city which -
oecSmlng quit populous-now containing
perhaps -.llpoo restdents-aud that heretofore
the running NJ the roal has not heen a gr,,at
source OF annoyance 20 them but as business
has increased q hal become DETRIMENTAL 10
their interests In the manner tn which IL was
operated. He suggested that Nr Church
should read a statement that he had pre-
pared.
Mr.. CHURCH READ THE STATEMENT
I'm which he says that the act OF Congress 81
June n. iSs0. gave the company the ght u
extend a lateral branch 10 Long bridge. but
they did not see where they ohtainet author
ity 70 use and occupy two-thiriS OF the ave-
nue.; that the occupation OF the avenue 20
that extent l. an Injury 20 the people. and
tnai AT present when "A wagon l. backed TO a
car II u almost impOSSi ole FOR another veht-
Gle 10 pass. lie refers To the act OF Apri \
le'e, which PROHIBITS the occupancy ~ streets
Tor private purposes. and provides that no
roadway shall be less than b feet Wide. "a
charges that The commissioners have di~r,,-
gaTded the terms OF this act aud trampled
under foot the rights OF the citizens by leav.
ing 10 the enjoyment OF the railroad 30 fect
of the avenue. The law OF April ~, fS.2 rel
alive 70 The obstruction OF streets, is also vio-
lated. IL il charged, by the cars being per-
united 10 stand ON tho tracks. and lumber
al other materials remaining in the STREETS
The company are asked 10 take up an tracks
IN Maryland avenue hut two, aud have them
placed in the center of said avenue within a
space OF twenty feet, ard that on either side
the tracks there be parking and trees, which
VIII not only beautify the avenue, but save
life by preventing accidents.
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
Mr.. church said that IL the company is con-
hned To TWO tracks they will get ria OF the
Superintendent wnkins.-why not confine
us TO one track.
Or Morgan.-You might take the rule the
other way aud put i'm i've tracks, taking UP
the whole carrfagcway.
Mr.. Church.-we contend that YOU have
The right but FOR one, bat we are disposed 10
be liberal
Mr.. Stevens said that they have the right
10 the tracks aS now laid. Four tracks could
be maintained there, for under the charter
OF the Alexandria and Washington raj road
they had the right to two.
Colonel Wood here explained that under
the agreement with Lieutenant Hoxie the
company would be allowed the sixty fee: ~
the center. leaving thirty-foot roadway
and twCnty-foOt pavement On either side. He
further explained. by the aid of a man, That
they would require switches 10 get into the
freight depot.
The discussion was continued for some
time, during which Mr.. Wilkins assured the
committee that the company Were doing an
In their power ID prevent any complaint.
Mr.. Church said that there was 40 neceS-
sity for occupying 80 much OF the carriage
way, and that there was no objection TO the
height depot.
DOUBLE TRACK TO BALTIMORE.
Mr.. wilkins said the company claimed a
legal right 10 the space occupied. and IL was
necessary To the business of the road. This
was Increasing daily, even that between
Alexandria and this city, and one object OF
their visit here was TO instruct the engineer
TO issue orders for Immediate grading for a
double track TO baltimore. Their q disposition
was 10 do all the business they could with
the least annoyance.
Mr.. Church said That Lieut.. Hoxie hat
acted in the interest OF the company in
making the agreement, and had not con-
ferred with the citizens.
Mr.. wilkins Thought that Lieut.. Hoxie did
rot act m the interest Of the company. for he
thought he was pretty hard on 10.
Mr.. Church suggested that three tracks
might be agreed upon.
After some further discussion.
GOVERNOR BOWIE SAID
that with other officers of the company he
would take the subject in consideration. aud
would state that the company were disposed
not 10 Interfere with the rights OF any. and
for the citizens Of Washington they had the
kindeSt feelings.
Mr.. wilkins assured The committee that n
there is any possible way To satisfy the peo-
pie OF South Washington in this matter con-
sStent with the interests OF the road that
way would be adopted. The interview hero
terminated.