National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-09
THE TWELFTH-sTREET RAILROAD.
Another Strong Argument in its Behalf

Another strong Argument In It's bena1
To the Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR: A correspondent Of The REPUBLICAN
writing under the above caption states that the
proposed street railroad from the river 'front.' via
Twelfth street, to Mount Pleasant and the Sol
diers Home, is in danger Of defeat because "tWo
gentlemen on Twelfth street protest to the Senate
Committee on the District that the street Is too
correspondsnt Is informed that his suggestions
would be Of value had not the ''friends" Of the
PROJECT already guarded against the objections OF
the TWelfth-street remonstrants by embracing
the plan that he suggested in the original draft
Of their bill, which passed the House without Op-
position, providing for single track on Eleventh
and Twelfth streets, between the canal and
Boundary" The placing Of turn-outs or switches
upon any portion Of the route on Twelfth street
has never been contemplated BY the corporators,
who, to secure the property. owners against any
contingency that might possibly arise in the
future, have been inhibited, by o provision IN
serted by the Senate committee, from placing OBJ
structions of this character upon said street.
Your correspondent is doubtless mistaken in
attributing danger to the charter from two
gentlemen on Twelfth street." The opposition
comes from existing monOpOlies, which, having
for years declined to extend their roads to Mount
Pleasant, now, like the dog in the manger, would
prevent, If possible, the citizens themselves from
building the road.
The road is not merely public improvement
and q public convenience, Il is now great pub
lie necessity, daily rendered more imperative by
the rapidly increasing wants Of the hourishing
community most directly interested in its con-
struction. The people Of our northern suburbs
have determined to provide themselves with rail-
road communication with the city. It is under
stood that a sufficient amount Of subscriptions is
pledged to justify the opinion that the road will
be completed within the year, and 1t now remains
to be seen whether any 1.-TWO gentlemen on
Twelfth street," or amy one gentleman on the
committee shall succeed in depriving this COM
munity OF a necessary improvement or the people
Of the city Of a route by which they can reach
the forests Of Rock creek or the Soldiers Home
park without being subject to the payment of
two fares.
These arguments will apply with equal force
to that portion Of the city south Of the Smithson-
ian, especially the section which embraces the
WbaTyes from Ninth to Fourteenth streets, be-
tween which points at least three-fourths OF the
commercial and shipping business Of the city is
transacted, including the oyster trade, which Of
itself offers strong reason for the road. This
pOpulous section, now without any railroad facil-
tiles whatever, would, by the opening Of this
route, be placed in easy and convenient access to
all parts Of the city. 1t is therefore hoped, by
the thousands Of citizens to be benefited by this
Improvement, that the arguments in its favor
may be considered Of sufh Client force to prevail
over any reasonable objections Of a member Of the
committee or the factions Of the 1.-TWO gentle
menn