Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-02

An unpleasant ru NOR has gained C irrency
on the streets to the effect th at the Washing
ton and Georgetown railroad company has
carried or Is In q fair way TO carry its point
OF Keeping the spaces within and between Its
tracks from the Capitol to the Treasury
paved with Cobble stones, as at present. We
trust there is no foundation whatever for this
report To yield TO demand SO selfish and
so al variance with public sentiment, would
be such a suspicious concession TO that cor
poration and such fiagrant outrage, not
only upon the citizens of Washington but
upon the people OF the whole country, that
we cannot believe, without stronger evidence
than We now have, that the gentlemen COM
posing the commission would for a moment
think OF considering the proposition favor
ably. To accede TO IL would cover them with
odium forever, for this community could
hardly De brought TO believs that such action
was the result OF honest convictions or
secured by fair means. Tolls is plain Ian
guage, but under the clrcu instances 1t needs
10 be uttered.
Except upon the sole and utterly untena-
be ground Of creasing the gains of the
street railroad company, there can be no
excuse for the use OF cobole stones as sug.
gested. We can conceive that valid objec-
lions might be urged against laying smooth
asphalt or concrete pavement within the
doCAss VI srOuuu tQdt, IN wet Wo8yQer
particularly, the horses could not get suffi-
Gent foothold on IL TO start or draw heavily
loaded cars. This objection could not be ap.
piled, however, TO the space lying between
the two tracks and which ought on every
account 10 be paved with the same material
and In the same way as the rest of the street.
Nor does ii lie against the use of well laid
Belgian block pavement within the tracks,
for 1t well known by every body blessed with
eyesight or endowed with reasoning facul-
Ties that that style affords far better foot
Ing for horses than cobble stones, or, per-
haps, than any other pavement yet invent
ed. This is shown by the fact that this very
railroad company has laid the Bslgian block
within Its tracks on Capitol Hill, where the
grade is sleeper and the draught harder than
any where else on its line. Better proof than
this circumstance could hardly be asked.
Not only this; but the 18th street line has
laid the Belgian blocks within its tracks on
all the heavy grades on Its route. Whether
his was OF It's own choice or by the require
d ent OF the authorities then In power we
know not. Nor does IL matter. II the for
q er, IL is another argument in favor OF the
adoption OF that style for the tracks on the
a. venue; If the latter, then a precedent has
been established In the case Of one road
which should be enforced against all others
4
good for that line, IL Is equally good for this.
III that line could afford it, this one can
afford IL still better. Eleventh street is in
no wise TO be compared, either In dignity,
importance, or puolic interest, with Penn
sylvanis Avenue. The latter thoroughrare
is In points OF situation, use, and associa-
fion. incomparaoly the noblest street on this
continent, and on many accounts the finest
In the world. Every consideration OF patriot
Ism and justice demands. therefore, that its
Improvement shall combi1e both excel snce
And stghtliness In the highs est degree posi-
BILE, and that on no account shall the inter-
ests OF any corporation or Individual be
allowed to interfere with the rights and in
ferests OF the public In the prosecution OF the
work. AS We have heretofore taken occa-
sion to observe, these things are required
alike by the law and by an awakened aud
Jealous public sentiment, and nothing less
viii satisfy either.