National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-18
RAILWAY CONNECTIONS.
Incther Letter from Gideon L walker


To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: Since you so kindly consented to, and did
publish my reply TO your editorial remarks, Mr.,
]. F. Russell. on the 18th instant replied to me
and since that others in the interest of the UniOn
Railway ofWashington, Georgetown and North.
ern Virginia" and over the name of MANY Resi-
dents, have also published In your paper Of the
18th, II think an article indicating the route
above named, and referring to our BILL now before
the two Houses Of Congress, in a contemptuous
way, think have proper cause to reply to
some Of the statements, and have no doubt sir,
but what you will kindly now, as before, allow
me q little space TO express my views in relation
to the motives actuating the MANY Residents, "
lat least who so strenuously urge the passage Of
the Union Railway Of Washington, Georgetown
and North Virginia bill. In the first place, the
bill first introduced in January by Mr.. Hunton
has been killed in committee; now the same indi-
yiduals, with one exception, introduce another,
which is numbered 3055; this bill wish to criteise
The route named in this bill is TO commence on
the bank Of the river, at the District line north
west, passing along the bank Of the river to
Georgetown, thence to Rock creek, and thence to
west Seventeenth street, and thence to street
southwest, and
THERE MAKE DRroT.
Now, 1t begins with no road, and ends without
the name Of common sense, is there, or can there
be, any object in building railroad along the
side Of river and canal where there is not pas
senger a week or pound Of freight to carry? /
think I can explain the whole matter satisfac-
torily to all unprcjudiced minds. At the point
where this road is to commence the lands are
frequently overowed to the depth of sixteen feet,
line reaches the river, which is about half mile
above the new iron bridge, (which Government
has just completed, and built n battlement wall
all the way from Georgetown to the bridge, be-
tween its macadamiEed road and the Chesapeak Ike
and Ohio canal,) and pretends to run along the
low grounds Of the river, and which would neces-
state draw in the bridge, or else to run along
the canal-bed or the macadamiIed road, as they
could not run along the low grounds great por-
ton of the year without the water running into
the top Of their smOkepipe. The water, I
along the low ground frequently that it is ap-
parently river from the BERN bank of the
CANAL TO TIE VIRGINIA SHORE,
which necessitated the building OF the battlement
wall. Their bill authorizes the condemnation of
lands, the same they once did in the State of
Maryland under similar circumstances, without
specifying 1t in the bill.
Another reason, as l believe, is that DR.. Kid
well, who claims the bottom lands in Washington
owns or has an interest in all the bottom lands
that are not covered, except by freshets, from
line, upon which there several fisheries, which
he and his joint tenants are now leasing and re-
ceivins rent for, a few mills and factories could
be conveniently built along the route, as he and
his friends claim the bottoms above Long Bridge
and up to Georgetown, so that n RAILROAD,
although touching no other road at either end,
would. after condemnation OF the lands, make q
very convenient and valuable water front for six
and half miles. On the sd day of June, 1874,
Congress passed an act authorizing the Washing
ton and Point Lookout railroad TO enter the Dis
trict and run along from the Bladensburg branch,
now used by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. to
Rock Greek, at the mouth Of Piney Branch, thence
Gown tine creek to Water street, Georgetown,
thence up along the bank Of the river to the DIS
trict line, and to bridge the river above navlga.
tion and with prOvisO that the Baltimore and
Ohio road might use the same.
THE ROAD WAS TO BE FINISHED
to Georgetown within three years, which does not
cannot pass an act giving the same rights to two
separate companies until the first is forfeited. As
soon as the franchise was granted the officers
made proposition to the Baltimore and Ohio
company to sell it to that company, but although
that company wanted to get right TO bridge the
Potomac, 1t would not touch the Washington and
Point Lookout charter.
Now comes this new enterprise to get from the
District line to West Seventeenth street and
bridge the river, but the bill introduced in Janu-
airy located the bridge "abOve Georgetown" That
was submitted to the Baltimore and Ohio CON-
pany and still that was refused, and now they in
troduce a new one ION the l0th,) to run down to
West Seventeenth street. and also to bridge the
river s'dt or near Georgetown" which would au-
thOriZe n bridge to be erected from the bottoms
claimed by Kidwell, in Washington, to the Viz
ginia shore. The expression ''Gt or near" was in
tended for a very sharp thing. Then the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company would have
taken hold of the Piney Branch route and run
down Rock creek TO this new route, erected the
bridge without reference to a union depot, and
still retain their depot at New Jersey avenue and
North Capitol street. The blowing to make ia
yorable impression in relation to the "UniOn Rail-
way of Washington, Georgetown and Northern
Virginia" is, in my opinion, purely selfish de-
sign, as they do not propose to, nor never would,
build the road they ask franchise for unless the
Baltimore and Ohio company would do it.
do desire that members OF Congress who have
the two bills now before them would drive up to
the new iron bridge, see what Government has
DONE see what an inconsiderate act 1t was to pass
the bill in 1874, and see what an insane act II
would be to pass the present bill TO run up the
bank of the river; then drive over the other route
and see what a blessing 1t would be to pass that
bill as now amended.
Yours, respectfully. G. L. WALKER.