National Republican., 1876-04-11
THE UNION RAILWAY.
ideon L. Walker vindieates Himself and
- Associates.
wAsH1reroN. %. O.. April 10, ls7e,


e. WASHINGTON, d. c., April 10, 1876.
To the Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: In your issue of the sth inst. noticed an
editorial article in which my name appears in
full, and base insinuations are made againstmany
respectable, e,and,wortbEcitizen Of this city. The
whole article, far it refers to the bilof the
"Union railroad,of the District Of Columbia and
its corporators, is q tissue Of misstatements and
Misrepresentation from beginning to end, and
must have been known so to be by your informant.
The facts only I deem important should be
known at this critical time, as to relieve rather
than burden.thscitizensof Washington with more
railroads. Ourbiil, as .amended, proposes to con-
meet with the Baltimore and Potomac road near
the Navy Yard tunnel, running thence west
along X street south TO Water street at the foot
Of Eighth street west; thence along Water street
to Long bridge at fourteenth street west; thence
along the river bank outside of the Monument
grounds to Seventeenth street west, ,'and- there
make Union depot; thence westerly along the
river and the lands of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal TO Rock creek; thence up the creek to r
street north, there by tunnel straight to o point
on the Howard University grounds; thence on the
surface to some point on the Washington branch
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad near the Dis
Our bill being approved will remove: both roads
TO point which is now, and has been ever since
Congress got jurisdiction over this District, (now
eighty-hye years, q nuisance, getting worse and
worse all the while. The Baltimore and Ohio
road will not cross
ONE sISGLE.sTREE1. .UPoNfGRApR,
being under all Of them. from the time it enters
the city limits to Seventeenth street west.
The Baltimore and Potomac road will leave
Sixth street, Maryland and Virginia avenues,
and all the tracks Of any and all railroads enter.
ing the city will be from the tunnel on south X
street, and Water street short distance.
Union Railway Company of Washington, George
town and Northern Virginia is proposed to be
laid and run. It commences on the west line Of
the District and the river, which, Of course would
take 1t above Chain bridge, with no westerly or
northerly connection; running thence southerly
destroy the canal and it's path along Water
street in Georgetown, to B street south in WASH
ington, and there establish depot at the juno
ton Of that street and the river. Now that street.
being the first south of the Agricultural and
Smithsonian grounds, reaches the river through
the Monument grounds, and that company pro-
The company proposet to run theirroad along he
river and Water street to street, thence to con-
meet with the Baltimore and Potomac road at q
street south, which is at the junction of Maryland
and Virginia avenues, where the burden of rail-
roads is already more than the citizens of South
Washington can bear, and TO reach that point
from X and Water streets they must come up
Eighth street from the river to street, whicn
adds more to their sorrow.
As to your statement that or any of my asso-
eiates ever made Oyertures to them TO consolidate
the two roads, II is absolutely false. As Captain
Spaids, Colonel Darling and myself were taken
by a friend Of that company TO Mr.. Russel;s Of
tice, who, understand, is the "head and 'front.'
Of the Clique who are trying to fasten another
after consultation about joining in running over
the route from Rock creek easterly, We found we
could not agree, and we separated, the Captain
remarking that each had better
PADDLE THEIR OWN CANOE.
We should try to paddle ours at any rateA This
much for your allegation that We proposed to (as
you say) some Of our most worthy, enterprising
and wealthy citizens or ''made Oyertures to
them nrODOginV N aSsiat n m inf fran
chise for speculative purposes and that said mag
unanimous offer was declined with thanks"
flour route and terminus is approved of by Con-
gress, we relieve and do not oppress any person.
Theirs destroys and Oppresses every person and
corporation that now own any property from
above the Chain Bridge, all along the bank of the
river TO Eighth street west, which would include
the works of the Z. and %. Canal and all mill
privileges, dock rights or any other wharf rights
given them in the charter would allow them TO
gobble up all theyaluabe water rights of the Dis
trict Of Columbia from Little Falls to the Eighth
street wharf.
You say ait names as incorporators some of our
most enterprising, influential and wealthy citi-
zens, and bears upon its face the marks of a gen.
could ever be made. The bill itself shows that il
vas ne Anticipated citizen or company of citizens
who could conceive the idea OF commencing q rail-
road at point among the rocks on the bank of
the Potomac, where there is not now or never
will be railroad to connect with, and run aleny
the bank of the river where every twenty-five feet
mill site or factory, dock or wharf could be and
will in the near future, have no doubt be used
for. Your incorpOratOrs, Mr.. Editor, are enter
prising, and do not wonder they feel little
chagrined at the opinion of General Birney and
the course taken by Hon. Messrs. Ketcham and
Dennison, the District Commissioners. Sir, have
made this letter longer than first intended and
i can only add as an excuse the importance first
of correcting the statement made by You, and
second to make some suggestions why the bill of
Georgetown and Northern virginia should not
pass. Yours truly, GIDEON l.. WALKER.