National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-13
SIGNS OF WAR
AGAINST A RAILROAD COMPANY.
How the Commissioners VIII Get Even with the
Baltimore and Ohio Road BY Enforcing an
Old Lau-The Situation Described
by Major Morgan.

/ The District Commissioners are pre-
pairing themselves for formal declaration of war
against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
having been incensed by the obstinacy of the lat
| ter in the negotiations regarding the blockadlng
| of the Georges Creek Railroad.
| "If they play the dog in the manger game
up there" remarked Commissioner Morgan to o
REPUBLICAN reporter yesterday, eve will show
them that we can do the same thing here"
"How so?' asked THE REPUBLICAN, wiping the
perspiration from his brow and pricking up his
ears.
"Well, they will wake up some morning and
find that they cannot bring their cars into the Dis
| triet by steam There is an old law by which they
| could be prohibited from running their cars by
steam into the District In the year 1850. however,
| they entered into contract by which they were
to be permitted to steam in the District in con-
sideration of building new depot and paying
| $500 toward paving the streets leading to this
| depot. They were to have thirty years in which
to comply with the terms of the contract. The
| thirty years expired a year ago, and they can be
obliged at any moment to use horses to haul their
cars through the District"
What steps have been taken?"
The papers have all been given to Mr.. Riddle,
who will study the question thoroughly and de-
termne the exact legal status of the District, and
the relations existing between it and the railroad
| company"
Is this point recent discovery"
| "Oh no. Last year when we had the trouble
with the company we had these papers and they
knew it. They settled by paying their arrears the
day before the limitation expired"
The reporter even forgot the warm spell for a
minute, while he thought of the sights around the
Baltimore and Ohio depot when Superintendent
Koontz would order out the mules TO haul the
New York express away.
This company" continued Major Morgan "has
always treated the District as though it some
insignificant corporation-a sort of way-station on
their road. They have Disseminated against us
in the matter of freight rates in favor of Baltimore
Concerning the Georges Creek Railroad affair, we
have now waited long enough for satisfactory
settlemen-n fact, too long. The District is deeply
interested i'll having the proposed connec-
ton between the Georges Creek Road and the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal effected We have
81 100000 of stock in the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal and the General Government holds 81 100000,
and is also interested. This Georges Creek Road
will bring the coal from the mines for eleven cents
ton-thiry- three cents cheaper than the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Coal can be delivered in
Georgetown by the canal company so that it costs
but 1927 n ton, including all freight rates while
the Baltimore and Ohio Company charges s. ton
freight for delivering it at Locust Point in Balti
more. You can see why they want to keep this
monopoly. We want the coal brought to George
town. If our citizens had no other interest i'll the
matter they use annually fifty thousand tons of
Cumberland coal. and, of course, want it brought
here as cheaply possible. As it is now there is
long canal and thousands of dollars invested in
boats lying idle account of the selfish obstinacy
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company 1
don't like any such arbitrary measures as nave
spoken about but we will have to take such STEP
as there is no other recourse