Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-09
THE EVENING STAR.
MON AY......-......Nl May y, 1881.
LOCAL NEWS.
The Belt Railroad War.

A CONTEST AS TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF Tus
CHARTER AMENDMENT
The amendment OF the Belt street railroad
line charter was obtained upon the condition
that additional facilities should be extended TO
the employ es OF the Bureau OF Engraving and
fr'ntng oy giving them transportation 10 the
nearest intersections OF other street RAILWAYS
Tor two cents The privilege was also granted
OF extending It's line down 1lth street TO Water
street 10 intersect with the Anacostia line Ir
is said there was an express understanding that
the first change TO be made was the taking no
OF the tracks on ohio avenue and f9 b
street and transferring them TO l4tn street
and { street past the Bureau OF Engraving and
Printing. The alleged attempt TO evaie the
terms or the amendment, by making q con-
nec'ton with the Anacosu a line from its prs
ent track at Virginia ayen ue and 18th street
Is thought 10 be direct V tolation or the law
winch gives the Belt line authority 10 make
use OF 18th street between Virginia avenue and
Z street. The work On this connecting square
n mas therefore been stopped by the District
commissioners and the opt MON OF Ar RIDDLE
the subject.
foLIcE ORDERED 10 sroP THE WORK on TIE
1t was reported on SATURDAY that the r,rro.a
Company bad resumed work that day Ga The
contested square, and the Commissioners fssu, a
orcefs 10 lhe ponce to stop all work upon TIE
entire line OF The railway until further lnstTu.
lions saturday afternoon party OF am, q
thirty persons, including the several suoerln
teLdents and many employees OF the Bureau CT
tr.cl Commissioners, beaded by Mr.. George W.
CASTELAR,, and mace a stalei lent OF their CON-
plant They also left petition, slgutd ty
upwards OF q thousand persons asking that
the company be held TO the law respecting the
extension OF It's track. and that the District
commissioners insist upon their doing so.
commits sloner Morgan, being the only one pres
ent at the time, stated to the delegation that be
was In sympathy with the employees OF that
bureau, and he read to them
THE OPINION OF Mr.. RIDDLE
n UC flael
submitted and which had lust been received
The purport OF this opinion is that the com
pany has 10 right to use the square between c
street AID Virginia avenue; that the renting of
building at the corner OF 18th ana c streets
southwest Is preteXt to clalm rights under
their original charter which, however does not
hold g0od Is mere Subterfuge TO eyade the
law, and that the Commissioners have the
power, and that it is their duty TO see that the
main object OF the law, which was TO furnish
railway accommodations 60 the employees OF the
bureau OF Engraving and Printing, is not de
feated.
THE SITUATION TO-DAY.
There Is 20 Lew pnaSf in the matter to-day.
The commissioners state that they propose 10
maintain their position relative TO tue use OF
square on llth street, between street and
Virginia avenue southwest
A Steamboat War.
CONTEST OVER POSSESSION OF RIVER DOCK
Mr.. VIM. Birney, attorney for the Upper
Steamboat Company, In a communication to
the District Commissioners, reclueS that several
years ago the predecessors OF the present CON-
missioners granted license TO the Upper
steamboat Company TO occupy the dock at the
end CT NJ sJTeeI south for the use OF the boat
owned by them at that time on condition that
the company should clean out the dock, which
at that time was full OF mud, and useless. The
company proceeGed to clean it out, and built q
wharf at large expense, and erected platform
fer It's own accommodation aud Tor It's pa5sen-
gers ana freight. and has used it ever since
that time and up TO the 2Sth day OF March, for
It's freight and passenger steamer-the MARY
Washington" at the last mentioned time the
company moved its boat for repairs and wi tn
In an hour afterwards Mr.. George r. Phillips
manager OF the Potomac Ferry Company, seiz ID
upon the vacant dock and has, since that time
occupied the same with boat OF the Ferry
Company, and made repeated declarations OF
his Intention to exclude altogether the boat OF
the PIPER Potomac Steamboat Company from
said dock, in defiance OF the assignment ana
permit granted by the Commissioners. He ap-
peals on behalf Of the company he represents
fer ''the exercise Of the police power for the
maintenance OF order on the commercial froat
CT the city, The complaint was referred TO
the Attorney for the District, who reports that
the commissioners have undoubted police
jurisdiction over the place. and to enforce the
right conferred by the District authorities.