Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-17
DeADOiling Streets.


~ the paper 'ott'soaa line Of reading matter
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DesPOiling Streets.
At least one OF the bills introduced IN Congress
yesterday authorizing new street railroad routes
IN the city ought not to he passed. We refer to
1he one providing for route from College street.
In Georgetown to the Capitol, ria n
8sreet and New Jersey avenue. Laying
2s1de for the moment the very serious
4nestion whether there is such need for addi-
1onal horse-car lines In any part Of the city as to
Cnstlfy the practical destruction Of any more
- It's fine streets for the benefit OF pri-
~ate corporations, 1t is now submitted. in behalf
o the public interests that car tracks should not
u allowed on portion OF the route In which this
61fl proposes TO place them. NJ street northwest
- the case In point. Ii has recently been repaved,
with a superior asphalt ar concrete pavement
Wit the exception OF a few squares,-Irom Rock
Greek bridge 10 its intersection with Ncw jersey
svenue. leading to the Capitol At the time that
work was done the roadway was narrowed for a
considerable portion OF the distances
the foot-wa ks were moved out SHADE trees
were planted in new and proper positions,
and property holders along It's line were quired,
at their own expense, TO sod and otherwise i'm
prove the reservations thus made In front Of their
premises. In accordance with the general plan OF
improvement and adornment prescribed b. the
District authorities for those streets which are
used exclusively for private residences, or almost
wholly So street, for greater part OF It's length
between the points Named, Is peculiarly street or
this character. Many PERSONS have bought and
improved property on it, because OF that tact, and
for the reason that they believed its character
would never be abruptly changed. They do not
need street car line, and they do not
want one in the middle of their street.
THIS feeling was strongly shown some
Tine ago, when scheme something like the
present one was preached. ThelT protests
against it were so numerous and so forcibiy made
q that time that the Spectators who pro-
tected it promptly gave IL up II the surrender Of
TINS street TO car tracks was opposed then, as
objectionable, 1t would be resisted as an outrage
now. At that time the present expensive and ex-
ceiaent pavement had not been laid, the front
lawns and reservations had not been improved,
and the width or the roadway had not been re-
duced. Under the old order of things there might
have been room to spare for ] railway line; now
there Is not space enough for so much as single
track, without actually destroying the street for
the use OF all other vehicles. 1t must be remem-
Dered too, that In addition to the ordinary local
travel, the thorOughfare thus sought to be sacr1-
line OF communications between Georgetown
and the Deaf and Dumb College, and the
growing neighbOrhoOd OF that fine piece
OF government property. To tear up the
smooth and durable pavement now laid, and
70 change the character and uses of the street
for tue benefit OF small circle of corporators,
would be 1T once a great loss of money already
paid by government and private individuals for
The Improvement, an interference with the rights
n0w enjoyed by the public, and in certain sense
and 70 q certain extent confi5catiOn OF mulch val
uAbie and desirable property. 1t cannot be posi-
hse that Congress would knowingly be party to
my such outrage.
There are, likewise, grave objections to surren-
oering any part of New jersey avenue to the pro-
posed road. That broad and imposing thoroughrare
mas width enough to accommodate the track, per-
hAps, without Infringing On the rights OF private
property owners along its line or the comfort OF
shose using the street; but 1t IS questionable
whether any more of the fine approaches to the
Capitol ought To be INSTRUCTED by such objection
able membranes except in case OF the most
urgent pubic need There Ia no such need. nor
Indeed any need, real or pretended, worth consid-
ering In this case.
whether the contemplated road could be made
profitable To its projectors or not, Is a q question
which Congress would not feel Called to enter I'D
On IL should, however, and doubtless WILL care
fully weigh everything throwing light on the oues
ton as To whether there Is any real necessity for
II That there Is none. the recent experiences OF
another somewhat similar but far less objection
able enterprise, as well rs the conditions exist
We refer to the popular Her1ic coaches. which
were placed on street couple OF years ago. and
soon aitarward withdrawn for want of patronage.
This shows conciusively that on the uptown resi-
oence streets there Is no east-and-weSt local travel
oeinan'iinS such accommodations. AS for what
may BE- styled the through travel between Bridge
street In Georgetown and the CapitOl-the main
points OF the proposed railway,-that Is already
amply provided forb by a line now running from one
70 the other, and by much more direct and, there
!ofe, Shoftr route As everybody familiar with
HE IN !" tsh1ngtoE knows, the movements OF popu-
iation In what Is oificially designated the north
west quarter o. the city largely if not entirely,
nnfth ana s0uth,-that is, between the homes In
Its more northeriy quarter and the business Dor
uons on and near Pennsylvania avenue, and the
several government departments and buildings.
Al wants in these directions are already We'll sup
piled by existing street Car lines. Six OF these
nov cross NJ street at its most populous points.
thns afIording all the outlets for travel from IL
tnaf are required, and to which the proposed line
would really add nothing.
.