The Evening critic., 1882-11-16
RIGHTEOUS INpIGNATIoN

OF the People of South NVashingtOn
Over the Conduct of the Baltimore
q Potomac Railroad Company
Acts Detrimental TO the Rights
and Interests Of Property.HOI
Tho people OF South Washington, especially
OF that largo portion lying south OF Virginia
and Maryland avenues, arc becoming daily
more exercised at the baneful influence Of tho
railroads. They SEQ In othor portions of tho
city tho waste places and swamps being re.
claimed by the hand OF progress; now str"nts
leycled and paved, and houses almost rdlatlal
erected on tho vacant lots. ana everything
Showing Hourdlcss and rapid development,
whilo NIL but small part OF South washing
ton remains practically at standstill.
This is 80, notwithstanding
The Natural Advantages OF this Sec
tiOD,
and the fact that years hgo land was much
higher here than In tho parts OF tho city now
being so rapidly improved. Tho innumorablo
railroad tracks that divide South Washington
from tho main portion of the city and mako
1t practically Town Of itself, without feeling
the effects OF the enterprise that Is doing 80
much TO build up the northwest, Is the chief
II not tho only causo OF this apathy, and the
citizens thero Justly condemn the allied mo-
nopolios that crowd their beautiful avenues
and streets with tracks,
And Destroy Them as Thorough
fares.
When tho Baltimore & Potomac Railroad
Company applied for privileges Congress gave
them slxty-slx feet In the District limits tho
same amount of space granted by the State OF
Maryland charter, and allowed the company
oven TO expand this unusual width OF track
room near the depot buildings, but the com.
pany was expressly forbidden to build any
lateral tracks or TO block the lntersectlng
streets with freight trains. These iniunctions
have been totally dlsregarded by tho graspng
monopoly and every proteSt has been grasped
at TO build new tracks ana absorb more space
from the streets, until now Maryland avenue,
from tho Long Bridge to Seventh street, and
virginia avenue from Seventh street to the
tunnel, Is
a Network OF Railroad Tracks,
extending almost from curb TO curb, while
huge passenger and freight trains block tho
iniersecting streets, obstructlng traffic and
endangering life and property and making OK
istence nearby unboarablo ON account of the
everlasting rattllng and smoke.
The Baltimore Il Potomac Company Is daily
growing moro bold and reckless about the
rights Of the people and regardless Of the act
of Congress, and II seems that nothing short OF
A Public Indignation Meeting
and an appeal to Congress at the coming $685.
sion will check the rapaclty OF this souliess
corporation.
They are now, without the consent of tho
Commissioners and IN direct violation OF the
act Of Congress, which gave them the right to
enter the city, building new track on Virginia
avenue, between Third and Four-and-a-half
streets, outside OF the siStysix feet originally
granted them. The property.holders on Yir-
glnia avenue, through Mr.. Il. d. Wright, their
attorney, made efforts TO stop tho building of
this new track by appealing TO tho Commits
sioners, but in tho meantime the monopoly
tore up the pavement and sidewalk and laid
the rails with a contempt for popular opinion
scarcely creditable in republic.