National Republican., 1883-09-24
COMMISSIONER WEST AND THE
RAILWAY.
A Resident OF Maryland Avenue Reviews
the Commissioners Interview - Some
Figures on Conl.

the Commissioners Interview - Some
Figures ON Coal.
To The Editor.
Allow me to again thank you for your kind
liberality in extending to me and the citi-
zons Of South Washington the space in your
columns for the purpose of ventilating our
gievances, and if not asking too much
would bo pleased to have you extend it a
little further. Now for Commissioner West,
who seems to be welded TO the interests of
the railway company rather than the inter
ests of tho pCople OF tho district, whom he
was appointed to protect. lie says thoy will
retain their depot at Tenth street and Mary
land avenue rs Mt present, but the street will
not be taken up as now. SO long rs tho
freight depot remains in its present position
we can have no relief from the breaking and
making up of freight trains, as in doing this
they are compelled to run up aud down
the tracks from Tenth to beyond Twelfth
street, giving US on Maryland avenue the
greatest amount Of annoyance from noise,
smoke, dust &C., that is given on any part
of the avenues. Now, why not move their
depot where they are laying their now track
| Again, he says that in tho event of congress
failing to ratify the new agreem ent in loCat-
| ing their tracks Oh the old ca nal bed they
will not be permitted to return to the
| avenues. but will, of course, necessarily use
the avenues for both passenger and freight
| trains; and that thcrc is no other way for
| them to enter or leave the city. Now, If
| they had the will they could very soon find
| II way, by locating their depot on the north
| east or western part of the city, whore there
is plenty Of room and scarcely anyone to
annoy. Mr.. West thinks the necessities of
| railway traffic and travel demand that the
most populOus and one of the iinesGavcnues
in the city must succumb to the railways,
and the citizens along itk line and vicinity
suffer u depreciation Of their property,
and bo strangled with dust and smoke,
and deprived of all their comforts
by day and night. All this, he says, is suf
fercd by only part of the people of Wash
ingtOn. Not twentieth part of the inhab-
| itan is arc disturbed or annoyed, while the
remaining portion of them are largely bene-
| fted. Now please let me know how and
where they are benefited any more by COM
| ing on this grand avenue than they would be
| by coming to the city by any other route.
| Again, Mr.. West assumes that by this road
running as it does through this fine avenue
ana annoying the people, that we are ena bled
| to obtain coal ut much cheaper rate. Pray
| tell me, if the coal came in by any other
route, whether it would not be just as cheap.
| Now it is not the railway that am opposed
| to. 1t is the running of it through these
avenues to the detriment of the property
owners and the people of South Washington,
and to the thousands of persons on foot and
the hundreds of teams and horse cars which
are compelled to cross their tracks at the
various cross streets. Mr.. West thinks it is
a mistake that property is deprecated in
this section. He can easily be satisfied to the
contrary, and that there is no mistake about
! it, if he will take the trouble to come and
see us. Mr.. West says the only possible chan
mel for freight and passengers from the north
to tho south, OF vice versa, lies through Vir-
ginia and Maryland avenues. Why, sir, there
are several ways, if you will only look for
them. Now, as to the switch down Thir-
teenth street Mr.. West says it was necessary
in the interests OF the coal traffic that they
should have it. Now, why was it any more
necessary for this traffic than for the
lumber or any other freight? None what
ever. 1t was a piece of favoritism that
should not have been tolerated. The
running of the track across the pavement Mt
this point is dangerous and unne cessary, and
the people would be justifable in tearing il
up to-day. AS to the advantages of obtain
ing coal any cheaper in consequence of this
road is a great mistake, as the following
prices from the records of an old coal dealo
| will show