National Republican., 1883-10-22
GRIDIRONED WITH RAILS.
Laying Twenty-0no Tracks on a Permit to
Lay Twelve
Gridironing Southeast Washington With
out Relieving the Southwest.

Tn very emphatic language the South
Washingtonians complain that the railway
monopoly which has made freight yard OF
two of the finest avenues in Washington Is
still busily at work extending the area of
its mischief. IL is rapidly pushing its
activities over those portions Of the city
contiguous to its present location, while
energetically turning another and different
portion into theater of railway operations.
1t has evidently come to stay. 1t has power
to have tho laws concerning the streets vio-
lated by those whose duty it is to see the laws
kept inviolato. II seems to run the city"
Given large section of tho southeastern
part Of the city on condition, as was authors
tatively announced, of vacating the south-
western, it is approprating in the former
section what was not directly conceded to II,
and yet holding tenaciously to its occupancy
in the southwestern portion. The citizens
cry out that 1t is dangerous to life and limb,
and it answers by killing one of
its own hagmcn and rattling along
with indifference to results 1t was
granted the right to lay twelve tracks in the
bed of the old canal it has laid twcnty-ono.
1t promised for the privilege of placing the
twelve to vacato Maryland and Virginia
avenues, and keeps its promise by extending
the rails already there. 1t has torn up with
out leave or license beautiful little public
reservation at + street and Virginia avenue
which had been soddCd, curbed, and bcauti-
fled by taxes wrung from the laboring men of
the district, and also treated in the same
manner another government reservation to
the southeast of tho one Just mentioned 1t
has 80 engirdled and gridironed New Jersey
avenue southwest that the inhabitants of that
section must 20 either to Seventh street west
or Eighth street cast to get into the city,
An al is ig rlp
and defantly spreading the area of its occu-
patton.
In the southwest part of tho city, which it
was announced would be abandoned by the
company except so far as the passenger rails
were concerned, the railway is extending its
switches and purchasing or leasing property
TO increase the size of its freight yard. A re-
porter of THE REPUBLICAN went on tour of
inspection in Southwest Washington last Fri
day night and was greeted with tho emphatic
utteranccs Of an indignant populace concern
ing the mischief that ruins their property,
robs them of sleep, keeps them always har-
rassed and annoyed, and which is steadily
pursuing its plans to encircle them with its
dovouring arms. The reporter was told
that the purchase of the Gibson property, at
the foot of Fourteenth street, was generally
understood as being mado for the use OF the
railway company. Tho company, in its COR
porate person. is In the market negotiating
Knight $500 for twenty-foot lot on Thir-
teenth street, which he had purchased some
time ago for $3.50 1t is needless to say that
the offer was refused. As Mr. Knight is one
of the most energetic and prominent oppo-
nents of tho road, his selling to them would
have been used rs an argument that the rail-
way had appreciated, instead of depreciated
property in that section, and that the enemies
of the monopoly were controlled altogether
by monetary considerations.
The switch running down Thirteenth street
southwest is being extended SO as to engirdlo
grocery store near the coal depot of John
son Brothers. A committee representing this
part of the city, Messrs. Vermillion and Cald
WELL called on the commission the other day
in reference to this switch, and received for
an answer that this switch was permitted to
be placed there to meet certain exigencies
that still existed. 1t is claimed by other
dealers in coal and wood that by this giving
the railway company the authority to lay this
switch johnson Brothers are enabled to un-
derbd any other firm in the district % cents
per ton OF coal, tremendous advantage to
one firm. great deal of feeling has been
engendered because of what the South Wash
iugton people call this combination of com
missioners, company, and coal dealers No
one has yet heard, however, of coal being re-
duccd % cents n ton to the general consumer
through this arrangement.
The Potomac, the AmidOn, the Jefferson,
and still another, all public schools, are stu.
ated south of this railway, and three parochal
schools. Probably 1000 pupils at least, go to
these Schools of whom about one-half come
from the section north of the road, which
they have to cross. These schools will soon
have to be abandoned, for prudential reasons,
if the road is allowed to continue taking up
the streets.
1t is understood that very soon the courts
will be invoked to abate this nuisance.