Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-05
A New FreighI Yard.


FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS THE RE-
CLAIMED CANAL LAND-soUTH WASHINGTON TO BE
RELIEVED OF THE ANNOYANCE OF SIDE TRACKS,
ETC.
The conferences recently held between the Dis
trict commissioners and the general manager OF
the Baltimore and Potomac road resulted yeSter-
day in the signing OF an agreement by which Vir-
ginia avenue, between 1St and 9Th streets SOUTH
west will be relieved of the nuisance OF which the
residents thereabouts have long complained. and
the company are given the use Of Canal street, be-
tween South Capitol and I'd streets southeast, as
freight yard. The land which will be occupied by
the railroad company consists chiefly OF land re.
thus given is De temporary in its character and
to be submitted to Congress for its ap-
nroval at its next session: The terms Of
follows: The Commissioners give permission to
lay eight side tracks within the space named, in
be on the north of the existing tracks The rail-
road company agrees to pave 70 ,dway with
granite blocks and lumber across its tracks at
on each side OF the roadway. The company fur
ther agrees TO erect and maintain suitable gates
for closing travel on the north and south sides OF
ltS Tracks at New Jersey avenue and at South Cap
1tol street, M street east and any other important
public thoroughfare crossing the tracks to be
structed under this grant If required by the Dis
ably impede travel on said streets or ave-
nues. For the privilege thus granted " the Dis
the continuance OF this grant the sum Of 50 500
per annum, payable semi-annually in advance.
Provision Is made for refunding to the company
Its first Semi-anEual payment, providing Cong e>S
dlsapproves or mOdihes the agreement, the COM
pany agreeing to remove the tracks and re>tOre
the ground to its present condition. The Commits
sioner5 also reserve the right to terminate the
agreement on six months notice. 1t is provided
also that In case OF refu al 10 pay the lease
money certificates OF Indebtedness may be issued
against the railroad company.
The railroad company sent to the District Com
misstoners yesterday its check for $3.50 for six
months rem in advance OF the east part OF Canal
street, In accordance with the contract
letter W as addressed by the Commissioners to
the general m mayer of the company. directing
them TO hav automatic gat erected Immediately
across 9th and 7h streets, and other streets which
the tracks cross, to protect travel
PERMISSION TO LAY SIDE TRACKS GRANTED
The Commissioners made an order yesterday
"That permission is hereby granted to the Balti-
more & Potomac railroad company to lay side
street SOU heast between South Capitol street and
I'd street, upon the terms and conditions specified
Columbia ana the Baltimore & Potomac railroad
company. executed September 8 l. 1885, and now
on file In tue Office OF the Commissioners OF the
WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WANT
Mr.. c. B. Church, one OF the largest property
owners along the line of the railroad on Virginia
and Maryland avenues, stated to q STAR reporter
that he could not see anything in the agreement
between the commissioners and the railroad COM
OF the property owners in South Washington. 1t
looked as though the Commissioners were grant
ing the railroad this new land in addition to that
already used by them: The property owners had
applied first to the railroad company, then to the
Commissioners, and at last to the courts, for re-
lief. and 1t appeared now that they would have to
depend upon the courts. 1--WE viii have to fight
them, and will fight them square by square," said
Mr.. Church. I'VE have commenced 1t, and we
will keep 1t up. We are unit down there, and
you will find no division among u.s."
"Wou!d IL be satisfactory to you and your
nelghbCrs," asked the reporter. "1f the railroad
was required to remove Its freight business to the
proposed new depOt?"
"All we ask" said Mr.. Church. "ls that the
company shall not be allowed to shift and unlo I'd
trains on these avenues. We are willing that they
shall have two main tracks for incoming and out
going trains. That is all they ought to ask. We
the avenues, and to plant trees along them. SO as
to give the street O handsome appearance. Ill
venture to say that If the railroad company " i'll
do this the property owners who have entered
suits will ut once withdraw their suits"
NO CONCESSION FROM THE RAILROAD.
DR.. J. E. Morgan, speaking TO a STAR reporter
this morning. referred to the inJunctlons already
gotten out against the railroad company, and said
that there was no concession by the railroad COM
pany in this agreement 1t IS simply another
gratuty from the public to the railroad company.
The property owners, he said, perfectly willing
to grant the railroad company all OF their original
right, which was the right OF passage through the
streets, but they do object to the monopoly OF the
streets by the company which now exists. Let
them move their cars and the hustle Of m liking
up trains away from the streets, and the citizens
will have but little cause of complaint
"lf the merits OF this question, and the extent OF
the injury n INFLICTED upon the people could be
feigned concessions OF the railway company would
not be mistaken by the public for the real"