National Republican., 1883-09-22
OUR own RAILWAY WAR.
A Talk with Commissioner West on the Mary
land Avenue Trouble.
He Thinks the Removal to the Old Canal
Will Remedy Matters.
At Least Large Share Of the Noise Smoke, and
Danger Will Be Taken Away.
The Powers or tho Board and or Congress
The Value Of Railways to the City.


n REPUBLICAN reporter concerning tho re-
moval Of tho Baltimore and Potomac railway
to the bed Of the old canal, in East Wash
ington.
They have two tracks laid there already"
said tho commissioner, and will construct
the others as fast as possible'
Eight more?"
"Ten more-twelve in ALL"
+" Docs that relieve Maryland and Virginia
avenues from the annoyance lately complained
of?'
"It relieves these avenues from being made
freight yard. When tho Baltimore and Po-
tomac get finally settled in their new locality
no freight cars will be allowed to stand or be
loaded on these avenues They will still use
their tracks on these streets for the running
of trains. They will still retain their par
eel depot at Tenth street and Maryland
avenue, as at present but tho street will not
be taken up as 1t is now."
"What were the terms on which tho con-
cession of the old canal bed was made to the
company
Subject to ratification by congress. The
commissioners have no such power over the
streets or public ways as would authorize
them unconditi6nally to dispose of them in
that manner"
Suppose congress fails to ratiiy your agree
ment 2"
"Then tho company must look for other
quarters"
win they bo permitted to 90 back to
Maryland or Virginia avenuesY"
No. They will remove from these avenues
30 far as making freight yards of them is con-
ccrned. They will of course, and necessarily,
use these streets, both for passenger and
freight trains. There is no other way for
them to enter leave tho city. Aud the
necessities of railway traffic and travel de-
mand some concession from the citizens, even
at the cost of annoyance"
THAT annoyance is claimed by tho people
of South Washington to be serious one, in
furious to health and depreciatory to prop
erty."
BY the people of q part of South Wash
lngton only. Not twentieth part of the in
habitants of the city is disturbed or annoyed
by this road, while the remaining nineteen
twentieths are largely benefited. Take tho
single article of coal. | am told that about
2oOOOO tons of anthracite coal are used yearly
in Washington. Tho competition of the Bal
tlmoro and Potomac railway enables the peo-
pie of Washington to got it very much cheaper
than they would without the presence
ana the consequent competition of this road.
This is benefit that the people of South
Washington share equally with those of the
other portions of tho city; and / think it is q
mistake-this idea of property having depre-
ciated in that section. In ten years time
property in South Washington will have ap-
precated greatly in value The noise
and activity caused by railway business mess
IS undoubtedly serious annoyance
to part of the South Wash
ington people," continued the commissioner.
But look at the question fully. No one
would DO willing to do without railways, if
such thing were possible. 1t is not possible.
however And the business of these roads
must increase yeary-increasc at a rapidly
advancing rate. The only possible channel
Tor freight and passengers from tho
south to the north and from the north
to the south lies through this immedi-
ate section. The Baltimore and Potomac has
secured the right of way through Washing
ton, the Baltimore and Ohio has obtained
1t Just below the city, at Shepherds This
traffic and travel is immense. You will see
at a glance how it cannot be otherwise. The
entire Atlantic slope has but one line of rail
transit from north and south, and that lies
through Washington and its immediate
vicinity. There is no other way east of
Pittsburg. Necessarily there are annoyances
connected with this travel, but its advantages
thousand fold outweigh the disadvantages.
railway is necessity. Other cities are
eagerly competing for railways, Washing
ton cannot afford either to forego thom or not
to offer them special inducements"
What is the prospect of a union depot,
lately talked of SO much ?" asked the reporter.
Not very flattering at present. The con-
dition of the river front puts that matter
wholly aside, temporarily at least"
You allude to the improvement of the
fats ?"
"Yes"
Now, Mr.. Commissioner, how about the
bridge crossing Sixth street and connecting
the parks south Of the Baltimore and Potomac
depot"
The right and the duty to construct such
bridge was given to the railroad company
kVliph aH tn 20, o
city. Referring to the United States Revised
Statutes you will find the act, approved May
% 1872, saying that upon the opening of
carriageway between the parks on either side
OF sixth street the company Is authorized and
required to erect an iron bridge over the
street to enable carriages TO pass over in such
manner as the officer or other person charged
with the duty of opening reservations aud
caring for parks should prescribe, This Of
ticer is Col, Rockwell
Tho act further provides that the company
shall adapt the grade of its tracks as the city
authorities shall determine. When they were
finally brought to the point of making this
bridge they asked the commissioners TO settle
the grade of the street. If the present grade
was the truo one they proposed to build at a
certain height. If the grade was made lower
they would decrease the height of tho bridge
above the surface, or increase 10 If the grade
was to be raised. They were told that the
present grade was the true one. Beyond this
tho commissioners have nothing to do with
the bridge"
who gave the company the right to run
a switch down Thirteenth street below Mary
land avenueg"
Tho commissioners II was necessary in
the interests of the coal traffic that they
should have it,"
I'm making an agreement with the COM
pany whereby they give up the avenues as
Their freight yards aud go to the bed of the
old canal it must DO remembered that had
the commissioners the power ana the will to
drive the railway company out of the city,
neither Of which they have, II was not an easy
or speedy undertaking. If, for example, wo
had ordered them TO take up their tracks
and sought by force TO compel their obcdi-
ence, they would have taken ont an inunc.
tion against us and fought us,during an indeG-
mite number Of years, up to the supreme
court Meanwhile, they would have been
transacting business just the same as If no
attempt to control them had been mado. 1t
10 not as easy to move railroad as il is ones
personal Effects
Little Indians.
TWenty-tWo little Indians from the yarioug