The Evening critic., 1884-12-19

South Washington WAS thoroughly aroused,
ana detail OF ten policemen were on duty
under orders from Major Dye to prevent tho
laying Of tracks IL It should be attempted.
Several hundred citizens were assembled at
the corner OF Fourteenth street and Maryland
avenue at 10 O'Clock, but the railroad au-
thorftlcs had not put In an appearance.
Among others present we're n committee OF
ten citizens, DR.. q. p. Culver, Franklin Bid,
David Murphy. J. W. Barker, Horny wox, E.
II. Church, Il. q. Knight, 4, 8. Baker, DR.. J. II.
Morgan and CHARLES Keller, appointed at an
Indignation meeting held last evening to take
action to prevent the laying OF tracks.
IL was understood that tho reserve force OF
each OF the police precincts were held IN
readiness at the stations today In case their
services were wanted.
Up TO a lac hour this afternoon tho rail.
road authorities had taken no stops toward
laying crossing Mt Fourteenth street.
A largo crowd OF citizens was still gathered
and n bonfire had been lighted to keep them
warm. The ecene reminded the old inhab-
itants OF war timee. There was mingled air
OF expectancy and determination in tho crowd
that alternately guarded the street which the
railroad had prepared TO invade and warmed
ltself at tho 1res. A band OF gypsies that hap.
pened TO be passing, attracted by the strange
elght, left their wagons and gathered about
the fire to warm themselves and inquire about
the assembly.
The presence OF Lieutenant Grier and
posse OF ten officers, who had Instructions to
remain on duty all day, kept up tho interest.
iut luCl tuul u ilIllO NOTk WaB DolnR done at
Seventh, street seemed to cause some sus-
piclon that additional crossings we're TO be
lald at that point while attention was al.
yorted by tho assemblage at Fourteenth
The crowd was pretty thoroughly convinced
by noon that no track.laying was to DO at
tempted.
The meeting last night was held at Blake's
Hall, ut Seventh street and Maryland avenue,
j. w. Barker presiding.
lions;
Resolred, That tho proposition Of tho Baltl.
more 4 Potomac Railway to lay their tracks
across Fourteenth street, thus practically clos.
ing that street from public use, without regard
OF ana in defiance OF law, is in keeping with
their heretofore disregard OF oil public and
private interests In the conduct OF their bust
ness.
ReSoired, That we look to the Commissioners
70 prevent this illegal action by all tho means
which they possess, and thus protect us from
this grave and vicious spoliation.
RtSoLred, That we heartily indorse the ac-
tion OF our executive committee In their Of
ourselves to omit no efforts In our power until
our Just grievances are relieved by the ro-
moval OF the railway tracks from Maryland i
where the public interests will be occurred
Without appreciable injury to public or pri
vate property.
DR.. Culver addressed the meeting as fol.
lows:
"There lie, perhaps, no city In tho Uni.od
versal interest felt In It as that OF Washington
city. IL is the capital Of a great nation. II is
where the Congress OF the Federal Union con.
venes every year and holds its sessions from
three to nine months. II is where over l75,-
eco people reside, 15, 600 OF whom are Govern
men n omsiels, together VIII, ~ o their families,
compoeed OF persons from every State and
Territory in the Union. few only OF those
residence with every change Of party admins.
tration. These retro from the Federal Capital
with fond memories cherished OF fts beauty
and its Inequalities Of climate and general
"There ir, however, one blot upon the fair
escutcheon OF our city which all must feel,
that is, the present location OF the Baltimore
& Ohio and the Baltimore & Potomac railroad
companies. There ts, say, q common pride
serving the beauty and contour OF this city,
and It is not surprising TO see that the citi-
zens, as well as so1ourners and visitors, COM
plain and condemn the legislation OF Congress-
that has fastened upon us tho incubus OF these
roads, marring the contour and beauty OF the
city, destroying the public parks, dcpreciat-
ing private property TO the extent or millions
Of dollars, occupying some Of our principal
streets and avenues, interfering with the fee
and unobstructed passage to and from our
river front, menaclng or not wholly destroy
Ing) our Potomac River trade, and rendering
South Washington an Isolated and undesirable
portion OF the city for either business or as q
place OF residence. Is II any wonder, then,
that we should feel constrained 10 appeal to
Congress from time to time for redress OF
these grievances.
the District OF Columbia, and they can make
and uDmake laws and regulations for the
government OF the District. They can thatch
1t ell over with railroad corporations, allow
ing every street and avenue TO be filled up
and encountered with railroad tracks and
stock cars TO the destruction OF private prop.
city and private interests, as well as to the
general beauty and contour OF the city and It's
public parks, or they can annul all past legls-
iation which has given these corporations the
privilege OF occupying our avenues, streets
and public parks, and remove them to such
parts and routes within or without the city as
In the judgment OF Congress may be deemed
best and both for the public and that OF pri-
vate interests.
"It is with a knowledge OF this power vested
In Congress that we have from time Co time,
for the past fifteen years, appealed ID that
BODY for redress OF these grievances under
which We now groan, and which are accumu-
ialing year by year, until at length they Will,
IL permitted 10 remain as at present on Mary.
land and Virginia avenues, crush out all hope
OF the future OF Houth Washington as place
OF business or for private residences. Must
twenty millions OF dollars OF private property
and private interests in this section Of Wash
ington be sacrificed TO these railroad corpora
tionep Is there no way to avoid this vast sac.
rince OF personal property aud personal
rights?
OF This wrong without suggesting remedy.
Tho Citizens bill, published 10 your memo
whole problem, and should address Itself with
force and convincing power to our lawmakers
In the halls OF Congress. This Dill or measure
brings both tho d. 4 o. and j. & Z. roads 10.
gether east OF the NavyYard tunnel and run.
ning TO and through the tunnel, and as they
emerge from Its western mouth defect TO the
left or south upon reservations 16 and 10, and
from there rising upon vtaduct and occupy
Ing the squares between x and L streets
south 10 their Junction with Seventh and
Water streets, and up Water street upon this
viaduct or tramway 10 and over the viaduct or
Long Bridge, the ID. 4 p. road occupying the
south or l. street 'front.' while the ID. h o. road
would occupy the northern or street front,
neither road crossing the tracks OF the other
from their entrance TO their exit from the city.
This elevated or viaduct road would avoid the
obstruction to travel and commerce along the
cross streets leading to our river front; be-
sidep, the space underneath tho elevated
tracks could DO prontably utilized for shops,
coal and wood yardP, stone and lumber de-
posltories and for other purposes.
"The Union Depot could be located between
seventh and Third streets and X and l., with
length OF one TO Two thousand feet, and a
width OF 2,O2b feet, and which would give the
roads all the room they would need for pas
depots could be located anywhere along the
line OF their roade, between Seventh and
FoulteeIth streets weAt and south OF Mary
sired?
'This plan would relieve Maryland and Yir.
ginia avenues, as we'll as Sixth street aud the
mall, or public park. IL would relieve tho
northeast portion or the city OF tho Baltimore
ohio Rond, and instead OF throwing II down
along virginia and Maryland avenues as pro-
posed 10 The morrill, amendment to tao Dor.
man bill, No. 5S1, It would place both roads
and,tor that matter, ali roads entering the city
OF Washington where they would have a
permanency for all limo 10 cane, and whore