The Evening critic., 1884-03-17
STEAM RAILROAD TRACKS.
Great Question which the People
of South Washington Keep Stead

A Great Question which the People
of South Washington Keep stead
lily Before Them.
Although the feeling in South Washing
ton in favor of the removal of the Baltimore
& Potomac Railroad tracks from Virginia
and Maryland avenues is general, yet tho
proposition is regarded with despair. 1t is
felt that the Pennsylvania Railroad knows
it has good thing under the present ar
,ysssschfeht and it is not believed that the
company will allow Congress to send them to
the outskirts without great struggle There
is disposition to deal literally with the
railroads, however. CRITIC reporter as
certained that petition has been circu-
lated in South Washington opposing the
provision of the German bill allowing the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company TO run
down tie two avenues named. The resi-
dents say that the b. & +. is bad enough
they don't want another road there. Some,
however, think that it Is hardly fair to
grant such great privileges to the d. & p.
and deny them to the b. &. o. Tho solu-
ton of the problem is to be found, they
think, only in prohibiting the use of the
avenues to both aud all roads.
The South Washington philosopher who
moralized recently with THE CRITIC on
the injury that was being done the city by
the tracks running through the center of
the city met THE Critic again this morn
ing and said that, as the Morrill, bill pro-
posed union depot south of X street and
between the James Creek Canal and Sew
enth street, he was inclined to favor that
bill and would not push his suggestion of
locating the depot down at o street.
IL think the bill demands too much of
the railroads, though" ho said, when it
requires them to build their tracks at an
elevation from the tunnel along X aud
Water streets to the Long Bridge. 1t will
do to put them on a level, for some years
anyway. If we demand too much we may
get nothing. If the people can only once
get the tracks away from Maryland and
Virginia avenues and from the reserva-
tioDs, think they will BIO willing to mako
some concessions. They will be willing to
have the roads run along K street on the
level"
"Then you are inclined to pin your faith
to Senator Morrill's bill2" The CRITIC
asked.
"Well, / am to certain extent As l
said, don't believe in putting the railroads
TO an expense that is not absolutely neces-
sary now"
On interviewing other South Washing
tonians similar views were found. One
gentleman said:
Twenty or thirty years is time enough
for an elevated road. Wait till the BUSH
ness down here along X street becomes so
great as to demand it before we ask for an
elevated road. The main thing is to get
tho tracks removed from their present loca-
ton. The people should unite on that.
Then South Washington can grow. Why
such thing as running through the cen
ter of large city on two of the best ave-
nues is unheard of elsewhere Why should
it be allowed in this city,"
Mr.. Daniel Donohue of Sixth street,
near |, expressed the opinion that the re-
moval of the tracks would greatly benefit
South Washington. He thought that the
vacant squares on Four-and a-half street
were an admirable place for the union
depot. There was but small portion of X
street populated and very few would be
disturbed by the cars for a long time. 1t
would take years to build up the section
through which the tracks would run. He
considered it much preferable to taking
two Of the most magnificent avenues in the
citv