National Republican., 1884-04-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Union Depot Question and the Proper Line
Of Track.
A Plan That Will Satisfy All the Peop pie
Most Interested.
Three Reasons Against Tho Location Of the Free Bridge
al the Three Sisters.
Some Noble Achievements of the Navy
In Time OF Peace,
10 me Edikor.


In aneditorial in your issue Of this morn
ing, under the caption, "Wanted-A Union
Depot" you mako several strong points in
favor Of the union of tho several steam rail-
roads entering Washington city, but like
few Others you have fallen into tho grave
error Of supposing that the people owning
property along tho lines of Maryland and
Virginia avenues southwest, or those who
reside along the streets south of these avenues,
will be satisfied to have all the roads entering
tho city concentrate in union depot at or
near tho confluence of these two wide and
beautiful avenues You were never more mis-
taken. Tho citizens and property holders Of
South Washington will never consent willingly
that these avenues shall continue perma-
nently occupied with these railroads. They
demand as their personal right that the Bal
timoro and Potomac road shall be removed
from its present location along these
avenues and Sixth street south at no very re-
mote period, and to this end l formulated
bill which was introduced In tho senate by
Mr.. Morrill, at my request, and is known as
the Morrill, bill. This bill. with few verbal
changes meets the approval of ninety nine in
every ono hundred of the resident population
and property holders of the northeast and
southwest portions of Washington city. 1t
provides for q confluence of tho Baltimore
and Ohio road with the Baltimore and
Potomac road east of tho navy yard tunnel,
and, by widening the tunnel, pass through
and defect to the left or south upon reser-
vations 10 and 16 pass thence along upon
the tier of squares between X and l. streets
south upon viaduct or elevated road to and
up Water street to and over the river on the
Long bridge. This would give tho several
roads o permanent right of way into and
out Of the city in making their northern
and southern connections, besides giving
them width of about $50 feet from the
western mouth of tho tunnel to Seventh
street southwest.
The point ON this line most eligible for
union passenger depot would be on the
squares between Seventh and Third streets.
The ground between seventh street and
reservation 10 may now be purchased at an
average cost of 90 cents per square foot, or
less than $175,000 for the whole, The facil-
tiles of getting to and from the union depot,
if located on squares AL, 500, and 543
southwest, would be equal to every emer-
gency, and the travelling public fully and
satisfactorily accommodated. You can't
place a railroad depot at the door Of every
hotel in the city in order to accommodate Its
guests, nor accommodate every commercial
business house in the city with depot at its
door for the delivery or shipment of freights.
Not even o small minority of the business
interests Of great city could be thus accom-
modated. The travelling public and business
lubtTSslb u N bTbdt COuuleTCIhl COuLeT buOuiu
be, will admit, very largely considered in
the location and establishment of railroad
depots and other facilities OF ingress and
egress to such center. But Washington is
not, and possibly may never be, great COM
mercial city or center, 1t is the capital of
our federal union, and as such 1t is the duty
of every citizen, whether q resident or non
resident of Washington, to preserve its origi-
nal plans, contour, and beauty from the hands
of these vandal corporations that have done
so much to mar its beauty and prevent its
growth in certain sections now occupied by
their depots and tracks along wide avenues
and streets to and almost within the heart Of
the city.
Then let me repeat this important fact that
The property holders and residents of South
Washington will never cease their opposition
20 and prosecution Of tho Baltimore and
Potomac railroad so long as it occupies Mary
land and Virginia avenues and Sixth street
with tracks and depots In the language of
Boss Shepherd, they must get up and git"
The Morrill, bill designates q route that will
satisfy tho people, and ought to satisfy the
roads. Let these roads heed the voice of the
people. Let congress, too, be admonished
that it is always best to consider somewhat,
at least, the wishes of the people as we'll as
corporations. Each have their rights under
our form of government, and with Just and
wholesome laws governing both concord and
harmony will exist. But don't allow these
huge soulless aud moneyed corporations to
trample longer upon our toes. There may
come time when "forbearance will cease to
be virtue" Very respectfully,
C.P. CULVER.