Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-23

Between the River and g,e Railroad
MIMI. Stephcnson'~ Views-Further
Remarks by DIR. Culver.
When STAR reporter asked Mr.. c. b. Church
for his views respecting the communication of
IAN Old Merchant" published in the city papers
yesterday, Mr.. Church said he was surprised
that any ''old merchant in the District could ad-
vocate the seyering OF the last open and unob-
structed highway to the river front by this rail-
road, which now almost encrces the city.
regret" said he. THAT any man. and particu-
larly, an old merchant, should choose to fight
covertly. and not have the manliness TO come
out and show who he is. We of South Wash
ington do not hesitate to show our hand, and
maybe it would be better for some of US to say
less than we do and work more. But the fact
Is. too much cannot be said against this infamous
project of seyering all our river traffic from the
center portion of the city by railroad. and in
the interests Of railroad traffic. The fact is we
have too little wharfage now and every foot of
i is fully utilized. Is not our mercantile inter-
ests to be regarded at all in this fight? Look
at the tonnage of my own business. which is
every year increasing, What could we do with
railroads? There is no freghtage so cheap as
that by sailing vessels or steamboats,. Ship
carload of ice from the Kennebec river to
Washington in July and see what it looks like
when il arrives
.'More wharfage room will have to be fur
oshed to suit our growing commerce." con-
tinued Mr.. Church. Railroads cannot crowd
out the river traffic. and this they will soon
realize. Look at the increasing business in tlh
lumber trade and building materials in general.
Do the railroads expect to absorb all this car
rage? Then the increasing river and land pro-
ducts-hOw are they to be brought here from
the lower river and bay? But laying aside all
this. the wickedest project is to interfere with
the grandest work ever commenced by our
goYernment-that of the Improvement of the
river flats. Here is a work aid out which. when
completed in accordance with the plans. will
render this city famous all over the world
system of lakes dotted with sails. fine drives
and walks miniature forests and glens all alive
with pleasure seekers. with plenty of broad eX-
panSe 70 extend and give variety to the scenery.
This is to be cut up, too. by this same railroad.
which. after crossing 14th street. proposes to
extend its tracks across the improved flats to
Georgetown. Was ever any such efffOntry heard
QtS government work which may cost millions
of dollars to complete, to berun over and cut MP
with railroad, Ii is time that not only the people
of South ana Northeast Washington should pro-
test against such nuisances. but that the citi-
zens of the whole city and District should raise
their voice against them. There are probably rival
interests at the bottom OF this. The Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad company has fond dreams of
coming into the District by way of Rock Creek
valley. making Its terminal point at the foot of
18th street
when this is developed. you will then see all
OF the northwest portion of the city rise up in
one universal howl against such an encrOach-
ing nuisance. Railroad companies should be
encouraged cheerfully so far as they are of real
service to the public and do not OppresS the
people; and the old Morrill, bill which as a
matter Of fact was the child OF the South WASH
lngtOn association. should have been adopted.
This DILL would locate the depot of the B. and
p road on X street south. aud would have
fin6 hnHu Thn Cnr lYslup
for tunneling Capitol hill, and which finally OBJ
tanned the approval of Mr. Morrill,, killed the
bill"
MR.. ". j. STEPHENsON's VIEWS.
Mr. W. ]. Stephenson, of the firm of Stephen
son Bros, when asked by STAR reporter what
he thought of the ''Old Merchants" communi-
cation, said: 1T don't amount to anything; no
one knows the writer or his purposes. He is
probably one of those who went before the Dis
trict Commissioners few days ago in behalf of
the B. & p. company in favor Of letting the rail-
road Go as it pleased with our streets and ave-
nues. More tnan likely the writer may be in
the interests of the Pennsylvania coal mines
There are some of the agents for these mines
who supply coal to the dealers of this District.
The purpose would seem to be to have the rail-
road do all the carrying. 1t may be some Ave
nue. merchant speaking two words tor
himself and one for his merchant friends in be-
half of convenient freight delivery. 1t would
undoubtedly be easier to pick their freight up
d at the foot Of 14th street than at X and LIST
streets. where they have to go now" At all
events. 1t Is likely to be selfish purpose at the
bottom. No importance should be attached TO
an anonymous letter upon subject which con-
Germs all. and upon which NO one should hest
tate to speak fearlessly."
FURTHER REMARKS PY DR.. CULVER.
"YOu can see." said DR.. G. P. Culver Il STAR
reporter, ''to permit the railroad to CROSS 18th
Il
ton with the Long bridge. 1t is plain to my
mind that it is the policy of the company to de-
stroy not only the river traffic, but
the traffic now carried on over the
Long bridge and divert the profits of
this transportation into their own Golfers
Every member of the community is interested
u preventing such an event. as the cost of pro-
aucts consumed here would be largely in
creased. 1t is not true that any considerable
number OF persons in South Washington is in
avor of leaving the railroad tracks where they
now are. You will not find one in a hundred
who is so minded. Here and there are persons
interested in the railroad or who have been es-
peclally benefited by the railroad who may dis
sent from the views generally entertained. Ii
seems to me that all business which is bene-
htted by having convenient railroad facilities
should go TO the railroads and not require the
railroads to come to them regardless of the dam
age entailed upon all the property lying be-
tween.
IF our bill prevails continued Mr.. Culver
"the city at large will be greatly benefited for
within five years it will add a million and a
quarter TO the taxable value of the land in South
Washington, and three million to the land in
northeast Washington. We do not propose to
interfere with the legal rights OF the railroad
company. but 10 have the unusual privileges
granted them by Congress annulled in a lawful
way II possible. We think that our fight is
bound To succeed from sheer moral force.
or
81 think that the objection that the railroad
company is hostile to the best interests of South
washington in their last movement is true
one, remarked Dr. James E. Morgan this morn
Ing to a STAR reporter. .'The company has gone
with its plans without regard to the wishes of
the residents. They bought that square because
1t was cheap. but it is not the proper place Tor
depot. for the reason that it will cut off all com
municatlon with Virginia 1t will be impossible
20 use the Long Bridge If that depot goes I'D.
The company might have gone on the other side
Of 18th street. but | suppose that the land was
1earer. liz would not have been so great an in
reference with the interests of South Washing
ton"
The DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS WILL PREVENT ANY
ILLEGAL USE OF THE STREETS
The District Commissioners to-day addressed
the following to "Messrs. Jno. T. Lewis and
others:
Dy you protesting against the laying OF extra tracks
on any OF the streets In the southern section OF the
city by the Baltimore and Potomac r. r. Co. am
orected 10 state that the Commissioners have been,