The Evening critic., 1884-11-24
THE IRON BANDS
That Fetter The City and Retard It's
Development.
THE TRACKS MUST CO."
The Opinion of Leading Citizen Re-
garding the Steam Railroad Routes
Through the City The Latest
Proposition 49, Congress to Be Me-
morialized.

Through the City - The Latest
Proposition Congress- to Be Me-
morialized.
"Are tho citizens intending to do any
thing during the coming session of
Congress about the removal of the
railroad tracks, or have they given the
matter up9' Inquired representa-
tive of THE Critic of DR.. G. p. Culver,
who has probably been moro closely identi-
fed with the agitation Of the removal Of
the railroad tracks from Maryland and
Virginia avenues and from Northeast
Washington than any other man in the
city.
"Given It up" no calculated, "by no
manner Of means. The citizens have no
thought of giving up so long as these rail-
road tracks are allowed to remain on tho
avenues Of the city. The executive COM
mittee having this matter in charge have
just drawn up memorial which will DO
submitted to Congress next Monday morn
ing. copy will be placed on every Mem.
ber's desk. We hope to place our case be.
fore them so clearly that they cannot fail
TO SEQ the justice of our claims.
81 am not speaking merely of the citi-
zens of South Washington" continued the
Doctor, but of those from all parts of tho
city. Many of them have come to us and
assured us that they we're with us aud
were watching our fight with interest aud
would give us 'Godspeed' in our efforts.
Naturally they do not feel the great in
terest in IL that we do, as they are re-
moved from the direct annoyance of the
cars running near their door. But having
fIp infaracta Of tha tvhOIa nitu a haart
they agree with us that surface railroad
tracks through tho centre of the city
should be abolished
What do you propose to do? Do you
still favor tho provisions of tho Morrill,
bill2" the reporter inquired.
1--WE favor the Morrill, bill, but have
concluded to modify it in slight degree.
1T you recollect the provisions of that bill
you will remember that the Baltimore Il
Ohio Railroad by IL is required to cross the
Eastern Branch, join the Baltimore & Poto-
mac Road on the eastern side of the Eastern
Branch and then across the Eastern Branch
on the bridge used by the Baltimore & Po-
tomac Road and run to the tunnel parallel
with that road. You remember ?"
The reporter nodded.
eve have decided to alter that part of
the bill in such n way that the Baltimore
g. Ohio Railroad will be saved considerable
money, and the interests of the city will
still be conserved. That is, to have the
Metropolitan Branch join the Baltimore
Branch Of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road just beyond the Fair grounds or
Ivy City. The one line shall then run
southeast to the intersection of Boundary
and Fifteenth street east, and then along
Fifteenth street to Il street northeast, and
then by tunnel under Fifteenth street flor
at i street hill is encountered), to point
of confluence with the Baltimore & Poto-
mac Railroad east of the Navy-Yard tun-
mel, and running north of and parallel with
the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad to its
intersection with the Navy Yard tunnel at
tbeintersection of Eleventh street east and
Virginia avenue.
There continued the Doctor, "the tun-
mel should be widened SO as to accommo-
date the requisite number of tracks for
both railroads. When the tracks emerge
from the tunnel at its western mouth they
are to turn to the left upon the adjacent
squares of ground and rising upon an ele-
waited road run along parallel with X street,
south over the squares between K and l.
streets to the confluence Of Seventh aud
Water streets and thence up Water street
and over the Long Bridge.
"You see" resumed the Doctor, "that
the only change in the plan is in al
lOWluk Lub ID. CS W. htllIUdu W uDWH
Fifteenth street east, instead of compelling
it to cross the Eastern Branch twice in or
der to enter the Navy-Yard tunnel with
the d. & p. Road.
THE Commissioners themselves said
DIR. Culver, seem determined that the
railroad tracks shall not remain on Sixth
street. They will not leave the Mall to be
cut up by tracks. But while they would
take the tracks from Sixth street they will
allow them to remain on Maryland and
Delaware avenues and in Northeast Wash
ington. l sec that Captain Greene, in his
last report, goes no further than to recon-
mend that the Baltimore and Potomac
tracks be confined to these two avenues
There's one noticeable thing in the way
the Commissioners treat this subject They
| do not consider for "a moment what the
| wishes of the citizens arc. No, the citizens
| wishes are wholly ignored. Now, here is a
large territory" no said, taking up a mar
| of tho city and laying his finger on tho
| northeast section, (which Is being made
good for nothing by the railroad tracks.
"Tbere is no reason why Northeast Wash
ington property should not become in time
as valuable as that in the northwest if it i
only relieved of the railroad tracks. L
| grows in spite of them, but how muct
more rapidly it would grow were thi
nuisance removed.
"Then here Is our southwest section
Pass the German bill allow the b. & 0
and the d. & p. roads to run along these
avenues, and you will soon kill our rive
trade or force 1t to Georgetown. President
Roberts, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, de
clared last spring that it would not b,
long before, with their increased business
they would be running trains as often a
once in three minutes. He used that q
an argument why tho B. & o. should no
be permitted to run through the city OF
the same street as his road, the b. Il. z.
"Tho fact can be used as an argument
however, against allowing tho d. & /
Road TO remain on tho avenues where
n "Girded by iron, rs it now is Sout
Washington will soon virtually become a
island. 1t will become as distinct from til
city as If it were another place.
But 1t Is not merely as citizen {
South Washington that l speak. 1t Is MS
citizen who is panied to see the plan of GU
beautiful city disfgured. 1t is because
believe in fairness to all the railroads an
the citizens. 1t is not true that VIC war
TO shut the railroads out. We want theI
TO run through the city at place whei
less damage to tho whole city will result
Place tho tracks on viaduct and no stre'
or property will be injured. Remove th
tracks from tho centre Of the city and th
property owned there by the railroads wi
$50 enhanced in value that they will mo-
than pay for tho property necessary, TO