The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-12-01

our city, and to transact the commerce or car
| rying trade over their roads within Its limits.
| This we shy can b9 done without occupying
| any OF our public parks or avenues and but
| two or three OF our streets, and two Of those
arc used but little at present. refer to Eli.
| teenth street east and X street south OF the
| Capitol, Nor would this route, as we propose,
| running along Water street from Seventh 20
| the Long Bridge upon an elevated road twelve
| or fifteen feet above tho grade OF tho street,
along the river 'front.'"
in regard TO the ground proposed to DO occu.
hied by me Two railroads In their passage
through tho city, the memorial snys:
"rho squares OF ground between X and +.
streets south and tho mouth OF the Maynard
tunnel and Seventh street are but sparsely
improved by dwelling houses. A largo mum.
Der Of them, indeed, being wholly unimprovcd
or only used as brlckyards, could be purchased
to-day very cheaply, not TO exceed, we think,
twenty cents per square foot In the aggregate,
or the whole tier OF squares from the tunnel
70 Seventh street could DO had for less than
IN answer to the sophistlcal cry that the
railroad stations should be near the centre OF
The business and population OF growing
city, the memorial says that II Is simply I'm
possible. rho more wealthy and fashionable
portions OF tho population are striving con-
stantly TO get as far as possible from the rail.
road stations. II 10 quantity suggested that n
depot be located on Lafayette Square, In
front OF tho White House, that II mag be ''con.
venient" 10 the people. Tho memorial contin-
ues: "Iho residents Of South Washington have
special reason for complaint against the Bal.
timore & Potomac Railroad Company for It's
occupancy OF two OF the principal avenues OF
that section for the greater portion OF their
entire length southwest OF the Capitol, dc.
stroyiDg their beauty and making depots OF
them for tho occupancy OF their cars; the
loading and unloading freights OF all kinds !;
obstructing travel along these and the cross
streets TO and from the river: marring the
beauty and contour OF one OF our principal
Pubic PARIS; endangering tho lives and
limbs OF the children attending ono OF our
principal public schools, many OF whom have
TO cross these tracks In passing to and from
the school; annoying the congregations OF six
or seven churches within the vicinity OF this
road upon the Sabbath day: besides depre.
ciating private property along the lines of
thls road and adjacent thereto TO the extent of
Overcome million dollars. Those Immediately on
the line OF road In these avenues and streets are
daily and hourly annoyed By tho smoke, the
cinders, the rafting OF cars, the whistling of
engines, the ringing OF bells, the loading and
unloading OF coal cars, with all the accumula-
lion OF cool dust; the transfer OF livestock
within these streets, the believing OF cattle,
the bleating OF sheep, the squealing OF hogs IN
their passage Into and through the city to
other markets, and often remaining stationary
Tor hours In front OF private residences In tho
heat OF summer, with all their stencil, to the
great annoyance OF the resident population, as
well as hindrance ofthose doing business be-
tween tho river and tho more populous por-
lions OF the city by blockading the cross streets
for long periods az a time"
Mr.. Church's remarks are mostly devoted to
SHOWING now the railroads entering tho city
nave been Disseminated In favor OF at tho eX-
pense OF the Districts shipping interests. He
says; -
the District have been laborlng to get their
river front improved, so as to enable our YES
sci trade TO compete with tho railroads enter
Ing the city. Having at last succeeded In get
Ting eunicient depth OF water to insure fair
competition we can see no valid reason why
Congress ehould practically close intercourse
between the water front and the business
centres OF Washington, and thus discriminate
IN favor OF Tue railroads, by granting to tnem
rights and facilities, greater and better, than
those asked or enjoyed by the maritime car.
riers entering this District. Water communi.
cations, by recent legislation OF Congress, have
been restricted to the very limited river front
lying between the United States Arsenal
grounds and the Long Bridge, or between Four.
and.a-half and Thirteen and.a-half streets
west. Nearly every foot OF spaco within this
narrow limit fs now occupied by passenger
and freights boats. Ninety per cent. OF the
entire river trafllc has 10 cross over the tracks
OF the baltimore & Potomac Railroad at grade,
on maryland and virginia avenues, and thus
the two business centres in Washington arc
divided, as by stone wall, to the great In
Jury OF merchants and others doing business
In all sections OF the city. / have counted as
many as eighteen teams stopped on both sides
OF the track on Seventh street while the shift.
Ing OF cars was going on, 1t being impossible
minutes at one time"
After referring to the annoyance suffered by
me residents In the vicinity of the railroads,
the memorial concludes as follows:
"with theae facts before you, your memo.
rlalists earnestly hope that YOU Will not per
nit tho present Congress to expire without
anordiDg us the asked for legislation that VIII,
at no very distant day, relieve the Federal
Capital OF the present incumbrance OF those
steam railroads and place them where, In our
Judgment, they Will subservo the best inter-
ests OF the present and future OF Washington
and afford these roads and the travelling pub.
lie every necessary facility OF ingress and
egress to and from tho city for all time to
come"
The Morrill, bill, as printed In THE CRITIC
on Monday last, is appended. 4