Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-26
STEAM RAILROADS IN TIrE CITY.
Action OF the Senate District Committee
NO HOPE OF LEGISLATION THIS SESSION REMEDYING
EXISTING EVILS.

AS agreed upon by majority OF the Senate
District committee the tunnel OF the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad is TO go through capitol Hill four
hundred feet east OF the east line OF the Capitol,
which. 1t is estimated. Will take il about midway
between the Capitol building and lst tr,t east The
plan then is 20 permit the q O.to godown Maryland
avenue. AS the Baltimore and Potomac company
object 10 the Baltimore and Ohio using their tracks
the idea is 10 allow the latter 10 lay tracks of Its
own down Maryland avenue. alongside those OF the
Baltimore and Potomac This plan would about
dedlcate Maryland avenue To the use Of railroads
but the point made in favor OF II by the parties
interested is that as some street must be thus used
IL Is better 10 contine all tracks 10 route. The
rejection OF the proposition IN the District commit
Tee TO require removal OF the present drputs
strengthened the opposition 10 the other features
or the measure as agreed upon. senator ingalls,.
Tor one, voted In favor OF route described for
the Baltimore and Ohio. but
WHEN THE UNION DEPOT PROJECT WAS DEFEATED,
ne gave out that he would oppose the whole prcpo-
sition. He and one OF two others who voted with
him regarded the removal Of the depots as an rs
Senttal feature OF the bin. They wanted the Il. Is
u depot taken away. so that the several streets
and avenues now blockaded 10y II might bc opened.
ana that portion or the city thus greatly improved.
III has been suggested that a marked improvement
could be effected by
REMOVING THE y. & O. DEPOT
short distance 10 the north OF its present site,
and this will probably be proposed when the bill
comes up I'm the Senate In connection with this II
Is also proposed 10 require the II. q o. To do away
with the tracks OF its Metropolitan branch within
the city, and come in altogether the Delaware
avenue tracks. This would rid one portion OF the
city OF Railroad tracks and switches.
THE INDICATIONS
are, however, that nothing In the way or railroad
legislation Will be accomplished at this session.
Members OF the District committee take this view
OF IT, They say that the defeat OF the Union depot
proposition has got the whole matter In a sort OF
snarl; mat IL compels Senators who earnestly de-
sire legislation To relieve the city of Its present Sy
TEN OF Tracks. switches &c. 10 oppose the meas
ure as agreed upon on the ground that I'm its pre~
ent shape IL Is worse than legislation at all Ina
other words, that IL Il better 10 leave things as
they are than TO make the changes proposed In the
measure agreed upon by the District committee.
A Meeting in South Washington.
THE MORRILL, BILL APPROVED.
preliminary meeting OF a number OF leading
citizens and property holders OF South Washington
was held last evening at the residence Of q. T.
Church, esq. Rev. Dr. Bittinger was called 10 the
chair, and c. r. Culver acted as secretary. The
object OF the meeting was stated bv the chair 10 ,
the consideration OF some measures OF relief from
the lntolerable grievances OF the steam railroads
now occupying some OF the principal streets and
avenues within the heart OF the city of Washing
ton. Ii was unanimously agreed that the Morrill,
bill Senate bill No. 1.7S3. with some few modra-
tonS In Its details, afforded the only feasible plan
as solution OF this yeXed question. and II adopted
would give the roads permanency and stability Tor
all time 10 come and withdraw all opposition and
danger OF litigation To the roads now and in the
future MI. MattOX was appoiutFd toy th, chairman
committee OF one To confer With the officers OF the
several roads entering Washington. and 10 report
at an adjourned meeting To their views In refer
ence TO the Morrill, bill. II was further agreed TO
call mass meeting or the citizens OF Washington
at an early day To give expression their views ON
this important Question The meeting then ad-
1ourned To await the report or Mr.. MattuN.
Nr. C.. IB. Church,. PLAN for Solving
the Problem.
HE SUGGESTS THE Use THE RECLAIMED RIvEe
FLATS-HE THINKS THE RAILROADS Gould GET ALL
IHE GROUND THEY WANTED. AND GREATER FACIII-
TIES THAN THEY NOW ENJOY.
"What are your views concerning the different
bills relating to steam railroad routes now pend
ing?" asked a STAR reporter OF Mr. c. H. Chur,h
to-day.
"The assertion made.r said Mr. Church. ethat
the people OF South Washington are satisfied with
the present arrangement or the tracks is s,nnly
preposterous- Ii our learned senators viii examine
the number OF eases now pending in tie courts of
this District, to remove these cattle and coal wards
from these Two beautiful avenues. they viii readily
perceive That we have done and are dong all that
law abiding citizens can do 10 remove the nuisance
Not that We desire or wish In any way 10 rttard
the progress OF the railroads: prefer rather to
give them greater facilities than those which they
now enjoy. by locating them 80 as TO Accommodate
the travelling public the same as now, and giving
them all the tracks they want In passing through
the city. AT the same time We want 10 confine
them TO certain meteS and bounds that Will b. SAT
ls1actory TO the citizens and bring Increased
TO our city"
'.Where would you locate theme"
~ would bring both roads together answered
MT Church. ION street, southwest OF the tunnel;
thence continue them along X to Mater street;
thence along Water street, 10y an elevated road. 10
and over the bridge: or. permit both companies To
build Jointly railroad bridge from the nters ion
or and Water streets i'll a southwestsrly dir-c-
ton. TO the reclaimed land on the Hats and thence
10 and ntersecting the present tracks north of the
Virginia draw OF The long bridge This route Will
give them cheaper land for depot PURPOSES on X
street, ana VIII give them much OF the reclaimed
land east of the bridge as the companies rrai!ir,.
This plan Will give TO the people Washington The
free and uninterrupted OF the present br1d.t.
for pleasure drives around the neWly uad,. bark
and ponds now In course of co,St rlicf ION under
Major Halns, and Will also afford better and safer
facilities to persons crossing To the Virginia side OF
the river. III was contemplated 10 make this bridge
grand avenue. intersecting 14rh street and Mary
land avenue, and connecting with ltyee road TO
the Arlington cemetery. on the virginia side,
which, when completed. Will make a most
beautiful drive around the city. As this Is
Intended 10 DE the handSomeSt city Ia the world
think II but prudent that our Lawmakers before
permanently locating the railroads shoald consult
The citizens OF Washington. and their OWN cUhaii-
tuehts rather than the railroad companies ; 10
whether our public parks and handsome avenues,
leading from the very doors Of our beautiful CAPT
tol building, shall be grid-ironed with railroad
tracks, Win Snortlng engines pacing up ana down"
PERMANENT PLAN.
"ThiS plan," said Mr.. Church, taking the reporter
to map, ss not intended to effect mer,, tempo
rary arrangement. 1t provides for this railroad
question for all time. You can see It will Increase
the value OF property on Maryland and Virginia
avenues 1t will not depreciate property all on
street or Water street. and Ii Will give great value
TO the reclaimed lands. Now this narrow place on
our present water front. between the arsenal and
the Long bridge Will not suffice for the business OF
this city. The city Will grow. You see this plan
Will give wharfing facilities along the southern line
OF the reclaimed land on the Georgetown channel.
well as on the Washington channel There Is
talk OF opening coal fields in Maryland
and Virginia, which would naturally seek
an outlet here. The railroads will require ground:
and there will be a demand for wharyes IieIc. on
the reclaimed flats. Will be all the room that is
needed. They can have 1--WE hundred tracks Ii
they need them, and no one VIII complain. This
plan takes into consideration the future growth Of
the city, and il adopted would not leave the rail-
road question TO be reopened again in 4 few years
by people In some other locality"
District Government Affairs.
EXTENSION OF GAS MAINS IN THE NoRTHw EsTERN SEC
TIoN OF TIE CITY.
PERMISSION has been granted the Washington
Gas Light company 10 lay gas mains as follows:
23d street, from to northwest alst street from
U TO northwest: 2lSt street. from q 10 Boundary:
Massachusetts avenue, from 21th TO Boundary on
south side OF street, 18th street, from TO Bound
ary; 18th street, from TO Boundary, west side OF
18th to 18th; 18th street. between ard O. on west
side; 1Gth street. Q TO Boundary, both sides; 10th
street, from to Boundary; 18TH street, from TO
Boundary; w street, from 18th TO 10th: street,
from 14th TO Boundary; street. from 14th 10
Boundary; street. from 18th TO Boundary both
sides street, from 18th TO Goth; street. from 10th
to Boundary, both sides; q street, from 18th to
Boundary, both sides; street, from a0th TO 2ad,
both sides; street. from New Hampshire avenue
to I'D street. both Sides street. from 21st 22d
both sides; New Hampshire ave, from To Bound
ary, both sides.