The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-03-20
rHE MoMENrous Question:
Concerning steam RailrOad Tracks
The People of South Washington
Deeply Interested.

Concerning steam RailrOad Tracks
The People of sOuth Washington
Deeply Interested.
"Dr Bittinger, what are your views re-
garding the removal of the railroad tracks
from Virginia and Maryland avenues2 Are
YOU in accord with the Morrill, bill requir-
ing their removal to X street ?" THE CRITIC
inquired of the worthy pastor of the West
minister Presbyterian Church, who has been
pronounced opponent for years Of tho To-
cation of the tracks on the avenues named,
"Well," he replied, ~ guess my views
ON the subject arc pretty well known down
here. There is one grand point to be in
sisted on, and that is the road should be
removed to tho southern part of the city.
Now IL is not question. whether the roads
should run through some Of the principal
streets of the city or not come to tho city
at all. Mo- that is not the question.
They would have us believe so but 1t is
not. They say to us, Here you are acting
like the dog in the manger. You ask us
to come to the city and yet you won't let
us run through your astreets But we
don't ask them to come to the city and
occupy two of our best streets, so that the
social religious and business Interests of a
large rart Of our citizens are seriously dis
turbed. No, indeed. We ask them to come
here and run through the city by q
route that is most convenient TO
them and least Injurious to our city. The
counsel for the b. & p. say they do not
want legislation. OF course they do not.
They are very well satisfied. / said when
they obtained permission to occupy these
avenues and run down Sixth street, that
it would be hard Job to get them away.
They ale on these avenues and on the res
ervatons solely by suacrance. They have
no right of their own to be there. They
can be removed from Sixth street at any
time. remember very well when tho bill
was passed allowing the road to build its
depot on Sixth street. The land was
granted on condition that it could revert to
the Government at any time. number
Of Congressman exclaimed; why, are you
going to give them tho land Why don't
| you sell it to them 2 But IL ii had beer
sold then the road would have been settled
there for all time to come. 1t was wisely
| decided to grant it to the road witt
| the condition that it could be takon back
again. These people along these avenues,
| the speaker continued, pointing In the di
rection of Maryland and Virginia avenues
"all have vested rights Their rights ar,
| invaded by these roads. These right:
| should be respected. Now they talk o
!
man bill, somewhere between Fir.S ant
Fourteenth streets, OH one of these avenues
Where can they find placer But if they
will go down to the southern part of th
city they can find plenty Of ground and q
comparatively triaing figure Up her
they will have to pay from 20 cents to 81
foot. Down there they can get 1t at from
to 10 or 12 cents foot. The people coult
get to a depot down there as easily as they
can to the Sixth street depot. The SAME
lines of street cars will take them there
"Would you insist, as tho Morrill, bill
does on the tracks being elevated?"
'No, / think the people would be salts
fed if they were placed ON the level. The
main point is to get them down there, ant
the people there would welcome them. Th
removal would benefit this part of SoutI
Washington, and while the tracks dowi
there would injure some property-owners
the location oftbe Union Depot there woult
increase the value of real estate in tn
vicinity"
In conclusion the Doctor said: "The peo
| pie down here have been aroused almost Il
desperation about this matter
| nv,y nc