Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-25

Citi1ens Before the senate District
COnmitreo,
RxrKEssIoNs OF OPINION IN FAVOR or TIE xoKauI

ExPRHssIoNs OF OPINION IN FAVOR or TIE noKRnL
BILL
The Senate District committee met at 10 O'Clock
this morning. an hour earlier than usual so as TO
hear representatives OF the citizens on the subject
OF railroad routess through the city. Among the
citizens present were Dr. Culver, Messrs c. B.
Church, Walter Smith. N. u. Rohrer, J. knouse, L
s. Chapman and Thomas Murphy. Representa-
tives OF the Baltimore and Potomac and Baltimore
and Ohio railroads were also present
DR. c r. Culver INSISTS uroN REMOVAL OF tn.
TRACKS FROM MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA AVE-
EUEA
Dr. c. p Culver on behalf Of the citizens OF South
Washington, was nrst heard He not only pro-
the running OF railroad tracks on Maryland and
sLglnA avenues, but insisted that the tracks now
tnere ana on 9Th street shall be removed. He
pointed out the Inconvenience and annoyance 10
the residents that vicinity because OF the rail-
IoaoS, ana said that the b and Z. road must '.git
up ana gu He said that some OF the best and
are now given up TO railroad uses; that at all
nours OF the Gay ana night engines are moving,
" a I'M being made up and that the congregations
gI A1 or seven prominent churches are disturbed
ue pupi are IN danger OF loss or life and limb in
goinS 70 the public schools The doctor eloquently
pictured all the evils and annoyances the people
suffer- and declared that II Congress does not give
the people relief they win take IL lie did not want
10 threaten, but, said he, 1--WE have rights, and.
SAID the people would appeal TO Congress and 20
the courts and II these resources failed them they
, Mouio laiI back upon the last resort OF kings,
wal " II this be q threat said the doctor,
make tne most OF It." DIR. Culver said that all the
arguments used by the Pennsylvania Central
against permitting the Baltimore and Ohio 10 lay
tracks on Maryland and Virginia avenues applied
as strongly for the removal OF those there now He
Saia tne removal OF these tracks would enhance
tne price OF property along the STREETS and avenues
now used for railroads from 10 TO 100 per cent
DE- culver urged the adoption OF the Morrfll bill
as tne DeSt solution OF the question. and the one
.nal "oulo Work less injury 10 property interests
Mr. CHURCH FAvoRs THE MORRILL, BILL.
MI. c. B. Church. in behalf OF the subcommittee
on haroor Improvements OF the citizens committee,
ana OF others doing business on the water 'front.'
also recommended the Morr1n bill. He referred to
tne protest OF citizens originally against the of
the evils that had resulted from the grant, He
also pictured the annoyance Co citizens along the
railroad routes and the danger to property and
NE. he SAID that the only thoroughfare leading
through direct from North Washington TO deep
water was practically shut on by railroad tracks:
mat Ice wagons going from the river front into the
heart OF the city have TO cross innumerabe
railway tracks, and he had counted whole
rows OF teams stopped at loss 10 business
men by trains being across the streets He de-
clared that the Long bridge must be reconstructed
III any river commerce is done here. Mr.. Church
SAID tnat after years OF effort the river channel is
now being improved, but all the advantage viii be
lost or nulifled II the Long bridge Is TO remain as
II now Is He could not see why Congress should
favor the railroads over the maritime interests here
ne submitted map or the Long bridge and quoted
MAJOR Hams as authority that reconstruction Is
necessary In order TO give shipping proper facilities
Mr.. Church said that unless The Morrill, DILL be
adopted those he represented would prefer the
commissioners plan
OTHER SPEECHES
Messrs. Knouse, Smith and Rohrer spoke briefly
In the interest OF northeast Washington. They in
sisted upon the Baltimore and Ohio tracks and
depots being removed from the northeastern part
Yhn S&(%x a =
the Baltimore and Ohio TO reach South.W ashing-
TON through the city. They also urged the adop-
ton OF the Morrill, bill
important Action Of the COMMITTEES.
AGAINST THE B. q o. TUNNEL PRoJEcr.
The committee then excluded all outsiders and
TOOK up the railroad question. 1t was discussed at
length, and finally the committee decided TO drop
ai pending plans for permitting the Baltimore and
ONO 70 tunnel. through Capitol Hill, and TO re-
9ulre IL 70 60 round the city along the Eastern
Branch, and form junction with the Baltimore
only agreed upon In a general way; the details OF
the plan Will be adopted at the next meet
Ing l T,,, II was next determined to require the
baltimore and Potomac depot to be removed In
accordance with the plan suggested by the District
commissioners, and that The Il. d o. passenger
AS to the Long bridge nothing was determined
beyond the fact that It shall be used jointly by the
,: T. and B; o: railroads The question VI
RECONSTRUCTION VIII be decided hereafter.
THE MORRILL, BILL
requires the B. & o. to 60 round via the Eastern
Branch, to cross that stream on a bridge, and
thence to point OF confluence with the b. p.
road east OF the Eastern Branch and thence across
the branch by draw bridge alongside OF and par
@ and n Gns tS Mn,sa a snn
on the north side OF the B. p to lis
intersection with Navy Yard tunnel, and
modate both roads 1t also provides for a union
depot In such squares south OF street, between
James creek canal and 7th street southwest as the
commissioners may designate. Next Tuesday
afternoon the committee are TO have special train
and to go over the roads SO that they may be able
to tx upon proper route around the city for the
b. o.. The route OF the Morrtll bill NAV be
adopted In part, but all this is as yet uncertain
Views OF the District Commissioners.
THEIR LETTER TO SENATOR GoRMAN
In response to letter OF Senator German the
District Commissioners have addressed him a CON-
mun1caeion on the subject of railroad routes At
the outset the Commissioners protest against the
Baltimore and Potomac depot remaining in fits
present Site The unanimous sentiment OF the
board is for fits removal, and that It should be
located In the four squares just south OF Maryland
and, virginia avenues, between eth and 10th
depotS should be located in these squares
They say that squares 40 and 434, and the
portion Of Sth street between them would give a
space 500 feet long and PA feet wide for covered
passenger station, and squares $50 and 464 would
give ample room for passenger yards BY locating
moved from 9th street. restoring this street TO its
original use as public highway, for which IL is
greatly needed, this being the only street leading
to and through South Washington west OF the DO
tancal garden on which there Is no rail-
road tracks. The tracks would also be re-
moved from Maryland and Virginia avenues
between 9th and 10th streets, the portion of
these avenues most used for travel 1t would also
permit the improvement OF the public reservation
between 9th and 9Th streets, which Is the only re-
Servat1onf in the southwestern section OF the city,
and which can never be improved so long as rain
road tracks run through 1t as at present ON the
other hand, this depot would be convenient 70 the
public being at the intersection OF eight streets and
avenues, and no farther distant from the center OF
property and population than the present location
OF the b and U depot.
These reasons seem to the Commissioners so i'm
pOrtant that they feel that they would fail In their
duty II they did not press them upon hts atten-
ton at this time.
SENATOR GoRMANs LETTER
asked for the Commissioners views based upon the
assumption that the 9Th street depot should remain
as now located After writing the protest above
copied against this the Commissioners then pro-
ceeded to give their views on the theory the 9th
street depot retaining its present location They say
that wh1e strongly opposed TO the retention OF the
depot in the midst OF public park yet II Congress
decides in favor OF it. that the facilities II affords
ought to be accorded to both roads They there
foraS hat a oyd do,n