Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06

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the local telephone company uses cables with
entire satisfaction, and the telegraph companies
nave from time to time been urged and pressed 70
abandon some OF their lines.
Advantage has been taken OF applications from
sne telegraph companies for permits to oasin for
proceeded to point where there are lines OF north
and south poles on 9Th and 18th streets which the
are sti maintained BY reason Of the fact that the
District wires are strung upon them. An appro-
Rriatien Of $40 900 IS asked 6y the COmmisei0ners
pleasant dilemma as the Company Company naturally e
quests that the District shoufd either abandon
d nsse poles or buy them n 1Sn ns
trict wires on It'll and 10Th streets, and the re.
maindef win be required for similar purposes at
otnef points. The appropriation Is earnestly 10
commended by the Commissioners.
STEAM RAILROADS.
Ample consideration and urgent recommends
lions have been made In previous reports from
the Commissioners Of the District relative to the
serious disadvantages to certain portions OF the
s. sn que TO the occupancy Of public streets and
plans have from time to time been formulated
and presented to Congress with the view Of re-
eentrating the several H lines now entering the Dis
tr1ct so as to conserve in the fullest measure the
admitted necessity for the most convenient rail.
way communications both for freight and passen-
gers and the interests OF the public In the
development Of dwelling areas and the enjoyment
o.. nnoDstructed highways IN general the main
when s, "a the lines tnSs
lie interest and combine the facilities OF the two
great trunk lines without injustice to either.
not to this time been embodied in the legislation
requisite TO give them effect, although numerous
pllls exhibiting various features have from time to
at this time urge upon Congress any radical alter
alton OF existing routes, but do earnestly invite
70 the necessity for
gIeag cost, and at the same time serve important
The Baltimore and Potomac railroad Is without
OF It's increasing and important business In the
form OF yards and freight depots for the storage Of
in Wc ana OF egn
practically appropriated by the company, which has
laid numerous tracks in the avenues which they
convenience Of citizens and the cutting OF Of con-
Yen1ent access to and from the heart Of the city.
The company should be required to procure by
public streets and avenues for its needfu purposes
and thereafter to abandon to such extent as shall
De practicable, the constant and permanent oc-
cupancy OF the public highways.
IT ls not necessary to advocate or insist upon the
abandonment Of the 9th street station, the eonve-
nj nen n Of which it to the public s 80
lief could be effected If the railroad were required
to remove its tracks from 9Th street to the west
WdlU, anu W SILK Un0m 10 SuCl level as WOul0 al
The present obstruction OF 9Th street, which the
frequent passage Of trains and engines renders too
moved, and the possibility Of continuous commuri-
cation between the Capitol and the White lot be
restored, to the great advantage Of all that por-
The Baltimore and Ohio road has two lines Of
track, the main and Metropolitan branches, enter
Ing the city limits at different points, the former
9th street east and L street north, and thence
crossing numerous streets, occupying consider
able portion Of street and Of north Delaware
ates at its depot on New Jersey avenue and O
streets northwest. The. Metropolitan branch,
and the Brentwood road, crosses the Boundary
near New York avenue and LIST street east, and oc-
cupes this latter street to the junction with the
There are two features in this system, as at
present existing, which the commissioners regard
as capable OF ready and economical modifcation,
ana Which would not necessarily interfere with
any possible future consolidation OF the lines of
the Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania systems.
the Baltimore and ohio be- removed to the east
ward OF North Capitol street, in order that this
fine avenue should be unrestricted from the Cap
Massachusetts avenue. which would then be con-
t1nuOus through the city.
The other feature, in the Judgment Of the Com
mlSsl0ners Is the absence OF any necessity for two
lines OF entrance. II the Metropolitan branch,
down the valley above referred to and upon LIST
street east be abandoned, the communication can
De made at a point near the Bunker Hill road, a
mile and half outside OF Boundary street,
crossing the Brentwood road either above OF
below grade and connecting with the main branch
accommodation OF the traffic OF the Metropolitan
branch additional rails could be laid along the
present route OF the main line, and thereby the
very serious obstruction to the development and
prosperity OF the northeast section of The city be
reduced one-half. In the public interest the COM
mSsiOnerS earnestly press upon Congress the ne
cessity for early action.
HORSE RAILRoADs
Tne street car service OF the city Is very far
from being satisfactory to the citizens OF the Dis
trict or adequate to the public need A certain
amount OF this service Is recognized as an inpera
tive necessity, and requisite authority has beefl
ishment of such lines of horse railroads as could
be shown to be demanded. Nevertheless at the
present time, these tracks and their surroundings
constitute the most serious disadvantage to the
Mighty elaborate system OF perfected street pave
ments. The form Of the rail now In general use is
objectionable In that It projects above the pave
mentS, and OF necessity leaves grooves between
the rails and the adjacent blocks This particular
form OF rail was adopted years ago. under the pro-
tary OF the Interior and the companies the deter
minatfOn OF its FORM and the companies now cnn.
tend that this form OF rail having been adopted by
the authority designated to select 1t. can
not now be changed by the authority Of the
District government. 1t Is obvious that were the
grooved rail to be substituted for the present form
and several examples OF this are In successful use
In some other cities, much OF the difficulty owing
to the present form OF rail would be obv1ated The
space between the rails and tracks is now gener-
ally paved with cobble, pavement which the
companies insist is the best for purposes OF trae.
ton, although it has long since been regarded as
obsolete ana DarDarous for the passage OF vehicles
The result Is that In some of the asphalt Streets
double line OF car track, with cObble 1nterspaces
anu with stone blocks for two feet exterior TO the
outer rails, will completely destroy the Character
OF street pavement, however elaborateIy con
Structed by the subStftutiOnS for smooth and
proper surface of the rough and noisy stones
Other cities, such as Baltimore tn streets having
Improved paVementS, have jud1ciouSly and properly
tracks and rails, at least with comparatively
smOOtn D0ck, either OF granite or asphalt. and no
good reason exists in washington, where SO mnch
attention mas been given to the street pavements
when constitute SO prominent feature and SO
uhdOaOted an advantage, similar provision should
not be made. Since the question OF authority NAV
De successfully disputed 1t Is recommended that
congress empower the Commissioners to make
sutaDle regulations with regard to this important
maLter, anu 10 order both such rails and such
service OF the avenues and streets
Inc companies charters constitute q valuable
property, winch, as rule, cost them nothing
nelf n0fseS contribute greater proportion to The
labor OF keeping the streets clean than perhaps
any Other one cause and toward the expense of this
the companies contribute only their license tax
and taxes upon real property.
Furtnerm0re, the conduct and service OF the
roads independent OF their street plant is far from
SATISFACTORY; Inc cars are neither well kept, well
Ders Ia the morning and evening, when the great
tlde OF travel Is moving to and from the several
places OF business are Quite1nsuc1ent and in con
sequence ene cars are unduly crowded to the serf
The Metropolitan railway leading from tn b
upper part OF Georgetown by Way Of p street co, z