Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-28

" 1ONs Os Css "a
STEAM RAILROADS m THE CITY
Hearing Before she senate District
COmnaistee re>Aay.
President nosrRrs, OF fat rnxmYIvAxtA, WANTS
fHrNGs 10 R1xAN JUsT ~ THxf Ana DDoAusR
CHANGES cosr noNHr--cn1Kf 1xonff1s poperA AS
ADvocATes TEE BALTIMORE AND oHfo PfAN-vIEws
OF OTHER BALrMoKE AND ONO oFFIcrns-ANp OF
THE CrT1zENs' COMMITTEE.
The hearing appointed for to-day by the senate
District committee on the subject Of steam rail-
road routes and the union passenger depot began
at 10 40 O'Clock this morning. The Pennsylvania
Railroad co. was represented by President
Roberts ice-President Jho. p. Green Jno. Scott
general counsel; R A. Barclay, assistant manager;
H. Il. Brown, chief engineer, and ext. s. Senator
w. j. Sewell, vice.president Of the West Jersey
division. Senator Mcpherson and Blodgett, of
New jersey, were present. The Baltimore and
Ohio Co was represented BY samuel Spencer
president; J. <. Cowen, general counsel; Il. T.
ton, local counsel The District citizens commit
tee was represented by 8. Taylor Suit and N. L
Weller.
PRESIDENT ROBERTS GIVES TIE HISTORY OF TIE
BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC ROAD.
President Roberts, Of the Pennsylvania Central,
was first heard At the OUTSET he gave history
OF the Baltimore and Potomac road. He said it
was commenced In 1871 and finished In 1879 The
route the privilege Of checking baggage through,
and it was determined to build line TO and through
Wa zoo, The citizens Of washington prom
promise was not kept but In lieu Of 1t, the site OF
the passenger depot, then pond. was given. The
haps 1t had not. Many inducements were offered
e0zt o. 6qi 10 new road 70 Washingson The
present ho enoA
from Baltimore here and short line to Pope's
Creek had cost that. The building Of the Pppe's
and would be given away. The only paying prop,
erty from the investment is the line between Bal
timore and Washington. The money was raised
roads. For nine years the road did not pay any
interest. Up to the present it has never paid the
oa s n b PONDS any Ihs
more than running expenses The property south
OF the Long bridge had not paid anybody but the
lawyers. They mad reaped harvest out OF II.
WANTS THINGS TO STAY As THEY ARE.
Mr.. Roberts then gave the earnings Of the Bslti-
more and Potomac to show that the only people
who had ever received any beneft from the invest
ment Is the travelling public. 1t had not paid the
investors At the present time the road is just be-
1t has now double track ana is well equipped.
That has been done at enormous expense, and II
return to those who had risked their capital The
cost OF the Long bridge had been very great and
the DEMENT'S had gone to Others than those who
repair, and keep It open as public highway. II
let acne the property viii pay; II the changes
D. for ars made it would throw the property
up at the expense or the shareholders.
OBJECTIONS TO SINKING THE TRACKS IN SOUTH
WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Roberts spread out large map, which he
had prepared to show the effect OF the Commits
sioners recommendations. He explained by the
map that the scheme sink tho railroad tracks OF
the Baltimore and Potomac In south Washington
would he nearly impracticabIe. He said the pres
ent tracks Of the road are now about feet below
the highest water that has been seen in Washing
ton. TO follow the plan Of the Comm ssioners
from I'd street southwest out to the
Long bridge from 2H feet to - and II feet
aa tn 1 LED 70 height aysrsgng from
along these streets, some Of them valuable. The
changes Of grade proposed would cost heavily,
or the Government. Rs the Long S% bfdse and
along the river the grade OF the streets would be
3 feet above the wharf: He said the plan in most
part might be practicable, but the cost would be
so enormous that no Railroad would undertake 1t.
Had such condition been orr finally imposed the
II. and p. would have asked another route or
would have abandoned the project Of building
altogether.
Mr.. ROBERTS ENUMERATION OF GRfRvANcrs
Mr.. Roberts went on to explain the investments
maze by the company for ground and improve
meRts. The railroad has no right Of eminent do
main here, and can only purchase property by
agreement with owners, and in every case
when 1t is learned that the company wants ground
| the price Is raised The company had bought
ground for freight purposes but were not per-
United to run tracks Into the square. 1t cannot
handle its freight business here, except in the
Streets and for that it had been ned about fifteen
times and there are about sixty five suits pending.
IL Is held that the company only lay tracks on
the streets defined for IT'S rails. and must not
tend tracks TO any squares, even when the prop
erty belonged to the company. The company was
denied the right to get to its own property.
BETWEEN FL AND THE IRON WORKS.
Senator Chace said that was most extraordi-
| nary decision. The company was to use an old
saying, "between the devil and the deep sea-
Mr. Riddleberger-"That has been changed to
Mr. Roberts, continuing, said that II given due
| authority to reach It's own ground the company
will soon relieve all the streets. II had determined
TO relieve the streets anyhow, but unless permitted
to reach It's ground SCI apart for freight the plan
public In their shipping business
| Mr.. ROBERTS WANTS HIS PASSENGER DEPOT WHERE
| 1T NOW Is.
| Mr.. Roberts next took up the question Of the
passenger depot, insisting that the depot should
remain where it now is. The railroad company
had believed that 1t had good title to the site of
| place pointed out by the Commissioners would
| make difference In tim between Baltimore and
where the citizens propose would make difference
| OF IL miles. lie meant In point or time; that the
time consumed In getting from the depots thus
| lance as named. He would propose, II the
that the company be authorized to build
| small depot costing eight or ten thousand dol
| lars; then stop running passenger trains to the
present depot and run them all into the new and
smaller s,,ls depot; He believed that such howl
show clearly what the public want as to the de.
pot. He felt sure Of public opinion without such
| test.
| .o nm rr,r nm .cvs ~, s,xv,, ,-,r.