Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-26
CITY AND DISTRICT.
DISTRICT RAILROAD EVILS.
Relief Asked by Successive Commits
siOner~.

AeAien Asked by successive Commits.
sioner~.
100 MANY SURFACE TRACKs-oBsTAcLEs TO TRAVEL
AND NPROvENEST-THE RUINED NALI-AFFLIcTEp
NORTHEAST AND SOUTH wAsHISGroN-USHEEDED
APPEALS FOR REMEDY.
"Since the settlement OF the question OF the Po-
tomae fats and the water supply at the last session
OF Congress there Is nothing OF so much Importance
10 the interests OF the city the settlement OF the
railroad question, and IL should be pressed with
the utmost urgency" SO said Lieutenant Greene
In his report OF 1Ss2. The present District Gov
ernment, since its establishment In 1873, has
recognized the importance OF this problem, and
has constantly given voice to the appeal Of the
District for relief from the evils endured. IL has
not been the fault OF the District or its represen
tatives IN the local government that the railroads
nave remained In practical control OF the streets
10 exercise unlimited power harshiy and inturi-
0usy The prospect OF a discussion OF the railroad
question In all It's bearings by tine senate next
Tuesday gives interest TO The Representations and
requests for legislation OF the Commissioners rep
res nting the District During the period covered
pubuc sentiment has also been Indicated In meet
lngs OF citizens and by delegations appearing be
IOre congressional committees. Their statements
and reconme ndatiOnS are substantially repro
dueed, though perhaps In a mild form, In the ON
cial reports OF the needs Of the District
Inc commissioners In their report OF 1873 SAID:
I'VE eel IL our duty 70 refer 70 the presence OF the
two railway depOts in the city OF Washington, both
or which are serious Obstacles TO the Improvement
OF the localities where they are established, De
sides being sources OF unnecessary danger TO the
public In the streets along which the tracks pass.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot, with its
tracks for approach, prevents grading the streets
upon the north side OF the intermediate vicinity or
the Capitol grounds. Its tracks from Baltimore
the northeastern part Of the city In such a man.
ner as 10 Impair the value OF the property and i'm
pede the progress OF Improvements while they
cross Massachusetts, avenue practically severing
the nest street IN the city. I Is entirely practi
cable 70 unite these TWO lines outside the city and
bring them In upon one line of street a station
somewhere north OF Massachusetts avenue. and
thus remove much OF the objection TO ana damage
arising from the location of the depot in that
portion OF the city. The Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad depot and tracks are
equally injurious 20 the improvement and welfare
of the part OF the city they occupy. Crossing the
Mall they divide and disngure this beautiful park
extending from the Capitol to the Presidents
house. besides greatly injuring the streets the
south side OF II on account OF the circuitous man.
ner OF approach, and Obstructing improvementso on
the south slde OF the Capitol. The depot OF the
company should be removed across the Mall and
10 the vicinity Of reservation No. IL. IL Is not
20 BE- expected that the surroundings OF the Capt.
tOl can become what they ought TO be while these
two railway stations occupy their present sites"
In 1879 they again urged action as follows:
"Washington is Increasing rapidly in population,
and the improvements now in progress are gen.
orally OF superior order. But large sections OF
the city In the vicinity OF the tracks and stations
or the Baltimore and Ohio and Baltimore and POto-
mac Halfway companies 10 not share In the devel-
OpInent and prosperity elsewhere apparent;
and u happens ttidt these TRACKS and stations
in the vicinity OF the Capitol, upon the north and
south sides The capitol grounds, the grounds OF
The Executive Mansion, and those which connect
them, form together a IN 3gn1flcent park OF 331
acres, In the heart OF the city; but Occupied and
severed 1t Is by Railway tracks and depot 1t can
never be effectively improved, ard It's beauty as
well as its enjoyment by the public are fatally
MARRIED This Is, we think, a grievance which
should no longer be tolerated. We again
earnestly invite the attention or Congress TO this
subject
In 1880 they come to the scratch with undimin-
ished enthusiasm: "The Commissioners again
spectfully, but earnestly invoke speedy action by
Congress on the alL1mpOrtant subject OF steam
railroad stations. SO long one OF these stations
Is permitted 10 oDstrucI the extension and i'm
pr0yenent OF streets at the very doors OF the Cap
itOl, and another Is allowed TO sever and destroy
for free public the magnificent park and bOule-
ward which connects the Capitol and Executive
Mansion, the growth and adOrnment OF the federal
capital must be seriously If not fatally, impeded.
in this connection we recommend that all
steam roads be required when practicable, to en-
ter the city on grades below the grades OF the
streets. so as not 10 interfere with street traffic"
The Commissioners annual report OF 1881 calls
attention 10 Capt Hoxies report OF that year and
10 special report TO De furnished TO Congress In
reference 70 request from that body. The fea-
lures or Capt HOxieS recommendations are EN-
"a tnis special report majority OF the
W ashfngton, but 1ndO-Se the report and bill OF
Major Iwlnlng the engineer Commissioner, and
forward them 20 Congress on the theory that |
Maryland and Virginia avenues are TO be used FOR
railroad purposes. Major Twining's plan brought |
the Baltimore and Ohio down 18th street east In
tunnel at q street, carried both baltimore and I
Ohio and Baltimore and Potomac through south |
washington above or below grade, along Maryland |
and Virginia avenues. with union station at their
intersection Speaking OF the Baltimore and Ohio |
he says: This road has been constructed without
regard 70 the established grades OF the several
streets and avenues which IL occupies or crosses
This fact, which at the time was probably con-
s1SH y, ,stie IN 1ance, mas, oy reason OF the
the cause OF constantly increasing complaint"
OF the Baltimore ami Potomac he says: .'This road
occupiesthe two In the southwest por-
tlOa OF The city at grade, and employs them for stand
Ing trains and Tor the unloading OF heavy freights
the great discomfOrIure the ordinary business
and travel OF the streets IL also the grand
PARK which extends from the Capitol tOthe Execu-
tive Mansion and prevents its improvement
When the privilege CT this location was granted to
the company the Mall east OF 9Th street was un-
improved and the objection was not so obvious
annual appropriations and the presence or the
depot and tracks Is a serious and unSightly OBJ
struction- These branch lines are open 10 the
common objection OF occupying the greater part
or a narrow street at grade. These tracks should
be removed and the road should be confined TO the
line Of Virginia and Maryland avenues as in the
case OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad"
In lSSc2 the Commissioners said: 'The present
status OF the steam railways in this district
Its citizens but 10 the managements OF the roads
as well The report OF Lieut.. Greene, appended
hereto, gives clear statement or the facts in the
case. and recttes the steps heretofore taken with
the view OF bringing about an improving state OF
anars- AT the last session OF Congress a bill for
The construction OF union depot was introduced.
but no action taken This proposed TO bring the
Baltimore and Ohio and Baltimore and Potomac
tracks together near North Carolina avenue and
LIST street east, ana thence reach the Long bridge
by an elevated ROAD 10 Virginia avenue, where
passing DciOH grade, IL was TO be continued as a
sunken ROAD, ria Virginia and Maryland avenues
Tie present depot anu tracks OF tie Baltimore and
Potomac road on 9Th street were TO be abandoned
and a union depot was 70 be built at some place
on line between south Capitol street and the
bulge The estimated cost OF this project was, In
rO1ni numbers, s2,400.O00. In the opinion or the
tOlIll siOners the interests OF the District could
d served IN no better way than by carrying out
tie general prOject as outlined abOve.o
Lieut. Greele'S report, above referred to- Is
a thorough aud satisfactory discussion OF The
whole subject Speaking OF the Baltimore and
f0tOmees occupation OF the Mall he says:
The park has been virtually destroyed east OF
ON street, ali travel on u portion or 9Th street
SOne OF the ma thorOuybfareS 10 the water frontl
has been suspe nded ana the railroad company
owing, PROBABLY. 70 the uncertainty OF It's status
has sponed The erection OF any adequate freight
depot, and has unloaded It's cars on Maryland and
Virginia avenues, making a continuous freight
Depot more than a mile In length the two prln.
clpal avenues OF the southern section OF the city
u the great annoy ance and discomfort OF the resi-
nenss OF that Section i therefore sug-
gest that the Commissioners recommend 70 Con-
gTess the enactment Of law fOrOidding the run
hing or trains On The present route OF the Balti-
more anu ONO road, giving that company the
OptiOnOf coming around Capitol Hill or under IL on
any one OF the three routes above named: also re-
Iealing the act which granted the Baltimore and
Potomac road the right 20 cross the park on the
line O1 9th street, but otherwise confirming the
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