Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-08-11
The Railroads and the City.

that party of civil engineers, employees OF
the A. &. FIR R Company, had been en-
gagged in surveying lines from point near
ST. Asaph Junction across the country tothe
main track ofthat road near West End, and
also that it had been intimated that the
company would run its tracks around the
city if an amicable adjustment of the ques-
tons of grades, privileges, etc., could not be
effected between the company and the city.
To ascertain the nature of the differences, if
any existed, reporter of the GAZETTE to.
day called on aldermen Herbert Bryant,
chairman of the committee on streets, of the
City Council, and asked him to explain them.
In reply Capt. Bryant said:
TN regard to the report about an engi-
neer corps running line from st. Asaph
Junction across and through Wet End to
The A. & F. track, with view, 1t is said, OF
going around our city, will state that our
committee on streets don't scare worth
cent If the a. & F. r. r. company sees bit
to run around the city, rather than comply
with its contract with the city, or make any
satisfactory adjustment of the difficulties
surrounding their present grade on Fayette
street, I say let them 60. and the sooner
they 60 the better. wish to say right here
that the sooner the railroad companies e.
tering the city understand that the city
has some laws to be observed, and the citl
zens some rights to be respected, the sooner
we will have better condition of things
existing in our midst. Why, the grade OF
the A. & F. r. II. Co. on Fayette street has
been an illegal one Tor years-eVer since
1871, when The ordinance giving them per.
mission 10 paas through the city was passed.
In this ordinance their grade is clearly de6n.
ed, but they have entirely ignored it, taking
such grade az suited their purposes. Why
such D condition Fittings have been allowed
10 remain so long is hard to understand and
| can only be accounted for from the fact that
our city has not been in position to push
| any street improvements in that section,
and matters have been allowed TO remain
as they are, though every committee on
streets, since this railroad entered Feyette
street has had this subject to tackle, because
its grade, hesides being illegal, is also
drainage westward, damirg up the water, In
every heavy rain, causing private property
to be inundated, and in consequence suits
|
| fail, when the Committee on Streets were
instructed by resolution of Couucl to look
nto the subject Of grades in the northwest
section, to consult ompetent engineers and
devise some system of surface drainage for
hat locality, We found the present grade
of the A & F. r. r. great stumbling block
ia cur way. Our engineers reported that
with this road in its present position, there
| . To do VII tn
sewer north on Henry street. which would
cost the city from six to eight thousand dol
lars, besides the additional expense In max
ing connecting streets conform to 1t. Our
committee had no desire to inconvenience
the railroad company, or to put them to IN
necessary expense. We recognized fully
the inconvenience and expense that would
follow the altering of their grades to
conform to the law, but at the same time
we could not see exactly why six or eight
thousand dollars should be spent by the
CITY for their accommodation and couven-
fence, so we held conference with the
railroad authorities, with view of settling
this long vexed question. We stated the
situation exactly TO them and proposed that
they shou d assist US to the extent OF So 600
in putting down the Henry street sewer, a
work that would cost the city certainly
Sc 900, and possibly IS 600, and We would
recommend council 10 legalize their pres
ent grade, and thus settle definitely this
troublesome question. They refused, and
the conference dissolved, without arriving
at any satisfactory understanding. After
waiting for some time, our committee being
anxious to determine grades In that section,
wrote again to Mr. h. II. Carter, at Will
mington, Del, requesting him to let US know
definitely what he proposed TO do IN the
matter. After considerable delay reply
came, stating in substance that from some
profies in possession Of the railroad author
tiles, they were satisfied they were on their
legal grade, and proposed to stay there.
For this reason the resolution referred to
was introduced in Council and passed, re-
curing this company to conform 10 their
grade on Fayette street as laid down in the
ordnance passed in 1871, giving them
permission to pass through the city,
and, though nearly month has passed since
this resolution was sent to Mr. II. Il. Car
ter, the superintendent, it has go far been
entirely ignored. Then, said Capt Bryant,
"ook at the Henry street track, operated by
this company and within one square of their
Fayette street track. Why, this line is
maintained in utter violation and defiance OF
Law. Let any citzsn so for himself and see
the condition Of this track. The lay ex-
pressly provides that this, as we'll as all
other tracks in the ti-y, must be paved be
tween the ties and two feet outside of the
tracks, and otherwise KEEP. in repair, and
yet, has anything of the kind been done
with this track 4? Is there an observaDt cti
zen in town who does not know that this
law is not almost entirely ignored by the
railroad companies entering our city ?
When we complain about these matters and
request politely to have the law complied
with and the evil corrected. We are met
with the threat that unless we cease annoy
ing the railroads their shops will be removed
from here, or they will run around the city,
or visit cur community with some other ca
lamity Is it not time that such bosh was
hushed and our city authorities enforce rig
idly the laws? While am on this subject