Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-02
THE RAILROAD PROBLEM.
A Question that will be Brought to tn
Front After Election.
ERN BRANCH RoUTE-THE EAST WASHINGTON

The railroad question in its many phases will
be reopened probably soon after the election.
The East Washington Citizens Association, or
Association No. 2, is ready to begin work to
secure legislation. This association is on
record against the project of tunneling Capt.
toll Hill. 1t proposes but one route, and that
| is what is known as the Eastern Branch route,
by which the Baltimore and Ohio tracks shall
enter the city at the extreme east skirting the
Eastern Branch and joining the Pennsylvania
tracks east of the present Navy-Y Yard tunnel
| At the coming meeting of the association it
will be reported that the District Commission
ers are now inclined to favor the route which
the association has endorsed to the exclusion of
all others. This report will be made on the
strength OF the statements made in Capt
Symons' annual report, printed recently in The
| STAR, and conversations held with Commission
ers Webb and Wheatley.
| WHAT MR.. WEBB SAYS.
Commissioner Webb said to-day to a STAR
reporter that he did not see why the route pro-
posed bringing the Baltimore and Ohio road in
across the eastern flats was not a good one and
feasible one. He should think, he said,
that the railroad company would approve it.
because it would be much cheaper for them
than any OF the various schemes of tunneling
proposed.
There is one thing about it, however" said
Mr.. Webb, ''and that is it is next to useless to
| propose any plan that the railroad company
doesnot approve. That has been the experience
| OF this city for years. We cannot relieve the
northeast section of the railroad until some plan
is adopted that the railroad company will not
night. Even members OF Congress who, owning
property in the northeast, have had interest in
this matter, have found themselves powerless
to do anything toward moving the railroad out
told Colonel Ludlow last year, after he had
made an elaborate plan, that his labor would
be in vain unless the railroad company agreed
to it."
MR.. wHEATLEY IN FAVOR OF ANY GOOD ROUTE.
Mr.. Wheatley said that the Commissioners
had not given any consideration to the general
railroad question since preparing its report for
the Senate committee The Commissioners
had not, he said, given its approval as a board
to any other plan. For himself, he said he
favored the Eastern Branch route, or any route
that would relieve the northeast section. He
did not endorse it, however, as being
he said, would oppose it because it materially
heightened the distance of their road between
Washington and Baltimore. They would rather
tunnel even at great expense than lose the ad-
vantage OF short run to Baltimore. The
plan of crossing the city at 18th street east go
ing under the Capitol Hill plateau by tunnel,
MIR. Wheatley said met opposition both from
the citizens and from the railroad company.
MAJOR RAYMoND's VIEWS.
The report on the railroad question sub
mitted to Congress by the Commissioners was
prepared before Major Raymond assumed the
duties of the Office of Engineer Commissioner.
Since Major Raymond has held that Office the
matter has not been before the Commissioners
for consideration. He said to STAR reporter
to-day that the Commissioners had made
several reports on this subject to Con-
gress, and he was not aware Of any change of
views as board. No one, he said had au-
thority for stating that the Commissioners had
endorsed this or that plan. When The STAR
reporter suggested that those who favored the
Eastern Branch route took hope from Can't
Symonds remarks in his report, Major Ray
mond said: Capt. Symonds does not repre-
sent the Commissioners. There are many
things, he says, that do represent the views
OF the Commissioners, but what he saws in his
report must not be taken as being necessarily
the Commissioners views In the case of the
street schedule, for instance, Major Raymond
said Capt. Symons made many good sugges-
tons, but the Commissioners did not in every
case approve them. Let US see," remarked
Major Raymond, ''what Capt Symons saws on
the subject" The major took from his desk a
copy OF The STAR containing Capt. Symons' re-
port and read from it the section relating to
steam railroads, saying, Situated as Washing
is there need be and should be but one line Of
railroad entering and crossing the city and
that line should be substantially the one occu-
pied by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
and its southern connections The Baltimore
and Ohio Is 80 situated that it can readily be
detected to come into the city by the same
route, and it should be compelled to do it.
This would enable the two roads to arrange
their tracks so that nearly all crossings would
be above or below the grade Of the streets in
the more populated parts of the city, and
would do away with dangerous grade crossings
and allow trains to be driven at far higher
rate of speed than is now permissible with
safety, &c"
When the major had read it he reflected
moment, looked on map of the District be-
side him, showing the railroad lines, and said:
THAT is sound, it seems to me, but the Com
missioners have not yet considered the matter.
They may, however, take it up for considera-
ton in their annual report"
THE CHANCES OF LIQUIDATION.
Mr.. NJ. l. Weller, OF the East Washington Asso-
citation and a member Of the Railroad Commit
tee OF One Hundred, said to q STAR reporter
that il the Commissioners had been with them
they could have had the matter settled at the
railroad around by the Eastern Branch route.
He thought there was some doubt whether
they could obtain legislation on the subject
during the coming short session.
How Chocolate is Made.
Chocolate" said a New York confectioner.
Is made from beans that grow in pods on the
cacao tree. These trees are numerous in the
west Indies, and it is from there we get our
supplies. The beans are brought hither in the
pod, and put through regular manufacturing
process to produce the chocolate cakes that we
use: Inc hrst operation is the breaking of the
husks and separating them from the kernels
by 2 blast OF air. Then the beans are ground
Win sugar by revolving granite grindstones
Inc stones are heated, and the oil contained in