Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-02
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THIS RAnR0AD-BE4ANGLED Park,
now almost and soon to be wholly ruined, II the
bill Of the committee shall be accepted, by an III
starred severance into comparatively useless frag
ments, win soon have many acres Of ground and
some small but gitterfng sheets of water added 70
us western boundary by reclamation from the Po-
oootless and bottomless land-1umpers. The ex-
penditures for this noble work have been large,
but they viii have been m ade with clipped wing,
II not improvtdently, II there Is to be not only no
reclamation OF the orr final PARK from Inc Iron
grasp OK the great Pennsylvania Railroad corpora
corporation shall be invited to lend hand to the
sPoiiatlon, leaving the widowed fragments 70 De
I 6ns away or to survive no longer loved no
The park, as reserved one hundred years ago.
reserved not for one generation, but as an eterna!
possession for all succeeding generationsEiit mao
parks In many other American cities would cost
millions Of dollars; but all That Is asked for now
voice 81 az ahe nSo as is that we
rescue the park we have from pitiless railroad
domination. We are not asked 10 be as liberal as
Buffalo and Boston have been. nor even as liberal
as many rural towns have been; but we may be
expected to be not wholly strangers TO their re-
nnement and public spirit, and expected 70 re.
claim the modest little park we own and once
possessed.
we are protesting to revere the memory Of
washington by a monument on the western por-
ton OF this ground, which lacks nothing OF
sublimity In its uneQualed height and dimensions,
completed at a cost OF more than million dollars;
but all who may hereafter ascend TO its LOFTY sum-
nit and look out upon the wonderful panorama
preSented-where men are reduced TO the size OF
pigniies where we seem to stake up the isles as a
very little thing and TO clay the earth In a bal
ance"-wtll often have their eyes rtveted upon the
park once as dear to Washington as the apple OF
his eye, and not less dear to US as tie pa1nstaklng
work OF jefferson, now proposed to be completely
beheaded, the head forever separated from the
trunk, by an impossible and walled guilt from
which the steam, smoke and SCOT OF a rookery OF
engines will be continually ascending, and VIII
wonder why an American Congress should permit
so foul botcn TO besmirch the face or so grand a
picture and more wonder why the reverence paid
TO Washington should be SO blasphemed On the
ground where his memory was intended TO De for
ever conSecrated.
ought we not to have the privilege to visit the
Monument directly from the Capitol, without peril
and without going roundabout, zigzag way TO IL
We spare no expenditure for the preservation Of
National Park on the Yellowstone, which COM
paratively few Americans will ever see, and yet
servation, without any expenditure, OF a park In
the national capital, which all good Americans
hope to see before they die
strained as our Government was In its early
days for funds, and as rampant as was the specu-
lat1ve demand here for city lots, the Government
did not part with one 1ot or little OF Jefferson 8
intact as sacred as the garden or the Hesperides,
In order ITO form" as IL was declared:
"A broad and uninterrupted Landscape connec-
ton between the square on which were to be
placed the Executive buildings and the grounds
for the future site Of the Capitol"
original proprietors. and Cannot afrosd to do less
than TO hand over the heritage with deferential
fealty 10 our successors whole and unincumbered.
We hold the park for the health and happiness
OF the greatest number OF people, OF those desti-
tute OF horses and carriages, and unable TO incur
daily expense for their hire, but who, with their
families when through with the laborS and ia.
tigueS or the day, or or Sedentary life, including
weary brain-workerS, would often gladly seek one
OF the dearest pleasures OF ife-fresh air and re-
to- nj oh hav mil
1t Is park close at hand In the very heart OF the
city, with a landscape and walks to be made
sweet and attractive by the foliage and fragrance
of all the trees and shrubs which thrive In this
favored latitude with natural splendor OF
health and beauty.
Little heed appears to have been given to former
petitions, or TO later protests, OF large numbers
OF the most substantial citizens OF Washington,
and therefore the nonresident capitalists and
promoters OF the destruction OF the park appear
10 expect Congress will respond to every fresh de-
mand that may be made by railroad potentates.
1t was not enough that the PARK should receive a
1atal STAB from one railroad corporation, but It is
proposed TO 1nt1ict some punishment after death
by division and distribution OF its garments
among those assumed to be willing to become
equal partners In the outrage. The bill in charge
OF the Senator from West Virginia is based on
the idea that not enough has been done for the
benent OF the Baltimore and Potomac Company.
We granted, beyond a valuable franchise, the use
OF avenues and streets, without cost for their
tracks. We gave the company the Long bridge in
PeTpetuity, and have let them EN- have the use Of
more) for sixteen years, subject TO the payment OF
taxes. The appetite OF the corporation has grown
upon what 1t has fed and the ability OF the United
States to furnish further bounties assumed to be
equal TO the greed OF the company. BY this bill
further large slices of the park to be cut, nearest
to the heart" on each side OF 9Th street. 100 feet
wide and 1000 feet long, and then further ex-
tended through the park with width Of 90 feet are
offered as an additional taf-miliion inducement to
the railroads not to abandon the public park. A
stil further royal bounty is offered in the CON-
pleJe surrender OF 9th street to the railroad COM
panieS, TO be occupied by their tracks and sheds.
Lots, wherever the companies think necessary, In
any direction ana almost without limitation, are
also authorized TO be acquired The era OF rail-
road ascendency may not yet have passed away,
and, If
TICKET-OFFICEs WITHIN THE CAPITOL
were to be demanded, am not sure they would
not be refused with some regret, as they would be
80 neighborly ana so convenient
The improvident provisions OF the grant, and
hope TO be pardOned for resurrectng the fact were
men to punish one railroad corporation for a wit
less refusal TO make close and proper connections
with another; but our bitter experience like that
or Esops frogs has shown that We cannot afford
TO change King Log for King Stork and let US ad-
nit that few human punishmentS, even OF rail-
road sinners, should be everlasting. The past Of
lenses OF omission are more easily cOndOned than
those OF present actual and obstinate transgres-
sion.
The danger to life and limb from tracks placed
on the surface OF streets and crossings needs no
further Illustration by the railroads. certainly not
by me- and the question Is, shall it be indefinitely
continued?
II the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad has re-
peatedly violated the conditions OF its charter az
think 1t has been fully shown, In what quarter Is
IL 10 summon pity, when there is no purpose OF
vengeance. nor OF injustice, but only purpose 10
confer upon the road all the proper privileges
which could be Claimed even by a corporation
adorned with modesty and all the virtues?
The steam railroads here appear to be eager and
extensive purchasers OF lots and parcels Of land
evidently having great confidence in such invest
ments, and able TO pay for more Then why should
the city OF Washington be called upon to donate
land In half million Jumps for their benefit? Is
there city In the country with 200, 600 tnhabl-
tantS which has ever donated any part OF cen.
trail public reservation to a steam railroad years
after the construction OF its main STEM to be used
as passenger depot? The city nearly doubles its
100000 within the next dozen years.
Concerted foreign critics with compassionate
superiority often sweetly remind Americans OF
many shortcomings, OF making the almighty
having no interest In anything which does not add
TO the bulk OF material prosperity, and OF being
wholly destitute OF the instincts which respond to
letters, TO the arts, and TO the love OF
beauty. However gross and unsubstantial
gress and the American people incur a
more merited reproach were we now to prefer the
distinction OF Intrusive railroad stations In the
foreground OF the national Capitol to that OF a
Clean interesting, and beautiful park, and park
republic? Would II not show some decadence Of
public spirit from that OF our ancestors:
But, leaving the park wholly outside of the cues
tlOn am persuaded that any competent board OF
well as OF the public, would locate the railroad
stations south OF the intersection OF Maryland and
Virginia avenues. 1t would be q great boon To
the roads There they would no longer be