Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-23


Now, Sir, in the face Of these grants, in face
OF the consideration that you received, in face
OF the pghted faith OF the nation, It Is pretended
the only thing that can be made into public park
that you can cut 1t up and give II to private rail-
ROAD corporation. Sir, II you can do that you can
forced the Baltimore and ohio Railroad Co. on
pennsylvania avenue. You made 1t remove It's
not have a railroad depot on the avenue. and you
forced that company OF the avenue. Now, II you
are 10 allow this company TO come up substaDti-
the public park and destroy it. how can you refuse
TO do the same for the Baltimore q Ohio Cot How
can you refuse TO do II for the southern compa-
MES which are to come into this city? How can
you refuse TO do 1t for any railroad company?
oh, MI. President, how beautiful this park lies
How beautiful IL lies, right In the center OF the
city, and how much they would thank you II
az an sSeaS OF aus al
were just 10 agree to surrender all public property
from the Capitol 70 the White House in order that
would suit this practical age, that would suit the
practical man, that would suit a man who thinks
in ahs to M no
Is the senate prepared to DO
you intend to ns hold the s scales II
Justice, perfectly even and firmly balanced be-
tween these two railroad Companies, If you allow
one or them TO set up on this park you must allow
every other one to do it, and then instead OF hav.
ing before this Capitol and before the Presidential
city that VIII contribute not only to the pleasure
OF It's Inhabitants but contribute to the pleasure
OF every man, woman, and child In the republic
VINO comes here, and which will contribute to the
health OF the city, you Will have before you o
vast railroad depot, or
"a SERIES OF RAILROAD pEPoTs FROM HERE 10 THE
WHITE HOUSE."
And now, Mr.. President, since the idea of
those who laid out this city has some prospect of
realization, since its magnificent distances are no
longer the subject OF rdcule since It's wide avenues
are boast instead OF q Scor and scorn, since its
puOuc grounds are TO be improved and beautined-
and we all want to see them improved and beauti-
ned-it does seem to me that anything which
mars the original design Of the city ought to be
dsc0untenanced by us This city was not laid
out by hazard Its streets were not cow-pathS
IL was Laid out by the line and the plumInet, It
was laid out by the engineer 1t was laid out with
design. Everything in the plan OF it was the sub
1ect or mature consideration by both the engineer
VINO laid It out and by the sound In
the plan, himself no mean engineer, no mean
designer OF any great work OF the kind; and q
the White HOUSE, ROM %as the ns m Inc
resentatives and senators should sit to the Execu-
tive Mansion, there should stretch a beautiful
opposite the Presidents House was devoted to the
pubic park-1ust as judiciary square, just as La
Iayette Square, just as Lincoln Square, just as
Franklin square, were all devoted to this purpose.
SO was this greater piece Of ground, from Capitol
Hill to the Executive Mansion, designed to be
beautiful park an ornament to the city, and con:
tri6uting 10 It's health. We who have 1t marred
and spoiled by the miserable canal that was Suf-
fered TO go into decay, have no idea Of
what 1t was before 1t was thus marred. We have
no idea or how beautiful IL was when
1t was In its native condition, and OF how beauti-
full It may yet be when that nuisance shall have
the original design OF this city 1t Is proposed
that what was intended to be the most beautiful
feature in the whole city shall be abandoned to
business to commerce, 10 depOts FOR railroads. and
that instead OF that which should please the eye
and sratIfy the taste and swell the heart as you
stand on Capitol Hill and look to the west, or
stand at the Executive Mansion and LOOK to the
east, that shall be yielded up TO the hum and
dirt and confusion and noise OF railroad depots
sir, 1t does seem TO me that IL there
is anything that Shall shock the mind
In considering subject OF this kind 1t
l know It is OF no use to reason in this way with
men who have no thought In the world but the
making OF money. i know 1t is or no use to rea-
son in this way TO railroad corporation. know
that II it would facilitate the business Of the rail-
road company, some one would have the impu-
dence to demand this Capitol itself for It's ofces.
l know that there is nothing sacred that they Will
not lay their hands upon II. know that they
have gone through the most beautiful cemetery in
the dead were buried for railroad purposes. l
know 1t full WELL and when say 1t do not say 1t
In enmity to any such Improvement. No man is
so absurd as to be an enemy OF railroads. But
know that they have no respect for anything
that merely gratiies the fancy and graIifies the
u, ~
wealth; that is the sole consideration by which
they are moved. know that very well; and It Is
not therefore, TO them that look, but it is to YOU
Senator'S who have charge OF this great city, whch
belongs TO the public, over which you have abso-
Lutte and exclusive powers OF legislation. 1t Is for
you TO say whether The design OF the city shall be
RAILROADS SEIZE PARKS NOWHERE BUT IN WASH
INGTON.
'' put it to my Travelled friend from Ne
vada. What do you think the French people
would say If 1t were proposed to take the garden
OF the IuierieS for a railroad depot? What do
you suppose they would say were IL proposed to
take the Champs ElyseeS for a railroad depot2
What do you suppose they would say II IL were
proposed TO take the Bois de Boulogne for railroad
depot? What do you suppose the people or Lon
don would say II II We're proposed TO take St. James
Park and convert that into railroad depot?
WHAT do you suppose the people OF New York
would say II 1t were proposed TO cut the Central
Park In two to make railroad depOts? What
would the people or Philadelphia say II It were
proposed to take Independence Square or Wash.
ingtOn Park TO make depots OF them? What would
the people OF Baltimore say II Druid Hill Park was
To be converted into depots Tor railroads?
"My friend Will not ind In any continental city
In Europe any such dissertation as that nor would
IT be tolerated In any other city In America. II Is
only here In Washington, the very city which OF
all others ought not 10 tolerate the idea that this
thing is proposed. Sir, conceal 1t as you may this
Is proposition TO give up this whole reservation,
which by the very terms OF the grant is to remain
the property Of the United States, devoted to the
purposes for which II is dedicated In violation OF
".
In violation OF the interests OF the city, for the
mere purposes OF business and OF commerce 80
want TO stand here simply as a Senator, as one
OF the guardians OF the public property, as one OF
the persons TO whom in part Is cOnided the care OF
this city or Washington, the national capital l
want to look at II simply In that light and to ask
myself and to ask you, Senators, whether 1t is
right TO give up and abandon this property and
On sa assn Of 1s y Gy making THIS place
and what It ought to be, what the health and
pleasure OF the city require 1t should be- place Of
beauty and recreation"
est, most vigilant, and most faithful protectors OF
the Districts interests, took the leading part in
this debate, and Will soon be called upon to renew
the battle OF sixteen years ago. The Senators who
favored the grant TO the railroad were stronger In
votes than In arguments. Some things which they
said TO lessen the force OF the vigorous assaults
upon the surrender OF the mall, may profitably be
remembered at the present time. Senator Cam
eron, the Leading representative or the Pennsyiva-
Mia Railroad said: II desire to say also that the
bill contains o proviso allowing Congress TO re-
move the depot at any future time when they de-
sire the ground for park or any other purpose.
The bill gives Congress the power to do 1t, ana
leaves 1t entirely In the control OF Congress-"
senator Frelnghuysen, by reason OF the state
ne represented also a mouthpiece OF the Pennsyl-
vanla road, gave assurance that engines would
not be run across the mall "ThlS idea" he said
"of having trains OF cars with their smoke and
noise running into this depot is all Imagination.
No engine will go into that depot. The engines
Will switch on and the will pass this 500 Ieet
and into the depot with the passengers by the
momentum they have received" But some OF
road assurances and became boldly prophetic.
senator Hamilton said: "When once this company
puts Its foot upon piece or this land there
It will stand, and they will resist you
than they VIII be paid now BY having their depot
at this place. ask the Senate to be warned in