Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-02

crossings OF streets and avenues az grade by these
steam railroads as perflous as sixty spr1ng-gu
traps, ana all tending greatly TO the depreciation
Of the value OF real estate In the CITY, as wen as 10
I he multiplication OF deplorable accidents with
reduced 10 the minimum and. with additionai
safeguards the recurrence OF ufe-taking acci-
dents it Is to be hoped, may cease.
reform In relation 10 the railroad tracks cross
ing streets at grade Is loudly demanded, and es-
peciaIy from the hostile occupation OF the right
nanx ana center OF the city, where many streets
are perpetually bockaded, we ought TO be forever
renewed. An insufficient remedy Is proposed by
tne Dill OF the committee; but or south OF Nary
iahd and Virginia avenues the elevation OF the
ground Is sufficient to permit the tracks to be
sunk below the surface and to be walled in and
made wholly safe.
SO destructive OF human life have been the rail.
roads leading into the city OF Buffalo on a grade
level with the streets that the governor OF New
iork mas Just approved an act OF the Legislature
oy Wnlcn seven leading roads viii be compelled TO
enter That city by elevated tracks, which win sub
leet the roads TO very large expenditure OF
8. The Baltimore and Potomac Company were
also 10 pay all damages to the owners OF private
property on 9th street, the owners OF prop
etty elsewhere apparently having to take their
chances at common law, and yet Seventeen years
nave elapsed and these damages are not vet fully
paid The bill under consideration does not pro-
OF this sort.
4 Anextraordinarily fine bridge was to have been
erected over 9Th street at cost, as It's friends
serted, OF $4,000, "a thing OF beauty" but after
long years OF delay we have a narrow iron struct-
ure 10 which only distance lends enchantment to
the view," and IL rather aggravates than dimin-
ishes the danger. An untold number of engines
AT THIS point are constantly spouting fire. painting
aDd plrouetting one way or the other, sixty or
more trains in every twenty-four hours; and no
breed OF horses is so destitute OF mette as not to
snun the battle OF fire, smoke and steam when d.
rectly under the nose, or not TO hear the steam
whistle when screeching in their front.
D. The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Com
pany have placed freight depot on square $50
without any authority OF law, and in spite OF no.
tce OF objections against the selection OF the site
Tbey have also invaded Reservations 1T4 l7S, 24I
and 3Oe, although prohibited from entering any
appears to be
THE REApIEsT LASD-JUMPER OF THE AGE
Between New Jersey avenue and South Capitol
street, where, by the map OF 1872, it would APP
pear that one track only was authorized or con-
tehpiateo, there are now not less than eight
tracks, some OF which even trench upon the side
walk or Reservation II. In addition to this four
tracks cross and cover Reservation ia; four other
tracks cover Reservation 11S, and four tracks
cross and cover Reservation PAL. All or these as
well as the track across New Jersey avenue to
square 49, though short, have been made without
the slightest authority and in defiance of law
These reservations are OF the triangular shape
peculiar 10 washington, and are greatly appre-
GATED by It's c1lZenS, but the aggressive pow
ers Of appropriation by this steam railroad seem
to be auJoeratic, and act OF Congress Is looked
upon apparently with contempt.
The four tracks which go over Reservation ia
also cross New Jersey avenue and lst street SOUTH
east without any legal authority whatever, nor
which have Invaded Reservation US to cross half
street southeast. There is still another
branch OF tracks over the small Reservation 100,
winch crosses street without authority OF law.
Having only an Implied night to pass through the
large Reservation 10i, 0f2h acres, with one track
or at most with two, they have placed upon it a
large group OF tracks, which are constantly covered
win trains or with loaded or empty cars. Their
principal freight delivery is here and on the public
avenue avenues and streets Heavy freight is daily un-
loaded from daylight until dark along Vir-
ginia avenue from 9th 10 7th streets and
along Maryl land avenue from 9th to 1917 Streets
Tor which there Is no authority OF law, The most
important reservation as well as many minor ones
In the south part OF the city have thus been seized
oy the railroad company, and instead OF being i'm
proved and made possible decoration they have
been made a positive nuisance. The Dissertation
is keenly felt by citizens In this vicinity ho OBJ
serve that favors such as were granted and pro-
tecJec elsewhere are here denied. The value Of
property In this locality 1t is declared is less than
II was thirty years ago, while values only two
squares away have been Quadrupled. There are
further weighty considerations affecting business
Interests. A committee OF the citizens OF WASH
ington reported as follows:
THE constant obstruction OF these avenues at
the TRAVERSE streets by shifting engines and
trains practically cuts in two the business Of the
city, so that merchants and business men have
almost ceased 10 look 70 the river Potomac} as a
means OF transportation because OF the inconven-
fence and delay experienced In transferring il after
leaving the wharf"
The lawful rights Of those who have purchased
lots and have built residences to any OF these
reservations with the just expectation according
remain forever open spaces, have been rudely in
yaded II not destroyed. The vested rights how.
ever OF these residents are not inferior 10 those Of
any railroad and they are entitled TO some proper
remedy.
The interest and convenience OF the COMPANY
appear 10 nave been the only limits OF authority to
do whatever 1t chooses, and its adactty IL will be
seen, has been amazing even for a corporation
That have not Overstated the ATTRACTIONS of ifs
charter or OF the wifu trespasses upon the public
grounds by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Co. may be seen by reference to the repeated an
nual reports ot Col. Wilson, the able and faithful
Commissioner OF Public Buildings and Grounds
In one instance 1T Is understood that the com
pany claims TO have had the consent OF the Dis
trct Commissioners for Its lawless action, OF
which, however, there is no record; and IL such
there were, IL would have no more legal value
than the consent OF the superintendent OF the In
sane Asylum. The law binds the Commissioners
well railroads.
The criminal case reported Of the United states
against the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Co.,
indicted by the grand jury for maintaining a
nuisance Dy allowing cars 10 stand on the street,
and there loading and unloading the same was re-
Gently decided in General Term against the COM
pany. But 1t Is not understood that the company
shows any more obedience TO the court than il has
shown TO the laws OF Congress.
The proof of these fragrant abuses is so abound
Ing as to show that the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Co. has
wILLFULLy BROKEN IT'S so-cALLsp CHARTER
and would justify its forfeiture under the most
summary process by the courts; but FULL power
having been especially reserved to alter or amend
u
able 10 the discretion OF Congress as IL would be IL
now, for the nrst time IL were asking permission
10 enter the District.
have no chronic hostility to railroads: often
patr0niZe them; own stock In some OF Them and
would own more II able, but this does not change
my opinion that they owe obedience to pubiic
laws quite as much as private citizens Laws
should not be made, according to the venerable
proyerb ike cobwebs, only 10 catch flies and let
the hornets go free.
A tunnel for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co
under Capitol Hill, so far removed as Sd street
When IL was proposed ty majority Of the commit
tee some years ago TO have a big tunnel much
nearer 10 the Capitol. and In front or the new
Library, the question might then have been asked
III we were TO get IL and should not like It. what
could We do with II? However prone 10 escape
from 1t we might be- it would certainly be diff
cult hole TO creep out OF. Great bOres are not
easily dismissed. regret that the Baltimore and
ONO Railroad Co. are no longer willing, as Pres-
dent Garrett formerly appeared 10 be- TO place all
their tracks outside OF the boundary, and then to
enter the city BY the Eastern Branch.
The present railroad stations are, both as to
their sites and approaches, almost equally scan
dalOus and unsatisfactory, and only less SO as 10
the character OF the depot buildings. Removal
and reform should alike impartialy Overtake them
both together.
In the measure presented by the substitute to
remedy these manifest wrongs IL is not proposed
TO involve the Government In any expense except
at "a single point, and a full and most opportune
equvalent-a building appropriate for the CITY
government-will be received but It is proposed
number OF avenues and streets now unnecessarily
occupied, 10 give the city worthier accommoda-
TONS less obnoxious to the public sense of de.
cency, and, beyond this to restore TO the CITY, as
wei as 10 the whole country, portion OF its
ancient and Invaluable public Reservations
n he " said hat