Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-18
RAILROAD SWITCHES.
A Committee OF Business Men Protest
Against their Removal.

The Commissioners this morning gave an au-
dience to the merchants of this city having
private switches running into their property
along the line Of the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad. The delegation was headed by
Mr.. S. c. Palmer and consisted 81 Messrs.
James L. Barbour. IHorstio Browning, II. L.
Dauterich, Frank Schwartz, 7. W. smith, S. c.
Palmer, J. C. Ergood. p S. Foster John Mil
Ter, Barbour 4 Ross. VIM II. Seldeu, E. Kurtz
johnson, F. r. Madigan, I. J. Shryock. e. n.
Willis and Frank Hume. The gentlemen were
received in the board room and introduced by
Mr.. Palmer, who followed with a short speech 90
the switches in South Washington. He stated
that the object of their visit was 70 request
that whatever action the Commissioners con-
templated IN relation TO the removal Of ths
private switches it be deferred until Congresi
convenes. He then spoke OF the good the
switches accomplished and of how
THE PROPERTY HAD ENHANCED IL VALUE
since the railroad had been there, and said that
be had little doubt but that at some
day 1t would be the great ware
house section of the city. Mr.. James
F. Barbour said if the Commissioners ordered
the switches up, the consequence would be
that the merchants would have TO unload their
goods at some distant point entailing
extra expense, which would have
TO be borne by the consumer He said
further that when Congress granted charter
to the railroad company the charter carried
with il the facilities for doing business and b
revocation of the permits for private switches
would be a serious detriment to their rights as
citizens.
ASKING PROTECTION.
Mr.. Madigan, representing the Portner Brew
ing company, Mr.. Schryor and Mr.. f. Kurtz
johnson, spoke of how property had advanced
since the railroad had been in South Washing
ing, the good the switches accomplished. and
furnished numerous examples.
Mr.. L. W. Smith after he had gone over the
subject of switches said that the delegation was
not there in the interest Of the railroad COM
pany, but in behalf of the citizens and business
men OF Washington. That they we're not there
for the purpose of indorsing any of the illegal
acts of the railroad, but for the purpose of ask
ing protection to their rights as citizens.
MAJOR RAYMOND SAID
that the Commissioners had not taken any ac.
ton in relation to the switches on the streets
on which the railroad company was chartered
to run. He believed they we're legal
and would never vote for their
removal unless they were proven TO
be great nuisance. He then gave history Of
the Ii street track, of how he had recommend
ed the permit to issue when he first became
Engineer Commissioner, and how, after be had
looked into the matter, he had found il TO be
illegal and recommended its removal. He said
IN conclusion. that had the question of the
public interests been the only one under con-
sideration he would have voted for the track
to remain. as there was no doubt in his mind
that it greatly relieved the avenues over which
the railroad ran from obstruction.
The Commissioners promised to remember
their appeals when the question came up.
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