Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30
STREET TRAVEL.
The Railroad Tracks and Traffic in
South Washington.

South Washington.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY sHrLLISoToS THINKS
THE PEOPLE THERE HAVE RIaHr TO CON.
| PLAINTIFF RESULT OF HIS INSPECTION Oh
| THR TRACKS YESTERDAY.
Yesterday Messrs. Parker, Dryer. Prosecut.
ing Attorney Shillington. and Q STAR reporte,
drove through South Washington and took g
look at the railroad tracks that have been COM
planned Of. The party started with the side
track on 18th street southwest, used by John.
son Bros.; then drove up Virginia avenue, and
took look at the sidings Of the Portner Beer
company, the Bergner 4 Engei company, SAM
C. Pslmer's bottling establishment, and then
crossed over to the new freight warehouse Of
the Baltimore and Potomac railroad. Here
Mr.. Shillington's attention was called TO the
obstruction of public alley in that square, the
freight depot completely closing il. As the
party moved out of the freight yard engine No.
$40 was standing across the sidewalk, and re-
manned standing there, according to Mr.. Dryers
watch, fifteen minutes, and was still standing
| as the party drove away. Mr.. Shillington
thought that this was a serious violation OF law.
The Delaware avenue obstruction was next
| looked into. Mr.. Shillington remarked that
this was, IN his opinion, a serious breech OF the
law. All the tracks in the southeast section
| were visited and commented upon, and MIR.
Shillington assured Messrs. Parker and Dwyer
that he would lend his best efforts 10 remedy
| the great evil The party while in thst section
/ drove or tried to drive along street south
| east, but were caught between cars and 10 was
| only after great deal Of trouble they got out.
When The STAR man asked Mr. Sbillington
| what he thought OF the situation he said
Il would prefer not to discuss the merits OF
this controversy through the newspapers.
| went over the grouAd yesterday aud got fair
idea Of the condition Of affairs generally. 1t is
apparent that the South Washington people
have good reason to complain. / don't think
| they enjoy the rights and comforts they are
entitled to. Their streets are occupied by
| tracks and blockaded with cars. Several
| streets are rendered useless for the pur-
poses of travel where they cross the
tracks This is in violation OF law.
The company certainly has not the right to
impede the free passage Of street, especially
where it is an improved and established street,
| and used for the purposes OF travel on both
sides of the track. Their organic act requires
that when they shall find it necessary to
| intersect any established street or road
way it shall be their duty TO con-
struct the road across such street so as
not to interfere or impede the passage OF people
and the transportation Of property. That strikes
me as being pretty PLAIN. l observed several
comply with this section-noticeably SO at the
Delaware avenue crossing. Where this avenue
| crosses the road. or is supposed to cross the
road, the company has continual its fence SO
| that travel is completely cut of: and the only
way you can cross Virginia and Delaware ave-
nues at their intersection is to climb over this
fence and three or four freight cars, which
the neighbors say stand there all the
time. The company didn't even pro-
vide the fence with gate, which
point. Delaware avenue is used for travel on
both sides OF the track, and seems to be i'm
proving. Houses are going up, and was told
| that 1T Is in next years estimates for q pave
ment to Virginia avenue at least. There were
two or three other streets obstructed in the
same way. That is great Inconvenience to
the travelling public in that section Of the city,
and think ought to be remedIed It seems to
me contrary to law and the remedy is to be OBJ
tanned by prosecution.
ANOTHER LETTER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSION
ERs.
The Commissioners to-day received the fol-
lowing letter relative to the South Washington
railroad track:
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
March 30, 1889.
Hon. Commissioners, District Of Columbia:
Gentlemen: With the hope that you will not
think us too persistent, We wish to call your I'M
divided attention to the railroad matters once
more. We first desire to submit few remarks
on the petition of certain parties as to the re-
street southwest We want it distinctly I'M
derstoOd that We are not asking for the removal
OF the tracks to X street at the present time
we are simply urging the Commissioners to do
their duty in defending the rights of the
United States, and, accordingly protecting the
general public against the unlawful action
Of the railroad company. As to the
names attached to the petition referred to,
to the best Of our knowledge not one Of them
own a house and lot on X street, and conse-
nf fran la or,f hot CTR afxui
not place them in front of their doors. One Of
US, Mr.. Parker, owns more frontage on K street
than the combined list of DIRECTORS, and if the
railroad wishes to occupy K street he will gladly
present the railroad company the same gratis.
On investigation We think you will find
that one of the signers is employed by the
railroad. Assuring our feilow-citizens that
we do not wish to impose their
rights, we now submit that you should make
public the board meeting held this week, at
illegal tracks, including that of 18th street.
AS to the latter. and the tracks on Maryland
avenue and b street, we ask you to read the
following opinion of A. G. Riddle, dated Sep
TENDER "a, 1887.
1T has long been in the possession Of the
public space at the junction Of Virginia and
Maryland avenues and Sth street without
shadow Of authority higher than squatter SOW
ereignty.. The same may be said Of its branch
down 18th street west"
IL ID certainly strange now your honorable
board can refuse to take immediate action as
to the tracks complained of after the facts we
have submitted. The idea of sworn officials
publicly refusing to execute the laws is ridicu-
lous, and without some explanation we con-
slider their action highly reprehensble
Another track which is in the same category
is one entering square southeast OF 267 and used
by Nicoli Bros. an oil yard.
Hoping that our appeal for justice will not
be refused, we are, Very respectfully,
CHAs. H. PARKER,
Dr.