Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-11


The hearing of the committee of the North
east Washington Citizens association before
Senators Farwell and Faulkner. the subcom-
mittee on steam railroads in the District, was
continued yesterday afternoon after The STAR
report closed
President W. c. Dodge, of the association,
was the principal speaker, and he presented
large amount of information which had been
| accumulated by the association. Numerous
photographs were exhibited to the committee
showing the manner in which the Baltimore
and Ohio company violated its charter by run
ming its tracks through the city above or below
the grade of the streets. There were about
thirty-two street-crossings made by the road in
the northeast section of the city. and the fail
ure of the Baltimore and Ohio to keep to the
grade of the streets had prevented the i'm
provement of these streets. On 9Th street
northeast the tracks were more than 6 feet
above the proper grade of the street, and al
though 9th street was down in the improvement
schedule, ii could not be touched because of
the railroad obstruction.
An interesting portion of Mr.. Dodge's talk
was that where he related a conversation
which he had had not long ago with officers of
the Pennsylvania railroad. These officers told
him that the road had spent $1,000 900 in Sc
curing facilities at Baltimore. and during the
past year had expended $3.50 900 more in i'm
proving them. He had been told that the
company would have expended fully as much
money in this city if Congress had only set
tied the questions of route and terminus.
Senator Farwell was very emphatic in his
expressions, and referred to the condition of
affairs as
"a GROSS OUTRAGE"
He asked if the violation of its charter by
the company in this respect had been brought
before the Commissioners or the courts.
Mr.. Dodge replied that the Commissioners
had been notified repeatedly by the press and
by citizens Recourse had not been had by
citizens to the courts. because the nuisance is
public not private one. The Commission
ers had also been appealed to by citizens of
South Washington in respect to some encroch-
ment of the Baltimore and Potomac road, and
the matter being referred to their attorney he
had reported that he was tired of fighting the
railroads. Mr.. Dodge urged the Eastern
branch route for the Baltimore and Ohio, and
was given permission to present his arguments
In favor of this route, and his objections to the
others in writing.
Senator Faulkner wanted to know what OBJ
jections there could be to tunnelng under
Capitol Hill. and Mr.. Dodge stated the many
objections there were to such a proceeding,
and explained them.
PROFESSOR GALLAUDET's PLAN.
Prof. Gallaudet president of the Kendall
Green deaf mute college, advocated a tenn
porary plan of relief. He wanted junction of
the two branches of the Baltimore and Ohio
at some point north of the city. near Ecking-
ton. The traffic would then all come in on
what is now known as the Metropolitan branch.
The professor called attention to the fact that
the teachers and pupils of the college could
not possibly enter the city without crossing the
tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio road. and the
| crossings were all at grade and therefore dam
gerous.
Mr.. LOring, Chappell strongly supported
Prof. Gallaudet's proposition. The railroad
had done great damage to the section in which
he lived.
Mr.. NJ. /. Weller opposed any proposition to
tunnel through Capitol Hill. He argued from
a humane standpoint such tunnel would dis
turb the inmates of Providence hospital.
OPPOSED TO A UNION DEPOT AT MARYLAND AND
VIRGINIA AVENUES.
Rev. Father Donnelly, of st. Dominics
church, made an appeal for relief from the
Pennsylvania railroads encroachments in
South Washington. He was opposed to a union
depot at the junction of Virginia and Maryland
avenues. He thought the best plan would be
to have the tracks enter the city from the
navv-yard tunnel. down Virginia avenue to a
point south of the Botanical gardens. where a
union depot should be located. Southern con-
nections could be established by way of Della
ware avenue and X street to the water 'front.'
Mr.. C. B. Church made a number of PROPOSE
to the number of deaths that had been caused
| by railroad crossings being at grade.
| Mr.. s. W. Curriden said he would like Con-
| gress to act as soon possible on at least the
| temporary relief suggested by Prof. Gallaudet.
| Mr.. n. II. Shea favored Father Donnelly's
| plan.
Mr. John R. Lynch also favored Prof Gallau-
| diets plan, but he wanted it to be regarded as
| permanent rather than temporary. He thought
| the Pennsylvania road should be required to
come in on parallel tracks to New York avenue
and Boundary. where union depot ought to
| be established, and from thence both COM
panies could run to the present Pennsylvania
| depot on 9Th and streets through q tunnel.
DEATH OF Jos. w. GUNNELL.-Jos w. Gun
neil, old resident of this city, died this MORN
| ing at O'Clock. He was a special officer for
| twelve years and q member of the Growlers'
Lodge, No. 2. He was a son Of the late Henry
| d. Gunnell.
| Miss MAE Orr AND Mr. FRANK McGuRRIN,
users of the Remington typewriter and win
ners of the gold and silver medals for the
championship of the world at the Toronto
| speed contests, whose renown is now world
| wide, have consented to give an exhibition of
their ability and skill operating the typewriter
| at the rooms Of the Spencerian business col
! lege, corner ID and 7th streets, tomorrow
| Saturday evening, at $50 O'Clock. All inter-
] ested are invited to witness the exhibition.