Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-19
DIRECTING TO THE SWITCH.
The Railroad War i'm South Washing
ton.

AFFIDAVIT OF cHAs. H.PARKER THAT THE pREwrSa
coMPANTs SWITCH OF THE BALTIMORE AND
POTOMAC ROAD INJURIES THE VALUE OF REAL
ESTATE AND IS DANGEROUS TO LIFE AND LIMB.
The question regarding the rights of railroad
companies to operate switches not provided for
| IN their charter is an old one and The STAR
has frequently referred to communications
from Messrs. Parker and Dwyer, of South
Washington, who have been 30 persistent in
their efforts to have the streets of South Wash
| ington freed of the alleged instances caused by
the steam railroad tracks in them. Attorney
Riddle stated in a communication to the Com
missioners that if some reputable citizen would
| come forward and make affidavit that the rail-
road company was violating the law he would
prosecute il. Late yesterday afternoon Mr..
Chas. II. Parker made affidavit follows:
That am resident at 439 9th street southwest
In this city. and that a switch running into the
property of the Bergner Engel brewing COM
pany on Virginia avenue, between 9th and 9TH
streets southwest on the south side, is injuring
the rental value of the property known as COS
virginia avenue, and is also dangerous to life
and limb"
The permit for the switch. which was issued
during Captain Griffin's administration as as
slslstant to the engineer Commissioner, Is the
revocable kind that is, it may be revoked by
the Commissioners if they deem it expedient
The Commissioners have already deemed the
track laid by the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
road on II street, between Canal and South
Capitol streets, Objectionable. and have issued
an order notifying the railroad company to see
to its removal. This is the first permit of the
KIND that was ever revoked by the Commits
sloners, and the citizens of South Washington
are anxiousiy looking for early relief in their
section.
TWO MORE AFFIDAvITs.
Tn-Io arEn and -,
called upon the Commissioners and presented
two affidavits, one from Patrick Sullivan, bear
ing upon the obstruction of E street south
west. The affidavit is as follows
L, Patrick Sullivan, being duly sworn. on
oath say that am residing at pa E street
southwest in this city; that the crossing of E
street southwest and Virginia avenue south
west Is closed entirely by two lines of fences
which totally prevents the travel of the general
public on street at that point. The only way
to reach E street east of Virginia avenue south
west Is to cross Virginia avenue at LIST street or
I'd street; also that general thing cars
are left standing at this point.
PATRICK SULLIVAN.
The other affidavit is made by Messrs. Parker
and Dwyer and has reference to the illegal
track of the Baltimore and Potomac railroad
crossing ID street southwest and entering square
493 The affidavit is as follows:
I'VE, Charles II. Parker and Philip n DIVER
being duly sworn on oath, say that we are resid-
ing at Nos. 439 and sos 9th street southwest re-
spectively, in this city; that to the best of our
knowledge and belief We consider the railroad
track branching off from main track on Virgil
MIA avenue southwest. crossing d street, and en-
terlng the freight-yard in square 493, illegal,
and also serious nuisance and injurious to
surrounding property. and also that the shift
ing of cars blocks d street at times as to make
1t impossible to pass. We also believe that GER
tain ground in that square has been condemned
for public alley, and that at the present time
part OF 1t Is open to the public and contains
public sewer, and also that part of said alley is
being used by other parties for private pur-
poses for a freight station.
THE FOLLOWING LETTER
accompanied the atfidavits:
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 1882
Hon. Commissioners District Of COLtn,bid:
GENTLEMEN: We inclose affidavit of Mr. Pat
rick sullivan as to the obstruction of the cross
ing of L street and Virginia avenue southwest,
and also request that orders be given imme-
diateiy for the removal of fence, the placing of
safety gates, and the laying of suitable crossing
for wagons and pedestrians. Z street is open
from Water street to the Congressional Gene
terry, with the exception of this unlawful OBJ
structlon at Virginia avenue.
Very respectfully,
c. II. PARKER.
PHILIP n DIVER.
WHAT CITIZENS OF SOUTH WASHINGTON SAY.
citizens protective association, in speaking of
the requested revocation of the permit, said:
The Commissioners are just waking up. The
permit III the first place, was Illegal, and never
should have been granted. / think it is a step
in the right direction to revoke it, and all lille
gal tracks in South Washington are sure to go.
Our grievances, consisting of the blockading of
Virginia avenue, still continues, however, and
we are now waiting for a new set of Commits
sioners who have the interest of the people at
heart before renewing the fight
The whole thing resolves itself into this"
said Mr.. 7. n. Dwyer: The revocation of the
permit showed conclusively that the Commits
siOners were wrong in granting it in the first
place, for on the other hand were the tracks
legal the railroad company would be strong
enough to counterbalance any effort OF ours to
have them removed. The Commissioners are
realizing that their time is short, and they
want to go out of office having it to their credit
that they did something i'll four years toward
the relief of the people of South Washington"
Mr.. Charles H. Parker said: There is no
doubt in my mind but that the permit was
illegal in the beginning. as well as many others
III that section, and the revocation of the one
on street merely substantates that state
ment. It's good move, however, i'll the right
direction, and l think that the revocation of
all the illegal permits for side tracks will fol-
low"