The Washington critic., 1889-01-14
STEAM RAILWAY ROUTES.
The solution of the Problem by tho East
Washington Association,


The solution of the Problem by tho East
Washington Association,
At the hearing on the steam railroad
question on Thursday last before the
subcommittee of the Senate Committee
on the District Senators Farwell and
Faulkner asked that a bill cmbodying
the recommendation of DR. f. NJ. Gal
laudet and statement of facts in its be.
half be prepared and submitted to them
at once by the committee who appeared
in behalf of East Washington. The
plan that impressed the committee
most favoraby was that named by DR..
f.. NJ. Galaudet, and its adoption was
strongly urged by Mr. L.. Chapel and
others representing the East Washington
Association as meeting the wishes of
great majority of the people of the north
eastern section Of the city.
The plan is to vacate the tracks Of the
main stem south of point near Ivy
City and TO build new lateral line there
from westwardly connecting the tracks
of the Metropolitan Branch. An easy
and inexpensive route for this connec-
ton was surveyed by the railroad com
pany several years ago Agreeably to
committee OF the East Washington AS
sociation has prepared and submitted
bill embodying the plan as well as a
short statement of reasons for its ac-
ceptancc by the railroad company for
immediate action thereon by Congress.
The bill and statement of reasons as sub
mitted are given below
"A Bill to Amend the Charter of the Balti-
more IS Ohio Railroad Company and for
Other Purposes.
"Bc Il enacted, etc., That the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Company is hereby authorized
and required within two wears from the date
of the passage of this bill to construct line of
tracks from the main stem of said company,
beginning at some point north of Ivy City sta
tion and running westerly, and to connect the
same with the present tracks OF the Metropoli-
tan Branch road of said company at point
north of the proposed station ON the tract
known as lexington; and from the time of the
completion of said tracks and their conncc-
tion with the tracks of the said Metropolitan
Branch, all OF said company's cars and engiues
shall pass thereon to ana from the depot on
New Jersey avenue; and within three months
from the completion of said connection said
company shall remove all tracks of the main
stem from the point Of junction herein author
lied to their present Junction with the tracks
of the Metropolitan Branch on First street
cast, and no tracks OF said company shall
thereafter be permitted to remain east of said
First street within the limits of the city unless
for temporary warehouse purposes in the discre-
tiou Of the Commissioners of the District OF Col
umba The object of this bill Is to secure one APP
proach and departure for all the company's
cars over the tracks of the Metropolitan
Branch from said point Of junction, and to re-
move from the eastern portion OF the city OF
Washington the tracks of the main stem of
said company, for which said purpose said
company Is hereby authorized to secure the
necessary right OF way by condemnation MS
now provided for In the net" of Congress under
which said company was permitted to enter the
| District of Columbia aud the city of Washing
| ton.
The following are few reasons in be-
half Of the proposed bill;
1t will remove from the eastern portion of
the city of Washington those tracks which
! have interfered most with its development
| and improvement. AS long MS this part of the
main stem is used IL will be impossible to
| properly improve or develop any of the streets
near 1t, inasmuch us the conformity OF the
ground is such that the tracks Will either be
so far above or so far below the established
| grades Of the streets as to make this abso-
lutey impractcable, resulting in constant ir-
| ritation and agitation.
The plan is partial solution of the rail-
| road problem so far as Northeast Washington
| is concerned. 1t is admitted that the railroad
has rights which even the courts and Congress
are bound to respect, aud the bill Is offered by
those who, while suffering from the injuries
resulting from the railroads illegal occupation
and obstruction Of streets, recognize the fact
that railroads are necessity, aud, as reason
able and reasoning men, they appeal not only
to Congress but to the b. ~ D. X. K 0q
itself. The tracks proposed to be removed are
shown to be unnecessary after the proposed
connection Is made.
The plan can be adopted at once and
carried into effect Mt very small cost
1t will enable the s. & o. X. II. Company
to sell the land occupied 10y its main stem
line within the limits of the city as soon as
they are vacated from which enough can be
secured to pay several times the cost of the
proposed connection.
1t will remove the most dangerous crossings
in the city and result in great saving to life
and limb, as well as OF expense to the
| company.
1t will remove that murderous trap known
as the "Y,'' where so many have been killed
and injured
1t will in no way interfere with any future
disposition of its tracks us may be determined
| upOn by Congress-