Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-28
A COMPROMISE REACHED.
The Result Of Stopping the Work on
the Avenue Railroad.

the Avenue Railroad.
BETWEEN THE RAILROAD OFFICIALS AND THE
CORRESPONDENTS AGREEMENT BY WHICH IT Is
EXPECTED THE WORK WILL BE HAsrFNED.
A street inspector was placed over the work
on the Washington and Georgetown railroad
tracks on Pennsylvania avenue this morning to
see that the order of April 19, relative to said
paving, was not violated. This was in accord
ance with the announcement made in the letter
sent by the Commissioners yesterday to Presi-
dent Hurt of the railroad company The re-
suit was that in a short time after
taking charge the inspector stopped
the PAYERS from work. His
ground for doing this was, as he claimed, that
the order referred to was being violated, stones
being used which were not of the proper size
and laid in a manner contrary to the conditions
named in the specifications
CALL AT THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE.
As soon as President Hurt was informed Of
the action OF the inspector he, in company with
Mr.. G. c. Glover, one of the directors, called
upon the Commissioners to learn something
about the matter
The gentlemen were shown into the board
room, and there, with Commissioners Hine and
Raymond and Capt. Symons, went over the en-
tire subject. Mr.. Hurt claimed that the pave
ment between the tracks in question was laid
some years ago in accordance with
specifications in force at that time and that it
was good enough to use now. Maj. Raymond,
on the other hand, claimed that the blocks
not only did not conform to the specifi-
cations but they were rounded and unfit
for use. He said further that it was his
intention and desire to insist, in al. cases when
railroad companies changed the paving be-
tween the tracks, that it should be replaced in
the very best manner possible. He had always
taken high grounds on that subject, he said,
and thought that every cobble stone should be
run out Of the District, as was the case in
Europe. In support OF his position in the mat
ter Maj. Raymond asked il the Commissioners
must leave a ragged old pavement to spoil the
whole eject OF the avenue. He said, also, that
he thought the company should be required to
pave IN accordance with the specifications.
PRESIDENT HURTS POSITION.
President Hurt in reply stated that il the
order III question was insisted upon none Of the
stones between the tracks would do and that it
would require several months to get the stone
here and complete the work. He said that 6OO-
OOO blocks would be required to pave the avenue
and they would cost over $4,000. He said
further, that he thought it would be great in
laying OF these stones, as it was the inten-
non OF the company to change the mo-
i've power within year, and as they would
then pave between the tracks with asphalt
the new blocks would be of no account. At
any rate he said it would be impossible to get
the blocks here in time to complete the paving
before the knights Templar parade in October.
Capt. Symons then said that the District
would furnish them.
WHAT MR.. GLOVER SAID.
Mr.. Glover said that the company had made
no provision for blocks, as the company did
not think it would be required to throw away
the old ones. He said further, that he thought
it would be a great mistake to enforce the or
der, as it would delay the avenue improve
ment. He said that the company was doing
Its best to hurry the work along and that it
had fifteen PAYERS at work this morning when the
Commissioners stepped in and interfered. He
asked II the Commissioners, in view Of the fact
thas the present pavement was only to be there
temporarily, would modify their order so as
70 allow them to continue the work.
SOME OF THE BLOCKS MAY BE USED.
Capt Symons said that, although not one Of
the stones was of the requisite size, there were
some of them which, if properly laid, would
make q fair pavement Commissioner Hine
wanted to know what proportion could be used.
Capt. Symons replied that he thought the
stones between the tracks could be utilized in
the tracks proper and that the proportion
would be about one-third
Commissioner Hine said that there was no
objection to waving the size Of the stone, pro-
vided they were in proper condition to use, but
ne thought that in all other respects they should
comply with the specifications.
COMPROMISE AGREED on.
Capt Symons proposed as a compromise that
the company use the best stones in the tracks
am hat he L.
paved with asphalt blocks. It was agreed
that Capt Symons and President Hurt should
go over the road and see if this could be
done. The captain Immediately set out and
on returning recommended that this be done,
The Commissioners accepted the compromise
as well as the railroad people and now matters
are all right.
THE WORK TO GO AHEAD.
Capt Symons said to STAR reporter that he
thought it was the best solution of the whole
trouble. The work will be done quicker and
better, he said, in time for the great parade in
October. The work will go ahead now-the
paving between the tracks will be commenced
as soon as the blocks can be secured.
TALK WITH PRESIDENT HURT.
"We have met with opposition upon every
occasion this road has undertaken to do any
thing this year." said Mr.. Hurt, president of
the Washington and Georgetown railroad COM
pany, today to a STAR reporter, "and it appears
to make but little difference when We make
every effort to do our utmost" Speaking Of
the letter sent to the company by the Commits
sioners yesterday and published in The STAR,
Mr.. Hurt said: ut is certainly inconsistent
with the desires Of the Commissioners to have
the roadway completed by October not to
allow the company to use paving blocks that
were designated by specially appointed COM
mission. composed Of Maj. Gen. H.
g. Wright, Maj. Gen. O. A. Gilmore
and Edward Clarke, who in December, 1875,
selected the Belgian block. to be ~ by inches
by or 6 inches deep,as the block to be used in
paving between the outer rails of this COM
pany's road. The Belgian blocks of those di-
mensions are now being used" continued Mr..
Hurt, land among them there may be ones
that have been used for some time, but con-
tend that the company has a right to use them
again while they retain the required dimen-
sions." Il can't see." said Mr.. Hurt, ''what
right the Commissioners have to assume to
complete the work, for really we have three
years and ninety days to complete it. II upon
the expiration Of that time it has not been
finished the Commissioners could probably do
it" This is law, as shown by the District
appropriation bill of March, 1883. Even if
the Commissioners had the power to assume
the management and the actual doings of the
work how could they do it? Rails. cross ties
and other necessary materials cannot be had in
. day or . month, and they certainly could not