The Washington critic., 1889-01-12
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
rho stcnm Rnllway Rontes.

EDITOR Critic Congress must judge the
residents Of the District by peculiar standard.
1t knows that In every other city where IL is
proposed to erect public building there is al
ways contention over the site, the citizens can
not be made to agree. Congress goes ahead
and settles the matter itself But when it
comes TO the District quite different method
Is followed. The lawmakers on the Hill seem
unable TO reach determination, simply be-
cause the people Of the District cannot all
come TO the same conclusion. Here we have
been for years with Postofce building that
is disgrace, and there seems to be no prospect
Of securing anything better. Congress shifts
the responsibility off on the District people,
aud will not come to any decision. Why
should human nature in Washington be
deemed different from what it is olsewhereY
There are the same conflicting interests here
as In other cities.
1t is the same way In all important matters
affecting the District Congress awaits
unanimous expression OF opinion, and, in the
meantime does nothing. The steam railway
question is a case in point. Here is matter
which has come up before every session for
years, yet the problem is no nearer solution
than 1t was twenty years ago One of the
members of the Senate Committee, which
gave hearing on Thursday to citizens who
presented their views on the subject re-
marked at tho close OF the meeting that, II
some plan could be agreed upon, it would
greatly facilitate matters. What did he ex-
pectg If he knew anything of affairs in the
District he must have been aware that such
agreement was impossible. There are too
many conflicting interests. Let us summarize
the state of feeling in the city on this matter.
As regards the present state Of affairs it
would be:
Northwest-Satished.
Northoast--Dissatished
Southwest-Dissatisfed.
Southeast-Satisfed.
1t would appear from this that II the people
In the southwest and northeast sections were
satisfied the problem would be solved But in
satisfying them a fresh danger arises. The
solution may prove unsatisfactory TO one or
both of the other sections. For instance, the
people of South Washington would like to see
the tracks taken from Maryland and Virginia
avenues and removed to a street south or in
that neighborhood and the railway station
moved from Sixth street further from the CEN
ter of the city. But this the people in the
northwes t oppose. The people in Northeast
Washington do not care anything about the
South Washington tracks, but they want the
Baltimore aud Ohio tracks taken from their
neighborhood. On the other hand the South
Washington people do not care a rap about
the tracks in the northeast section. The peo-
pie In Southeast Washington are so far from
tho railway stations now that 1t makes little
difference to them where they are moved to.
They have some grievances about the packing
of freight cars in their neighborhood, but that
is the greatest annoyance they suffer.
Now the problem so far as the people are
concerned has been stated.
What about the railroads.
The Pennsylvania Company is quite well
satisfied with the location of its tracks and
station. 1t is being constantly harrassed by
litigations of South Washington people after
damages on account of the Virginia and Mary
land avenue tracks; but otherwise the Pennsyl
vania people are serene. Quite otherwise the
Baltimore and Ohio Company. IL wants q
southern connection. 1t claims that only rank
| injustice prevents 1t from crossing the Po
| tomac. 1t has maintained a dngy uninvting
structure as a railway station simply because
| it no ped to make more suitable arrangement:
| when 1t would build another and finer passen
| ger station. 1t would like to abandon 1t,
| present location and follow the Pennsylvania
route into Virginia.
There you have the railroad side Of the mat
| ter The remedies suggested have BEEN Lee
| the b. & o. and the Pennsylvania tracks ente
the city at the Eastern Branch, go through tn,
| same tunnel near the Navy Yard, continue
west in direct line on X. street south to Wate
street, and thence to the Long Bridge 10
eating a Union Station at some point on
street.
Bring the B. & 0. tracks into the city b,
one line from the northeast, let it tunnel unde
Capitol Hill, join the Pennsylvania tracks an,
| follow the present route of the latter.
Bring the b. & o. tracks by one line dow
Fifth street east until the Pennsylvania
| tracks are reached.
Bring the b. & o. tracks down Eleventh
street east by one line to the Pennsylvania
tracks.
Bring the B. 81. o. tracks by one line int
the city from the Eastern Branch and ru
parallel with the Pennsylvania tracks to tn
Long Bridge.
Depress the Pennsylvania tracks alon
Maryland and Virginia avenues; erect owe
them a roof aud locate the passenger station
at the crossing of Virginia and Marylan
avenues, between Seventh aud Ninth streets
Leave the routes as they are, with the ex
ception Of Sixth street, and move the Pennsyl
vania's passenger station to Virginia avenue
Bring the b. & o. tracks into the city b
one line from the northeast-the metropolitan
Branch.
Now you have the problem stated IAN
some of the solutions. Can one be found tina
is better than any of themS A. T. q.
PROFESSOR Cooks Balm OF Life positivel
infla nuti