Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-28
Virginia Farmers and the Atkinson Bill.

To the Editor OF THE EVENING STAR:
While the controversy over the, Atkinson
bill is at its height and the question of whether
or not Congress shall increase the powers Of
the Pennsylvania railroad, it would be well
to examine the record of that corporation for
the past twenty years as applied to Alexandria
city and county. A simple recital of facts will
show that their course toward the people OF
that section has been one of wrong and out
rage that probably has not been equaled in this
country. Some thirty years ago there existed
a splendid and spacious turnpike one hundred
feet wide, which connected the two cities of
Washington and Alexandria. In 1859 a single
track railroad was built by the consent of the
county on the extreme east side of this turn
pike. The Pennsylvania Central, after the
war, obtained possession of this one horse rail-
way and substituted therefor double track
line, running directly through the turnpike
utterly running it for travelling purposes; in
deed in some places the causeways particularly
the roadway left to the public, WAS by actual
measurement only sixteen feet wide. 1t was as
much as a mans life worth to drive team
along the narrow strip of road. for the rush
and roar of the train would invariably cause
runaway and smash up. Several persons
we're killed. many manned and countless yehi-
Giles wrecked The road was by the general
public entirely abandoned aud to this day the
bulk of teams and vehicles travelling between
ferry boats.
The question naturally arises, did this rich
corporation reimburse the people of Alexan-
dria city and county for the destruction of their
only road to the national capital, and pay
damages for the andslides, horses killed and
shattered vehicles, to say nothing of precious
life? The answer is no, not one cent Not
only this, but, with an audaci.y unmatched
this company after running the Alexandria and
Washington turnpike actually established a
ALL Il 3d.. Il e.
to travel along the remnant of a road or lane,
which was ali that was left of this once fine
boulevard. Many of the countrymen, indiC-
nant at this GROWING outrage, cut the gate
down three times, until finally 1t was guarded
by section Of railroad hands, and the
traveller had to show up. The damage
the farmers living in the vicinity of
this railroad suffered was immense. Their
land was marred and lessened by the
cavings-in and chasns along the edges
of the deep cuts. The company refused
to fence in the road, and in consequence MANY
valuable horses and cattle Were run down and
killed daily. The docket of the county court
OF Alexandria shows many suits against the rail-
road company and judgments rendered; but
what avaIls an individuals fight against rich.
monied eorporation2 twas like peasant de-
Tending his home, armed with fail against a
mail-clad swashbuckler, with sword and battle
ak. No citizen OF the county ever received or
recovered one dollar damages from this
wealthy company.
At one time the indignation Of the comfy
men against the outrages perpetrated by this
road grew SO intense that many of the farmers
formed an organization to assemble in the
night time, and, with the aid of horses even
crowbar and hammer, to tear up the whole track
from the Long Bridge to Alexandria. and
nothing but the fact that the company carried
the United States mails prevented the down.
trodden people from taking this desperate
measure.
With what arrogance has this unscrupulous
corporation treated the city Of Alexandria.
Some time in the seventies this company ran it's
tracks right through the center OF the town
and established its depot within the heart OF
the city. Many citizens who lived on the
streets through which the cars run kicked
against having their property deprecated by
the constant running of the trains and de-
manded compensation. Their natural and
reasonable claims were treated with ignominy
and their requests were not even considered
When the city council took the matter up and
decided to protect the city's interest this cor
poration insolently let 1T be known that it
would remove its tracks aud transfer its depot
to the suburbs of the town and make Alexan-
dria bat way station. The council remaining
firm the corporation kept its word. But
neither county or town has ever received a
penny for all the injury in person, property or
material ii has suffered and lost. Now comes
this monopoly to ask further favors of the ma
tionai government after having robbed it of its
fairest domain. Washington is like Sinbad the
sailor, throttled by the old man OF the sea.
What picture Of audacity! The public mall
held, streets in South Washington destroyed
property deprecated, streets made freight
yards OF, the air filled with binding cinders
and the rafting of the trains, banishing sleep
from the weary inhabitants, and people torn,
crushed and mutilated by the score. All.