Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-11

One Of the assembly rooms o. the Arlington
Hotel was filled last evening with well-known
Washington business men. II was the annual
meeting of the board of trade. Among those
present we're Samuel E. Wheatley, W. S. Roose,
4. Kurtz Johnson, Myron NJ. Parker, A. T..
Britton, ". ID. Cabell, Theo. w. Moves, Jas T.
Dubois, Geo. Truesdell, ". C. Dodge, d. j.
Mccarthy, John Lynch, Isidor Saks, s. W.
Woodward, b. III. Warner, Fl. c. Spencer,
Levi Woodbury., George Gibson, James Lans-
burgh, Il. I. Cropley, Fl. A. Griswold, W.
Il. Moses, Beriah wilkins E. F. Droop, l.. A.
Littleheld, Robert I. Hieston. j. Harrison
johnson, W. P. Van Wickle NJ j. Wine, F.
l.. Moore, G. c. Duncanson, Martin F. Morris,
Francis r. FRya, jr., J. V. n Huyck, Thos. W.
Smith, Simon Wolf John b. Wight, Dr. NJ D.
Peck. When the board met Mr.. Parker as
president of the board, presented his annual
report. lie said:
PRESIDENT PARKER's REPORT.
To the Members of the Board of Trade: In
compliance with the requirements Of our by
laws 1 have the honor TO submit for your in
formation my first annual report as president
OF the Washington board of trade.
Tho necessity for organization of this
character at the national capital has been mani
fest for many years From time to time efforts
have been made to accomplish this purpose
none of which seemed to successfully mate
riallze until one year ago. when, through the
efforts OF a number of our leading business
men. the present organization was effected.
The relations We occupy to the general govern
ment are peculiar and widely different from
those of other leading cities. Being governed
by 4 board OF Commissioners appointed by the
President without the usual form of municipal
government and without representation in
Congress, the necessity for organization
like our board Of trade, representing without
favor or prejudice all sections and interests of
our city. was manifest to all. 1t was the COM
mon remark IN both houses of Congress that
there WAS no general organization i'll Washing
ton representing i'll public, impartial. unsec-
tional way the necessity and wishes of the COM
munity.
Il is wel-knowr fact that local measures AZ
fecting our interests have from time to time
been antagOnized by various local organizations
Eituated in different sections of the city by rea-
son OF which much needed legislation has been
delay and defeated Ii has been a common
remark in Congress that sectional prejudice
and opposition have often defeated needed legis-
lation.
The board Of trade was organized in the hope
that these differences might be overcome and
that through concerted action by representa-
tive body We might exert II wide influence with
Congress, and thus accomplish greater and
more satisfactory results That this expecta-
ton has been realized is fully established by
the events of the year.
Since the organization Of the board of trade
1t has Interested itself i'll much legislation that
has been Of great and lasting benefit to our
city.
1t approved and materially aided in the ex-
tension OF the lexington railroad, Senator
Harris stating from the floor of the Senate
that 1t needed no further better recon-
Eiendation than that of body like the board
OF trade. Tho extension of this road along u
street to 18th street has already converted resi-
dence property into business property, and.
when completed, will open an important
avenue of communication from the great bust
ness center to tbs extreme northeastern Sec
tlon Of the city, connecting with the new
Catholic University and Soldiers Home.
Ii also aided in The passage of the George
town and Tenleytown electric road, which is
now IN successful operation. thereby placing
Us in immediate communication with the
great northwestern section of our city.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
So much has been said during the year al
fecting the steam railroads Of the city that
detailed statement would seem appropriate
In January information was obtained TIL the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad b ,ing I'm der
indictment for side trac IS, illegally laid which
traversed and Occup';l without authority
lily. property Of the United States. proposed to
apply to Congress for legislation legalizing
these tracks, and giving it in addition power
TO condemn for its uses property adjacent to its
tracks in South Washington.
There was strong opposition in South Wash
ington TO an unlimited power of condemnation
and general desire In ali sections of the city
similar to that which prevails in most OF the
large cities OF the republic for relief as far rs
possible from surface tracks and grade crossings.
The officers of the board of trade and the rail-
road and transportation committees hoped that
some agreement could be reached with this
great corporation by which its own interests
and the wishes of the public could be at the same
time met, and a conference was secured for
that purpose. Vice President Thompson Of the
road met the railroad and transportation com
mittees on January and confirmed the report
that the road intended to ask for the leglsla-
ton already outlined. But ne declined 20 as
sent TO 4 geographical limitation of the power
OF condemnation to the space east OF Sd street
and south of the tracks. asked by the COM
mittees, and refused 20 consider at all the sub
ject OF grade crossings. pleading lack of au-
thorIty. Another conference was suggested,
and still later, by resolution OF the directors a
conference was invited. but no further formal
meetings with the officers of the road were Sc
cured. the boards repeated eff orts to come to
an amcable agreement with the corporation
completely failing.
The first formal action OF the board consisted
in the adoption of a resolution declaring it to
be the boards policy 10 urge the requirement
that steam railroads hereafter coming into the
city should enter above or below grade. and
that all existing surface tracks should be sunk
below raised above the grade wherever
practicable. Meanwhile the railroad committee
had considered various steam railroad bills re-
ferred to it By the board, including the one
PhcHdECu " Tic IcIlUsllEanll FtllrOdu III. II.
e2i3. introduced by Representative Atkinson),
and on March 70 IL made n written report con-
corning them. which was unanimously approved
by the 10 bard OF trade at a meeting OF not less
than 2OO members. and u resolution was unanI-
mously adopted at this meeting authorizing
and directing the officers of the board and the
members OF the railroad committee to appear
before the Commissioners and the District
committees OF Congress and urge the recon-
meudatlOn made IN the report
In brief. 30 far as IL related to the Pennsyl-
vanIa railroad tile report condemned the At
kInsoE bill as an independent proposition. rec
omnended that the proper power to Condemn
De limited TO squares sbuttins upon the tracks.
south OF them and east of Sd street west and
that whatever else might fail to be accom-
Plished tie obstruction and danger of the belt
OF surface Tracks should be removed To this
end the sinking and bridging of a designated
portion OF the present tracks were recon-
mended. with either passenger station at the
Intersection of Maryland and Virginia avenues
or II at its present site with the tracks APP
preaching u removed from 9th street and COM
Pletely covered from view OH the mail.
The railroad committee appeared as directe
before the Commissioners, the House commit
tee aud u subcommittee of the Senate commit
tee.
The Atkinson bill has been amended in the
House BY the insertion OF the geographical
limitation upon the power of condemnation,
IN substantially the terms requested by the
board committee from Vice President Thomp-
son and refused by him. The House voted at