Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-31


| sonal injury. In connection with this large
and apparently increasing slashinC and siauch-
| terins OF the people of this District where the
| baltimore and Potomac road appears to have
| the pre-emlnence i. should not be forc often
that until the passage of the Poland net of 1884
| the families Of those who were actually killed
| we're left without remedy for damages even for
! the grossest wrong or neglect of the railroads
| although the common law. not any statute law
| furnished remedy for personal injury when
| less than that of death. The railroads were
| scot-free. and had entire impuni.y If they only
| succeeded In actually killing their passengers
In ADDITION to the occupancy of important
portions OF Delaware. Virginia and MARYLAND
| avenues, there are now within the city more
| than sixty crossings of streets and avenues at
grade by these steam railroads as perllous as
sixty spring-gun traps, and all tending greatly
to the depreciation of the value of real estate
| In the city, as well 10 the multiplication Of
| depiorabie accidents. With the changes now
| proposed these crossings will be reduced to the
| minimum and, with additional safeguards the
| recurrence of lte-taking accidents 1t is to be
hoped. NAV cease
| reform in relation to the railroad tracks
| crossing streets at grade is loudly demanded
! ana especially from the hostile occupation of
| the right flank and center of the city. where
many streotsare pcrpetualy blockaded, We ought
! to be forever relieved. An insufficient remedy
| IL proposed by the bill OF the committee; bat
on or sonth Of Maryland and Virginia avenues
che elevation OF the ground is sufficient 70 per-
| mt tracks to be sunk below the surface and to
| be walled in and made wholly safe
| SO destructive of human life have been the
railroads leading into the city OF Buffalo on a
| grade level with the streets that the governor
Of New York has inst approved an act OF the
! legislature by which seven leading roads will
| he compelled to enter TINT city by elevated
tracks, which will subject tho roads to a very
| large expenditure Of money
| T. An extraordinarily fine bridge was to have
oeen erected over 9th street at cost, as its
friends asserted, of $4,000, "a thing OF
| beauty but after long wears of DELAY We have
narrow iron structure to which only distance
| lends cnchantment 70 the vlew," and it rather
| aSgravafes than dlminishes the danger. An
| untold number of engines at this point are
constantly spouting fire, painting and pirouet-
| ing one way or the other, sixty more
| .reins III every twenty-four hours; and no
| breed ot horses is so destitute of metal As not
/ 10 snnh the battle of ire, smoke and steam
| when directly under the nose, or not 30 hoar
| front
D. The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
| company have placed freight depot on square
| $50 without any authority OF law and in spite
| OF hotlce or objections against the selection of
| me site. They have also invaded reservations
| ia l7s, PAL and 300, although prohibited from
entering any lot or square owned by the United
| States, and it appears &c be
| THE READIEsT LAND JUMPER OF THE AGE
| Dst*een New Jersey avenue and South Capt.
'oi street, where, by the map of 1872. it would
appear mat one track only was auth orized or
Con'enpia'eo there are now not less than
| eiSht tracAs, some OF which even trench upon
| the sidewalk OF reservation IT, In addition 20
tnls -FOUR tracks cross and cover reservation l74
four other tracks cover reservation l73 and four
more tracks cross and cover reservation OIL
All OF these, as well as the track across New
jersey avenue to square 737, though short
have been made without the slightest authority
lie u la ~
OF the triangular shape peculiar TO Washington
ana are greatly appreciated by its citizens but
the aggressive war powers of appropriation
by this steam railroad seem 10 Gc autocratic.
ana an ac' Oh Congress Is looked upon appar-
entity with contempt.
The four tracks which go over reservation
Ia also cross New Jersey avenue and LIST street
southeast without any legal authority what
ever, nor Is there any authority OF law for the
four tracks which have invaded reservation I7S
TO cross Half street southeast There is still
another branch of tracks over the small reser
Vatlon IO9 which crosses street without au-
thority OF law. Having only an Implied right
10 pass through the largo reservation lOl of
"a acres with one track, or at most with two
they nave placed upon it large group of
tracks, which are constantly covered with trains
or Win loaded or empty cars Their principal
freight delivery is here and on the public ave-
nues and streets. Heavy freight is daily un-
loaded from daylight until dark along VIRGINIA
land avenue from 9th to 1875 street. for which
there IS no authority of law. The most i'm
portant reservation as well rs many minor ones
IN the south part of the city have thus been
selzed Dy the railroad company and instead of
being improved and made possible decoration
they have been made positive nuisance. The
Dissertation Is keenly felt by citizens in this
vicinity, who observe that favors such as were
granted and protected elsewhere arc here de-
med. The value of property in this locality il
Was 1rty-
while values only two squares away have been
quadrupled. There arc further weighty con-
slderatlons affecting business interests A COM
mittee of the citizens of Washington reported
as follows:
The constant obstruction of these avenues at
the transverse streets by shifting engines and
trains practically cuts i'll two the business of
the city. SO that merchants and business men
nave almost ceased to look TO the river (Poto-
mac) as means of transportation because of
the Inconvenience and delay experienced in
transferring it after leaving the wharf"
The lawful rights of those who have pur-
chased lots and have built residences near to
any OF these reservations with the just expecta-
tlon, according to the original plan OF the
city, that they would remain forever omen
spaces, have been rudely invaded if not de-
stroyed. The vested rights, however of these
residents are not inferior to those of any rail-
road, aud they are entitled to some proper
remedy.
The interest and convenience of the com.
pany appear to have been the only limits OF
authority to do whatever it chooses and its
audacity, it will be seen, has been amazing
even for a corporation.
That have not overstated the infrac tons of
Its charter or of the willfu trespasses upon the
public grounds by the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad Company may be seen by reference
to the repeated annual reports Of Col Wilson.
the able and faithful commissioner Of public
buildings and grounds.
In one instance it is understood that the
company claims to have had the consent Of the
District Commissioners for its lawless action
OF which. however, there is no record, and il
such there were, it would have no more legal
value than the consent Of the superintendent
OF the insane asylum. The law binds the Com
mss,oners as we'll as railroads.
The criminal case reported OF the United
States against the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company indicted by the grand Jury
for maintaining nuisance by allowing cars 10
stand Oh the street and there loading and nm.
loading the same. was recently decided IL gen.
eral term against the company But it's not
understood that the company shows any more
obedience to the court than il has st owu 10
the laws of Congress-
The proof of their aagrant abuses ts so
Astounding as to show that the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company has
wILLFULLY BROKEN ITS so-cALLEr oH.RrRa
and would justify it's forfeiture under the nost
summary process by the courts; but ful. power /!
having been especially reserved to alter or
amend, it is incoutestlble that the road ia now
AS amenable to the discretion of Congress az il |
would be II now, for the first time il were ask.