Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-16
A SANDER on South Washington.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
have resided in South Washington within
two squares of the railroad for the past five
years and am astonished that any man holding
the position of United States Congressman
should make such a statement as that reported
on page of The STAR of July IA. as follows:
Every foot of South Washington" continued
Mr.. Mudd, where their lines (the Baltimore
and Potomac railroad) were proposed to run
were abodes of filth and crime and it would be
the best tn ng for Washington could that sec
ton be entirely girdled with railroad tracks"
Believing the above statement to be absolutely
false, / went imme diately to the police station
for this section of the city and obtained the
following facts from the officer in charge, who
has lived in South Washington for forty years:
The region in question is that bordering on
Virginia and Maryland avenues from 9th to
14th streets. There is not one disreputable
house nor disorderly resident in this whole
section. Between 7th and 14th streets and
between Maryland avenue and the mall-about
sixteen squares-there are only two colored
families, and they live in an alley. Many of
the residents south Of the railroad belong to
the laboring class, aud this is an exceptionally
orderly region. The police records show less
crime Tor the residents of South Washington
than for the same number in any other section
OF the city. 1t Is disgrace to the American
people that member of Congress should
utter such barefaced calumny against the cap
ital city,
The only habitable border of the most beau
tlful park in the city is b street south. 1t is
high and dry, on a level with Lafayette Square.
The residences are fine and have penetrated as
far back from the park the railroad nuisance
would permit If the railroad were buried
below ground, as it can be from 9th to 18th
| streets, this whole hill would be covered with
fine residences, for 'there is no healthier por-
ton Of the CITY," 80 said Prot. Henry after ex-
amining statistics. The rise in grade from
14th to 18th street is now Is feet, or about 200
feet to the mile, and that, while long freight
train is hanging around the sharp curve at the
end OF the present bridge, is why the nights
are made hideous by freight engines
straining until their safety valves fly
open with wild shrieks, the exhaust
steam puffs and roars in the smokestack and
the drive wheels grind fire from the rails like
pyrotechnic pinwheels Then when a train
loaded with swine or cattle or fertilizer gets
stalled 1.-The rich perfumes refresh the fruitful
fields" The whole through traffic, both freight
and passenger, is done on one line Of track,
and there are five other tracks on Virginia ave-
nue. from 9th to 18th streets to stand freight
cars on. All this should be relocated to low
lands between Virginia avenue, Eastern Branch
and Sd street. Then all the necessary smoke
and noise would be brought together, the shops
would be near the homes of the employees and
heavy manufactures could be received and
shipped directly upon boat or cars from their
door.
The present depot is below food line and I'M
reliable for capital in an emergency tun-
mel carrying the track on level from 9th to
18th street out OF sight. freight yards at each
end, and depot at the south side of the square
joining Virginia and Maryland avenues leading
to the tunnel In the manner usual to large
cities, would solve the problem nationally. II
the tracks are legalized as they now stand this
generation will not see them buried where they
should be- KS
July l6, 80.