Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-25
Our recent correspondence from Rockville
iA&icakoa Mai tha neorln alnnc the line nf the


Indicates Mat the people along the line Of the
canal do not derive much encouragement TO
hope Ter tho restoration Of the waterway from
the recent move, ostenslbly in that direction.
made in behalf of the bondholders under the
act Of 1874. II appears that these bonds have
been largely acquired by the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. and it is thought that this cor
poratioa is more anxious TO defeat the plan of
. sempetiHg railroad along the canal bed than
70 20 into the canal business itself, psralleling
ih railroad tracks by q waterway. 1t is sus-
pecssd that If the Baltimore and Ohio, ss con-
trolling bondholder, can prevent the use OF
the canal bed by . competing road, it will be
satisfied with this result OF its investment in
canal bonds, and viii permit the waterway to
lie ruined and idle, forcing the transportation
over its railroad tracks. The interests Of the
residents along the canal and Of WASH
inston are IN some respects identical Ii the
waterway could be restored and conducted
on n paying basis under independent, business
management, that would be the most desirable
solution Of the problem. But il the hope OF
this kind Of waterway 10 visionary, and much
has happened to indicate that it is so. then the
local interests, like those of the canal counties.
lie in the directio of the substitution OF new
railroad. Next to an independent, competitive
waterway comes an independent, competitive
railway. For this reason both Washington and
the canal counties have approved the project
o. the Washington and Cumberland railroad,
and hesitate to be diverted from that approval
BY the reappearanee of the vision of a restored
water way, which, under the circumstances, Is
suspected to be q very dolusiye phantom.
Warrington needs very much new, independent
and competing lines of road, aud their con-
struction should be encouraged in every jul
dicious manner that suggests itself 1t will be
necessary in bringing new lines into the city to
cause such methods of entrance TO be adopted
As will put the capital upon the same footing
in respect to grade crossings as that Of
the capitals of other civilized nations.
The evil of dangerous and disGguring
surface tracks, with which the city is now
cursed is to be eradicated here as in other
great cities, aud not TO be enlarged. Wise con-
ditions concerning The methods of entrance
into convenient and accessible points within
the capitals limits will readily be complied
with by new roads seeking admission. but if
once form of railroad occupation. hurtful to
the public, is authorized and enjoyed. it is al
most impossible, as experience has shown, to
secure from the Districts legislature (Which
has the misfortune not to represent it) cor
rection Of the evil 1t is essential therefore to
give thoughtful consideration at the very out.
set to the methods by which new railroads are
to enter tie capital, and to canse them to do so
in such manner will neither threaten the
lives Of Its people nor impair the beauty of the
city. Observing this precaution Washington
should make active effort to secure new lines
OF communication, and should give hearty en-
courasement to competitive railroad projects.