Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-28

Speaking today Of the meeting Of the boart
Of trade which adopted the report OF the rail
road committee the Post says: The board Of
trade has had but one meeting since its organ
ization and that was slimly attended" Speak
ing Of the same meeting the day after il &C.
CURED, March 20, 1890, the Post said: with q
happy, satisfied mien President Parker
faced fully three hundred Of washington's
solid citizens at Willard Hall lasi
night" The account given ut the time
Of the occurrence, before our contemporary
had ceased TO be a disin teres ted reporter, il
undoubtedly nearer the truth, as every one
pressut at the meeting can testify. The criti-
cism upon this action of the board is largely
made by those who confess that they failed to
perform the duty of being present at the meet
ing, md who do net know what the action Of
the board really waa The report which was
adopted was in the nature of a compromise on
some points IN the railroad question,
and an emphatic and clear cut express
SION Of Che public opinion on other points In
regard to the location OF the passenger sta
ton Che board and the railroad committee
we're divided, while in condemnation of the
grade crossings evil they were unanimous. The
successful effort Of the committee was to make
could, by making small concessions, unite. The
primary recommendation of the report in re-
gard to station is its removal few squares to the
intersection of Maryland and Virginia avenues
Is "a com promise between the people of South
Washington, many Of whom wish the tracks
and station TO be Withdrawn to reservation n,
o. TO site south of the Botanical gardens or
even to 4 street south, and the railroad, which
wishes to stay where It is" This removal. it is
pointed out would abolish all the grade cross
mgr on 9th street and ON Maryland avenue be-
tween 9Th snd Ssh streets, and would satisfy
the principle Of sound public policy which
declares that abe public reservations should be
sscrsdly devoted to the purposes for which they
have been granted m trust But IN Difference
to the opinion of those who favored the reten-
ton of the station on the mall on the score of
convenience an alternative proposition was sub
mitssd. In case the station is not removed,
''the tracks should" the report says. s.be en-
tirely removed from 9th street. and that street
should be opened as thoroughfare.
The tracks should be sunk as pro-
posed and the strip of the reservation
west OF the street to be devoted to railroad
purposes should be completely covered, and all
necessary bridges for crossing 9th street and
the railroad strip should be provided in such
fashion that the railroad tracks, cars and en-
sines thereon shall be entirely concealed from
public view" The Atkinson bill an
an independent, unamended proposition
is vigorously condemned, and the re-
moval of the danger and obstruction
OF grade crossings is pronounced the great aim
Of the board, which must be accomplished.
whatever else may fail. The report was
adopted without dissenting voice by largely
attended meeting of the board Of trade, and
it represents the present state of public opin-
ion. Some men favor removal OF the station;
others favor its retention and the alternative
proposition suggested But all desire re due
tion the grade-crcssinss evil, and decrease of
some sort OF the Disagreement of the surface oc-
cupatien OF the mall.