Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-19
Tbs railroad facilities of Washington ara in

The railroad facilities of Warrington are in
adequate. More roads, whether opening up
new fields or competing with existing lines,
ought 10 bs welcomed and encouraged in every
reasonable way. Railroad extensions to this
city should be invited and the securing of con-
vsnisnt station facilities approved. The main
prscsuton which the capital must observe Ii
The proper regulation Of the method by which
new RAILROADS reach reasonably central stations
No additional grade-crosaings should be per-
mitted within the city limits, unless at those
few points where their endurance IL proved to
be unavoidable, and at these points, IL there
are any, precautions should be taken which viii
reduce the danger and Inconvenience to o
minimum. The capital has reached point Of
development in attrsctiveress and population
which entities IL to demand the same considera-
ton In NE matter of protection from dishgure-
meme and security to life which 10 enjoyed in
the capitals of the old world. Nor is there
likely to Be any difhculty in making the neccs-
sary arrangements with new roads. The latter
are a. anxious to get into the city as the city is
to welcome them and will make many conces-
sions to secure a foothold. The railroad efforts
to reach Washington have been thvarted not
by the people Of the city, but by the railroads
which now occupy the field, and which wish no
new corners that are not tributary to them.
1t Is q Islander upon this community to rep
resent it. a. some Of the local newspapers do,
n unappreeiatiye Of the benefits which rail-
roads confer and as hostile to the extension of
transportation facilities by the admission of
new roads No city has ever suffered more
from lack Of competition between railroad
common carriers, and there 10 none, unless il
be some western town, created outright by the
r,ilrosds which has done more for such cor
porstions. For q long time its only railroad
vas the Baltimore and Ohio, which had free
right Of way over the public streets and sta
ton sss at the foot Of the Capitol Of the United
States Being without competition it did 40 it
pleased. 1t was at that time unprogressive, old
fosyish and even hostile to washing ton, choking
it, growth in the supposed interest of Balti-
more. The Baltimore and Potoma, when it
came w>s hailed ~ . deliverer. 1t received
free right of way over streets and magnificent
avenues and free station site, first at
the intersection Of Maryland and yir-
sinis avenues, and later, al 9 loan, at
the present location on the public park con-
Meeting the White House and Capitol 1t is
true that the public Is now dissatisfied with the
corporation which II then gladly welcomed.
But That Ia because the road has turned the
loan Of the mall into gift, has seized other
public reservations not granted to it, has vio-
lated all laws designed to protect life and prop
erty in the section through which it passes, has
made no Improvement for the public welfare
IN abolishing grade-erossings such az advancing
civilization has brought to other cities and
such a. the road itself makes elsewhere, and
has gone into politics and governs the commu-
nifty through its constitutional law makers, OBJ
tanning for its murders and illegal sppropria-
tons the sanction of law. The capital wants
more railroads and it wants them by the dozen,
and it holds out its hands to them; but it GER
tainly means to take more precautions concern
ing the chartering legislation than was OBJ
served in respect to the two which have in sue
cession placed their feet upon its neck. In the
light Of its experience 1t would be very foolish
IL il did not.