Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-20
The BOARD OF TRADE.
Many Subjects of Importance Consid-
cred at Last Nights Meeting.

Il
| THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE AUTHORIZED TO 90
BEFORE coNGREss-A STAND TAKEN AGAINST
| GRADE CROSSINGS AND SURFACE TRAcKs-THE
CITY POST OFFICE AND OTHER MATTERS
| TALKED OVER.
large and representative meeting of BUSH
| ness men was held last evening at Willard hall.
| 1t was the first meeting of the newly organized
board of trade of this city and a good proper
ton Of the 255 members were present The
time of the meeting was entirely occupied with
hearing the reports of the various standing
committees and after taking prompt action on
| each report the meeting adjourned. In calling
the board to order Mr.. NJ. NJ Parker. the
president, said that the organization of the
board was due to the fact that there was evil
IDENTITY need for such body in this city. 1t
was organized without respect to any one Sec
ton Of the city, but all sections stood on an
equal footing Washington was recognized by
its citizens and others familiar with the CITY, he
SAID as the peer of any capital In the world
and as having advantages over any other CITY in
the country. The board he said would per-
form useful service in keeping these facts be-
fore the country. While the advantage to the
city OF such an organization was undoubted
the rapidly increasing list of members and the
Congress and the Commissioners are an evil
dence That the Importance as well the neces-
slty lot such an organization is recognized.
CALLING FOR REPORTS
The president then proceeded to call the
committees and a response was received from
each committee, either through the chairman
or one of the members
The chairman of the finance committee, Mr..
Beriah Wilkins, stated that he had no special
report to make The committee had approved
bills amounting to $500 for furnishing the
rooms occupied by the board. The secretary
OF the board. Mr.. A. d. Anderson, added as a
supplemental statement that the receipts of
the treasurer amounted to 1890.
Since last meeting held February IS last, he
SAID, 81 names OF individuals and firms have
been added. Previous to that time 1873 names
were received making the number OF members
who have paid up to date 197. As many OF the
names represent firms composed of several
members. the total number Of names iu the
board of trade is 255.
THE RAILROAD REPORT.
The report of the committee on railroads
was presented by Mr.. I. W. Noyes in the
absence of the chairman, Mr. B. H. Warner.
The report stated that the bills defining or
regulating the routes of steam railroads in this
city. introduced by Messrs. Ingalls,. Morrill, and
Earweil in the Senate and by Mr.. Atkinson in
the House, had been considered The Farwell
and Atkinson bills, the report said, are vigor-
ously pushed by the corporations for which
they ASK privileges to immediate consideration
by the District committees. The reported
abandonment of the tunnel project under Capt.
toll Hill by the Baltimore and Ohio removes
In the opinion of the committee, the PROPOSE
tions OF the Ingalls, and Morrill, bills
concerning Northeast Washington from the
list of practicable solutions of the
problem. The Farwell bill, the report said Is
believed to give the latest project Of the Balti-
more and Ohio. This measure proposes to
unite the two branches OF the road outside of
the city limits and bring them down Delaware
avenue with four tracks at grade or by means
OF an open cut to ID street; thence curving
southwest into the site of the present station;
thence curving northwest and crossing d, Z
and North Capitol streets to the Delaware
avenue tracks at street The avowed policy
OF the board of trade, the report states, in re-
spect to steam railroads within the city limits
Is to reduce to a minimum surface tracks aud
grade crossings. The loop of tracks as pro-
posed is characterized by the report as highly
Objectionable. as it would establish a broad
stretch OF impossible railroad territory. In the
opinion OF the committee the station and loop
OF tracks ought to be removed to point not
further south than the north line of Massa-
chusetts avenue and not further west than the
east line OF North Capitol street.
THE COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATION
The committee asked authority to appear be-
nova of the station in the manner recon-
mended; a geographical limitation upon the
power OF condemnation provided by the bill
which shall restrict its exercise to land north of
Massachusetts avenue east of North Capitol
street. and to land aDutting upon the tracks
specifically authorized; the placing of the con-
troll, as well supervision of the details of es-
tabllshing grades, constructing approaches,
de-, in the District Commissioner and the
elevation of the tracks SO that the public can
pass under them at all intersected streets. or
the sinking and bridging of them at every in
tersecting street where that is reasonable and
practicable.
THE BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC.
In reference to propositions concerning the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad the report
summarizes the provisions OF the ingalls, and
Morrill, bills and compares them. The COM
mlttee recommends the Morrill, bill as much
more effective in carrying ont the board of
trades policy Of abolishing the obstruction of
surface tracks and grade crossings 1t is more
definite and imperative IN regard to the de-
preston OF the track, which Oh the surface cuts
off South Washington and the river front from
the rest OF the city. And it abolishes all the
grade crossings On 9Th street and on Maryland
avenue between 9th and 9th streets by remov-
ing altogether the tracks on these streets This
| removal, in addition to its reduction Of the
grade-crossing evil, satisfies. the report states
another principle of sound public policy which
declares that the public reservations should
be sacrediy devoted to the purposes for which
they have been granted in trust and should
| not be diverted from the public use as parks to
that OF corporations for business purposes
Such removal would restore the stretch of
parking from the Capitol to the White House
to the uses for which it was originally intended
as an ornament to the city and breathing
place for the people
THE PASSENGER STATION.
The location of the passenger station at the
intersection OF Maryland and Virginia avenues
is few squares farther from the business
center than the present site, but is not distant
from that center ana is equally accessible by
means OF street cars. two lines, including the
new cable llue on 9TH street, running directly
by II already. The site would be in the nature
OF a compromise between the people of South
Washington, many OF whom wish the tracks
and station withdrawn to reservation II or to a
site south OF the botanical gardens, or even to
II street south, and the railroad which wishes
| to stay where IT lis. The travelling and business
| public cannot AFFORD to have passenger stations
| removed to remote points, but no public incou-
venience would il is believed be endured as a
| result either OF the withdrawal OF the Balti-
more and Potomac few squares to the inter-
| section of Maryland and Virginia avenues or of
| the Baltimore and Ohio to a point north of
Massachusetts avenue.
THE GRADE CROSSINGS.
| The most serious evil which afficts South
Washington is the obstruction IN travail and