Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-22
THE CRoss-TovyN RAILROAD.
The Commissioners Listen to Arguments For
and Against Its Incorporation.

and Against Its Incorporation.
The bill to incorporate the cross-town rail-
road occupied the attention of the Commits
sioners at the morning session of the board
today and brought a number of DIRECTORS to
the District building.
The road commences Mt a point beginning at
the corner of 35th and N streets, Georgetown,
thence along to 29th street; thence along O.
crossing Rock creek on bridge to be built by
the railroad company; thence easterly along Q
and Boundary streets to North Capitol street;
thence along North Capitol street to Il street.
Commissioner Douglass called for those who
advocated the roau TO state the reasons why
the road should be built. and Mr.. Z. q. Lee,
representing the incorporators, rested his case
on the fact that the same bill had been favor
ably reported by the Commissioners and the
House committee on the District of Columbia
at the last session of Congress.
Mr.. A. r. Mullowney addressed tie Commits
sioners at length in opposition to the road. He
said that the road passes property without Civ
ing any benefit to it. Its construction would
not only depreciate property IN that section,
but would be q menace to life and limb.
Some of those who advocated the bill
contended that the bridge contem-
plated in the bill would be of material benefit
to the residents of Georgetown. This was not
a fact, as the bridge, Ia constructed, would be
was his belief that the road was sought by a
company of men who owned property in the
northeastern section of the city and wanted to
enhance its value.
Representative Stone was the next speaker.
He said that he had only been a resident of
Washington since the LIST OF December. He
purchased his home at 1921 Q street last May.
and one of the strongest arguments that infiu-
enced him in buying was tie fact that IL was not
occupied by street railroad. tie had been
railroad attorney for many years and the
principal duty in that capacity had been in de-
Tending the company In suits FOR damages in
killing small children The street which the
new road sought TO occupy was built up by
residences ana occupied by families. The pro-
jectca road was not in furtherance of a demand
IRON the people living on tie street or IN the
nelghborhood. All street railroads lie thought.
were beneficial to cities, but Washington had
enough. Y street is anarrow street. only thirty
two feet wide. and the building OF a railroad
upon it would ruin it, and he would sell
out at once. As far as he was con-
cerned he would oppose the road at every
opportunity. 1t was ali very well to build a
road where il needed. but there no
public or reasonable demand for the proposed
road. There was only one purpose in the new
road, anu that was to benefit the incorporators.
lie thought ii would be a grave mistake 10
charter such road, for once built, no matter
what the damage to private interests was, the
property owners would have no redress. He
desired his objection to stand against any bill
contemplating the occupancy of Q street.
Messrs. L. J. Schneider, Charles ID. Wolcott
and Commander Clover also spoke against the
bill.
In closing the hearing Mr. c. q. Lee again
referred to the former action of the House
committee on the District of Columbia and
read their report to the House favoring the
bill
Commissioner Douglass stated that the Com
missioners would,give the matter careful con-
sideration before finally reporting upon it.