Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-10
CAN LAY ITS TRACKS,
A Permit for the Placing of q Double Track
In South Washington.

| In South Washington.
! Some DAYS ago the Pennsvlvania Railroad
Company requested the Commissioners to issue
permit allowing the company to double track
It's road from 1875 street to the Long bridge.
The matter was sent to the assistant attorney
for the District, Mr.. s. T. Thomas. and today
upon his favorable opinion the Commissioners
granted the permit. The permit, however, is
conditional 1t provides that it is subject to
the will Of the Commissioners and to future
legislation. As the opinion Of the assistant
attorney is Of considerable interest it is given
at length
have carefully examined the statutes re-
lating to the Baltimore and Potomac Company
and am Of opinion it has the legal right to lay
the tracks proposed. All the tracks except the
west main track are already down as / under
stand 1t, and it is only proposed now to change
their positions slightly. The west track shown
on the map, extending from 18th street to Long
bridge, is the only new or additional one. The
putting in OF this additional track will complete
the double track of this company on Mar Wand
avenue from 18th street 70 Long bridge 1t is
Of very great importance that this additional
track be laid, not only for the gene: al business
or the several railroad companies over it. but
to the citizens of that ueighborhood since by
by having two tracks at this point it will not
only obviate the necessity Of trains Of freight
ours sshluing tnere, which has always been an
inconvenience and annoyance, but it will ma
terially reduce the chance of accide nts due to
the operation OF single track roads. The char
ter granted the Baltimore and Potomac Rail-
road Company by the state OF Maryland in 1853
authorized it to build railroad from Balti-
more to point on the Potomac river. to be
selected by the president and directors of the
company. The charter provided TINT the road
when completed should not be more than sixty
SIX feet wide, except at or near the stations
where the width might be greater, with as many
tracks "a the president and directors may deem
necessary, nc. Congress in 1867 authorized
the Baltimore and Potomac company to ex-
tend its road into this District and Ito ex-
ercise the same powers, rights and privi-
leges. and to be subject to the came re-
strictons, in the extension and construc-
tion of said lateral railroad into and within
said District, it may exercise or is subject to
under BIZ the intent of its said charter or act of
incorporation" BY the act of March 1S, 1869,
IL was authorized by Congress to extend the
road upon either of the two designated routes
to the intersection of G. and 9th streets south
west. hf,erward, IN June, 1870, it was author
lied to extend its lateral branch authorized by
the act of 1867, "by way of Maryland avenue,
conforming 10 It's grade. to the viaduct over the
Potomac river at the city OF Washington known
the Long bridge and thence into Virginia.
These acts OF Congress present clear legislative
authority to tins company to Law the tracks pro-
posed, provided its railroad be not more than
sixty fee: wide, except at or near Its depots,
where the width may be greater. with as many
tracks as the president and directors may deem
necessary. The act Of Congress approved Jam
uary 10, 1891. sometimes called the Atkinson
bill has nothing 10 do with the question.
see no objection 10 granting the tcsirei hermit