Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-03-22
BOARD OF TRADE.
The Removal Of the Wilkes-stree Railroad
Track Opposed.

was held 1871 n:Inb 70 teR9 ecsioc III FeIef-
escs 10 the application Of Mrs. F. l. Smita
nog bsiore the Circuit Court to epjoin the
Midland railroad from uiag The track on
Wilkes s ress.
The president, Mr.. F. A Reed, presided,
o,d Mr.. J. @. BeekAsm acted 81 SECRETARY.
m calling tia meeting 20 order Mr. Reed
~ea9 ps.itioa, eig0ed BE- nuuber CT tia
IoemSers of Inc b3a.f, regulating TIE calling
~ ,na uset!a2 20 consider ana question.
GaoS. Fl. R!ysnt said the merchants, he
ossuroed. had assembled to express their
giows OF the mater. The petition to the
conrs for au Injunction TO prevent the rail-
road frcm using Wilkes street came from 6
Iadv for whom he AID all piesanh had the
highest respec', bat 1t must be remernb erad
th9t ths QUESTION concerned the business life
~ na;g OF the merchants. He said the own
e,s Q! o operly damaged By railroads had re-
drass for such damages. b0s II tails track was
remoyed The BarcAaUts' business would be
sa1i3,5!y iyjutsd ana they could have no .e-
d,e,= He thought Il unfortunate that these
nroceeG!nss should have been started at this
slime: il would open tee gales Of litigetion
and ire city could not effard to an:agonize
rai!rosas. Eethought the merchants should
c1oress hemee:vss decidedly sgainst the in
junction proceedings.
".
With Yhch the board had nothlog to do ;
tns action for an irjapction had been
h7oueht by private ctilz against the rail-
Iosa end the matter was low before the
court. He ag:eed that the removal OF the
rack raicht interfere with business, bu5 he
had been iofarmsd that the Superintendent
NJ the railroad had recommended the re-
s,oysl OF the track TO the southern limits Of
shs CITY. and If this 1ss done Ii would be to
+he intarss. Of the merchants, who some
times. uaGier the present arrangement, we're
noy csueed much delay 10 delivering grein.
20. by the constant shiitiDg OF CATS. He
nrceri that tie board had nothing to dc With
tho mater.
Csp.. Bryant thought t1as tae board
ehoaid laks actic and express Itself against
ths essnting of an iIjdnction F; II batter
soute TO Duian street than that By Wilkes
street o0piG he oblsiued he had no OF ao'ien,
but he did not W&st the business OF the city
or Of tho railroad inteffsrsd with. Ii the
-ailroaS wes not in condition now TO
chance the route he gsks2 what would be-
o9ma OF tbs onsioass OF the merchants?
Mr. Fisher sad the interest, OF the rail-
mad on Upion street were too great - allow
the company to abandon thst stfeet. be
had heard that the company received 70 OUO
for treckaee alone on tbes 2t.eat this sum
gas the interest on 100000. Gnioa smouns
would Dsy tae cost of laying tracks sroand
the southeJ2 part of tbs city.
Nj, Fishers tfuo&sgs statement Wss coz
troyartes by Mr.. e. G. joyce and Mr.. g.
Beckham, the laSlsr ssgiag tast Toe OBJ sot
OF the msIchsnts vas to sAse trGoEsge, not
to be required 10 pay rnofe.
Mr.. Beckham sald tie Interests of Ooi.
Smith we're deer 50 him, the ECKER, ouV Il
yss an unfortunate time TO start any sncn
move; hs had heard tAat II toe MioisnG
railrosd Was dEiyea cat Of Wikc5 s.rfe:
othets goEiG oommeDc6 lit ga'1on asstled
other railroads the Midland read. sizes
the recent reofgauizAticD oahemeS was Ia
strsizh,s for money, and If II was compelled
to abandon WILKES stgeet and could net or
would not lay tracks around the City, ne
ssked what Nculd heoome OF the business
Of the mercheb;s? 10 had hesfd paop!e say
inst the7 Wsro ahaken 10 their bsds b7 the
trains 90 the goad which Col. Smith repre-
sepied. en6 he fsgrsd tast IL rai!rOaG iliigS-
ton was ST .rted Ii would take wide rage.
Mr, John Mey Inquired II the railroad iiaa
not occupied the street before Dol. Smltl's
house had been built, and was informed by
several t,a. Il had.
Mr.. Rssd, after speaking Of hog Identical
we're the iotsre5ts Of railroads end the cit IS
through which they passed. and OF the c9r-
dial relations which should exit between
them, said snscne had right TO appeal to
the courts II thay thought they had GAUGE,
The Board he'd nothing 80 do with such
cases hut II had righs 70 express t;ssif On
such So! jact3 which affected the id.eresss
OF the city He tben told CT how
psrm!salon was given TO the railroad
to run It's trains through Wilkes and Union
streets and tdet suoh permission having
been given he thought is right that the
board should ask Council to protect the
rights OF the railroad 30 far as Il thought
proper in The matter. He thought 1t wuulG
be upwise to take action now, however tbs
matter had bsen postponed by tins Curt
TIL next September and il necessary the
board could Ike action later; the matter
might be as!tled outside Of court it may
never be nsde SO Issue. lie recommended
caution. He said he did not want ems IN
reference with the transfer OF cars to UJion
Streets and the board should do sll 10 lib
power 10 prevent such lEterfeEepce II t2e
railroad had not been In trouble this tracks
might have been removed from Wilkfs
street some time einee. The company he'd
recently bsep reoraanzad end he did net
want tD6 new QlESSp)iS " tuluh VnGt WIG
city was iniuical TO the railroad.
Mr. Bsckham ASKED II Others might not
obi set 20 their buildings being shaken II the
tracks we're removed to the other arrests.
He said II the Wilkes street track was torn
up many merchants would have to retire
from business
Capt. P. B. Hooe asked IL 1t would be con.
sIdered On improrsIety for the board to
frame statement and present it to Judge
Keith Oestipe forth the injury the removal
OF the tracks would be to the merchant OF
this city.
The chsir replied ihst auy action looking
to the IL fnencng 0; the court would be an
improplisty which might bIing about re-
buke.
Mr. Beckham then offered Inc following:
Resoped, That 1t is the opinion Of the Board OF
Trade that any interterenc with tho occupancy
Of Wilkes street by the Richmond snd Dsnvile
Rsilroad Company would be very disastrous st this
time, and would greatly impede The growth