Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-19
AFFAIRS IN GEORGETOWN.
Falls Church Citizens Talk Over Prospects
for Railroad
bridges and Ferries Discussed
Against Certain Proposal.-Ch.xx
Chase Hunt Club-Canal ARafrs.

AT the meeting Of the residents of Falls
Church and vicinity last night for the pur
pose OF discussing electric TRANSFORMATION
there We're both men and women present
All the latter being property holders and
In the opinion of the promoters of the pro-
ject to connect the town with Washington
by means of a railroad, having the right To
speak their views on the subject. Most of
them, however. spoke informally among
themselves, and did not to any extent ad-
dress the meeting.
There was money at command to largely
help the construction Of the proposed road,
one Of the speakers of the evening said but
not enough. He therefore proposed. In
order to facilitate the building, that the
council submit to the taxpayers a PROPOSE
ton to bond the town in the sum of $4,000,
and give that amount to the company
agreeing to construct at once, and In &C
cordance with the peoples wishes, the road
SO badly needed. The exact route Of the
proposed line has not as yet been deter
mined upon by the promoters. The ma
Jority Of the Virginans want it to cross by
way Of Analostan Island, and enter Wash
ington near the foot of the State, War and
Navy Departments. To do this, of course,
either a new bridge woald be necessary or
the builders would be obliged to establish
a ferry. Either of these Georgetown would
most seriously object to. on the grounds
that her river trade would be injured by
the obstruction they would offer to naviga-
ton. The ferry, too, during the winter
months, could not be used. At the meeting
last night, though. while a motion was
made to have the route definitely described
as entering Washington IN a direct line.
instead Of striving for a passage across the
Aqueduct bridge and to Washington by
way Of Georgetown, as the people of the
taken on It, and II was tucked away in the
movers memory, TO bring forward at the
next meeting.
The Virginians want to go by way Of
Analostan Island to Washington, and they
also want the assistance of the Georgetown
people in getting their bill through Con-
gress. A compromise. though, must in
some manner be effected before both wants
road IL it comes through Georgetown, and
fight hard and steadily against 1T IL II asks
for privileges that would ultimately work
the death Of the river trade.
Before the meeting Of the Falls Church
citizens closed a committee was appointed
to 60 among the people and get their views
on the motion proposed to bond the town:
The meeting was presided over by Mr..
|
hearing some days ago before the Commits
sioners an officer of the Washington and
Georgetown railroad stated that his COM
pany would Cooperate with the Falls Church
company. land their passengers at any point
in Washington city along their present
| route and connect with them at any point
on NJ street more expeditiously and at much
less cost than they could do IL.
Another objection to the passage of the
road across the old Alexandria canal thence
to Analostan Island and Washington is that
IL would be obliged to cross the tracks of
the Pennsylvania Company's branch steam
line to Rosslyn. which gentlemen in George
town were reliably Informed this morning
by one closely connected with the corpora
ton would be built without fail by the
opening Of spring.
Canal TraMe Ended.
About two weeks ago the last laden boat
of the season cleared Cumberland for
Georgetown. Today the last departure from
Georgetown took place. Now the Chesa-
peake ard Ohio men will have a chance to
improve and repair the old waterway, with
its banks locks and gates, and get them
in prime condition for the season that the
early spring ushers in.
A force Of fifty men have been Instructed
as to how to proceed with the work, and in
a day or two will be scattered all along the
line. In some places locks entirely new will
be put In, the present ones having exhaust
Those interested in the construction of
canal boats say the winter season will be
a busy one for them. They will be Obliged
to hustle as they have never done before TO
supply the demand for new and recon-
structed boats. During the past season all
the old broken down coal conveyances that
were on the canal were gradually taken or
leaving only substantial ones engaged in
active trade. This email led the bringing TO
town Of larger cargoes. An old boat would
drag herself along with los or 18s IONS
The average cargo brought during 1893 was
lis tons.
The closing down Of tine canal means to a
very large extent the closing Of the river
trade, and with the exception of few
schooners bringing wood, fertilizer. asphalt
etc, the Georgetown wharves will be un-
disturbed by rudder or bow until next
spring.
A majority of the lock tenders and section
bosses along the canal have of course been
put of.
Notes.
The Chevy Chase hunters were yesterday
again out for sport. This time they fol-
lowed the scent OF a real live fox. who had
put himself in danger from them several
times before. The anise seed bag was left
behind The chase was a long and zig Tag
one. and wound up unsuccessfully. Rey-
nard came out the victor
Mr.. Peter j. Clarke of n street has gone
TO Btnghapton, Broome county, N. ", to
attend the funeral of his brother-in-law,
Mr.. ID. Shallue. Mr.. Clarke will not re-
turn until after Christmas.