Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-11


terminal facilities. ought to join In adj
vancing their mutual interests. SO as to
provide the people with proper accommo-
dalton, thus greatly stimulating the future
Of the national capital
Organised Railroad Opposition.
The report Of the committee on transpor-
tation was handed in by Mr.. Johnson, in
tine absence Of Chairman Wimsatt. 1t sets
forth thus: 1.-THE efforts Of certain railroads
to effect an entrance into Washington.
while deserving Of success seem ,unduiy
handicapped by the intrenched opposition
Of those roads now controlling this val
liable privilege and who seem to regard 1t
as their inalienable right by virtue Of pos
session, to be held or traded in like any
other commodity. The Norfolk and West
ern road, with its 1900 miles Of track.
the south, should be given entrance and en-
couraged to establish here under proper re-
strictions as to location and grade cross
ings, depot and terminal facilities for the
accommodation of Its large passenger and
freight traffic. The Richmond and Dan
vile system, reaching with its many
branches over 5000 miles of territory should
be enabled to approach it's depot and yard
In this city without paying tribute to any
other road. The great Baltimore and Ohio
system should have the right to cross the
city to reach the southern connections,
and not be driven to an out-of- the-way.
cumbersome, expensive and altogether in
adequate transfer by barge at Shepherds.
With the Norfolk and Western, Rich
mond and Danville and Atlantic Coast
Line entering from the south. and the
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio from
the north and west we should always have
a healthy competition in rates that would
rebound to the lasting benefit of the COM
munity. The annual fall complaints by
our merchants of vexations and damaging
delays by reason Of the Inadequate terminal
facilities provided by the railroads have
been absent because Of the vastly de-
creased value OF trade transportation and
an increase in yard room and freight ac-
commodations by the Pennsylvania road"
A Municipal Building.
Mr. Thomas Somerville presented the re-
port of the committee on public buildings
verbally. He said that he had no other re-
port to make than that of last year. and
the committee had but one recommendation
to make, and that was TO urge the erection
of q local public building. The need of a
building for the exclusive use OF the
municipal offices was very apparent. and
has been urgently sought for a long time.
Tne time hau come, SAID AIR. SomervlIle, tor
the board or traoe to take up the matter
and push 1t. There nave been plans pre-
pared, he continued. ana they are now at
the office OF the inspector OF buildings.
where they have been examined individual
ly by all the members of the committee.
and incidentally by many ether members OF
the board. All had given hem unqualified
approval, for they presented the features OF
a very handsome structure, and one that
would be very well adapted to the needs
of the District. The chairman said that 1t
is the policy Of the committee to take up
one building at time, and to stick to IL
was taken up in this way, and it Is now un-
der construction. He moved that the board
should advocate the construction of the
municipal building. and this was done by a
unanimous vote.
Mr.. Warner, in putting the question on
this motion, said that he had no doubt that
there are some very good friends to this
project In both houses OF Congress. He
thought that Senator Mcmillan. for one. was
firmly convinced OF the need OF a new
municipal building. There were plans for
such a structure before the committees last
winter. and he believed that very little
pressure would succeed in starting the ball
rolling toward a successful conclusion.
There was no report ready from the COM
mittee on trade organizations. of which Mr..
Samuel Ross is chairman and Mr.. Charles
Baum Of the committee on water supply
had only the recommendation to make that
his colleague on the committee, Mr.. Droop.
wine and beer. a suggestion that caused a
very general burst Of approval. and brought
tears Of emotion to the eyes Of Mr.. Droop.
who sat In front.
Brief and Negative.
Mr.. A. T. Britton, chairman Of the COM
mittee on arbitration. was not present. and a
letter Of regret was read. but he had sent
his report, which was brief and negative.
1t said: mo action has been taken during
the past year for the following reason
When the committee was originally created
it was found that its principal functions
were governed by sections 613. 614. 615 of
the statutes relating to the District. The
committee thereupon brought to the atten-
ton Of the board the fact that 1t would be
impracticable for 1t to ente- upon an ef-
fective judgment or to undertake the exer-
else Of the power of issuing subpoenas, and
thus in a general way, to produce any sub
stantial results through it's jurisdiction, un-
less in cooperation with the judiciary OF the
District. Inasmuch as the committee was
not authorized to represent the board In
! such manner, 1t was suggested that the
board of trade should, in such way as II
deemed best confer with the judges Of the
Supreme Court OF the District, and ascer-
tain to what extent they would cooperate
in executing the foregoing provisions of the
Revised Statutes, and that until some action
was thus taken by the board itself to put
the committee on proper ground 1t would
not be possible for it to undertake the per-
Torrance of any active duty
Mr.. Thos. w. Smith presented the report
OF the committee on membership, which
briefly and wittily described the beauties of
the system of getting merchants and Others
to join the board. He reported that there
were 800 members. and that there should be
at least 400.
On motion Of Mr.. Moore the Initiation or
admission fee was reduced from SIS to SO.
and the suggestion Of the president that for
the ensuing year the dues be IS instead of
SO was adopted.
There was no report from the COMMITTEES
on parks and reservations. The committee
on streets and avenues of which Mr. George
Truesdell Is chairman, was also silent. Mr..
John H. Magruder gave a verbal report
from the committee on charities, and said
that the work in that line is being nobly
done by the committees Of citizens that
have been formed. The newspapers are
contributing finely to the funds. and The
Stars coupons are being utilized to
gratifying extent He spoke Of the
great Marine Band concert, which netted
so much for the fund, and said that so far
as could be seen there Is no danger that the
poor Of Washington will suffer very greatly
this winter.
Improving the River Flats.
The report Of the committee on rivers and
harbors, read by Mr.. Randall Hagner, was
very long and very Interesting. 1t review
ed the progress Of the work on the flats.
and quoted from the figures Of the reports
of Mai Davis. the engineer officer in charge
Of the work. Special emphasis was laid on
the matter Of the improvement of the flats
that have been filled, and the report con-
tinued: The improvements have now reach
ed q stage where it becomes important to
<S.v 81 20 10. INT fy.sx "A