Evening star., 1894-04-04
Action of the Board of Trade on a
Proposed Railroad.
OCCUPATION OF THE RIVER FRONTAGE
The Parks Committee Instructed to
Modify Their Report.
STEAM ROADS AT GRADE

anu RESERVATIONS the report made at the
last meeting, with instructions to modify
the report, so as to provide for the inter-
ests of the District of Columbia This re-
suit was reached after a somewhat lengthy
debate. The portion of the report which
aroused opposition was the resolution
which expressed opposition to the propo-
sition now pending before Congress ito
permit the Washington, Alexandria and
Mount Vernon railway to cross with its
tracks the entire northern boundary of
said Potomac fats and to otherwise secure
privileges and vested rights therein" The
resolution further opposed the of the
Potomac fats for any purpose except as
park and protested against the granting
to any one the use of the fats for any
private purpose whatever.
A large map, which had been specially
prepared for the purpose, and which show
ed the route of the proposed road In this
city and its course along the reclaimed
fats and across them. was suspended from
the wall behind the presiding officer. The
chair was filled last night by Mr.. s. w.
Woodward, the vice president of the board.
AS soon as the unfinished business of the
previous meeting came up Mr.. A. ID. An
derson, who said that he was the general
counsel for the railroad, made an elaborate
defense Of the plans and purpose Of the
road in seeking the proposed route. The
company, he said, did not six the indorSe-
ment of the board, but objected to a COM
mittee of the board misleading the public
in regard to their purposes. He maintained
that this was question that did not come
properly within the province Of the COM
mittee. The company was named and
the word ''vandar' was used in connec-
ton with 1t. 1t was also insinuated that
Pennsylvania railroad. He denied this lat
ter charge, and said that the board in
adopting such a report would depart from
the principal object of the organization,
and not to indorse or antagonize private
enterprises.
The Street Route.
He then traced the course of the road,
and said that no part of it would touch the
fats, except at the foot of 26th street. He
referred to the proposition to use E street.
and said that there We're engineering difi-
culties in the way, such as a ledge of rocks
at the river front at the foot of E street
swift current and a steep grade to reach
the river. He explained why they asked
for the 14th street line, and said that II
they went above the Aqueduct bridge as
some desired. it would take them two miles
and one-half out of their way. He referred
to the statement in The Star about the
company having yielded ninety-nine points
already, and he added that they would be
willing to yield TIE other point, which was
TO take the f street route, if there were
not engineering difficulties in the way. He
explained that IL was necessary to use
the overhead trolley across the fats, as
1t was made ground. and the underground
conduit could not be built. He proposed to
oner an amendment to the bill which
would require the substitution of the un-
derground system within a year, or as
soon as the ground would permit.
In reply to DR.. A. p. Pardon. who asked
what objection there was to taking the r
street route. Mr.. Anderson spoke again of
the engineering difficulties and Mr. Read
OF Alexandria, the vice president of the
road, also said that with the large cars
which would be used and the motor requir-
ed ii would be difficult to climb the grades
The chairman of the committee, Mr. H F.
Blount, claimed that this proposed railroad
interfered with the general interests, and
for that reason the board had right to op-
pose 1t. They were in favor of a bridge
above the Aqueduct bridge, as every one
was. but they were opposed to bridges below
as they would be likely to interfere with
navigation.
The opinion was expressed by Mr. c. c.
Lancaster that as the gentlemen interested
In this company Were reputable men and as
they said they did not intend to encroach
on the park, he was willing to rest satis-
fled with that statement and not oppose
their project. He moved that the portion
of the report relating to the railroad be
laid on the table. and motion was also
made by Mr.. Caywood to amend the report
by striking out the name of the railroad
MIR. Noyes' Objection.
Appreciation was expressed by Mr.. Theo-
dore W. Noyes Of the efforts made by the
company In their attempts to render the
bill acceptable to the public. He referred
to the various concessions already made
and thought that II would be better IL the
company would concede the last point and
keep or the flats, choosing the route Just
north of Observatory hill and have a wharf
at the foot of f street or thereabouts. As
1t now stood the company proposed to yio-
mnniclnal q N Tl.,,,
shalt not donate public property for private
enterprises"
He said that this proposed grant to the
railroad included a river frontage OF ex-
treme value which was given without COM
pensation. 1t had not yet been determined
what use would be made of this river front
This legislation sets the precedent of giving
this river frontage away and devoting IL to
business. Hereafter, when any one wants
river frontage they can quote this grant
and ask for a further extension of this bus
mess area The speaker said that. in his
opinion, II the corporation camel once gets
Its nose in this tent IT will soon be In pos
session and the owners, the people won't
be in 1t. He spoke of the past experience of
land grants to railroads in this city.
To Introduce the Trolley.
He thought that the government ought
not to make this free gift to a corporation.
He further objected to this corporation be-
ing selected in the place of Fred Law Ohm
SeSN vi SoLie ollei engineer TO
lay out this magnificent park. which, in his
opinion, would include the Observatory
grounds. He then referred to the necessity
for the suspension or abrogation OF the law
against the overhead trolley as the road
proposed to use that motive power along
1000 feet in length of the new made ground
He thought that this introduction would be
used a basis for powerful argument in
the future for the continuation of this mo-
tive power over the comparatively unoc-
cupied streets of the balance of the route
of this road. If it is alleged that this per-
mission to use the overhead wire is temper
airy, it can easily be understood that when
the time comes for the change, then IL will
be argued that IL is a hardship on the com
pany to make the change.
He spoke OF the foothold that the trolley
combine had already gsined in this city
and referred to the danger Of yielding to
this influence. He emphasized the danger
that would come from a road running on
grade at a high rate of speed. such as would
probably be the rule on this road. This
will be a through road in competition with
the Pennsylvania railroad to Alexandria,
would be less interference with a high rate
of speed. 1t will lay down in that part OF
the city a belt Of mo thoroughfare sur
face tracks. as much steam road would
do. He thought II would be better II the
road were compelled to go on defined streets
and in other respects be like street rail-
road. The proposed change a little farther
north from the present route would DO no