Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-18

Nernce Railroad for permission TO run
Its tracks on the extreme northwestern
edge of the Potomac flats. The organi-
cation in IFS deliberations claimed to be
the opponents OF the ideas of the
citizens in flTthering the city's interests
and the query, What would Washing
ton be without the railroads which pour
perennial streams of humanity into that
city? goes without an answer. One of
The more practical members of the
board, Mr.. T. a. Lambert, put it in its
proper light when he said Eve must
have a practical regard for the sub
s'antial elements which give the aes-
thetic features of city," He thought
the granting of $50 feet of ground should
not be allowed to interfere with an
enterprise that would add to material
prosperity. The park was only mud
pond, and ii was embryonic and hardly
potential. The government might grid
iron the park with railroads if it chose
to DO so. The government had done as
it pleased with other public reserva-
tons He thought the road should be
given an opportunity to build up the
waste places The road appealed to all
the business interests. But common
sense folks are invariably in the minor
lily in this world, and Mr.. Lambert's
practical views of the issue fell upon
the desert air when he undertook to
stem the tide of opposition which had
been manifested from the time the
board was called TO order. The report
of the committee on parks and reserva-
tons was requested on the call of Mr.
NJ. B. Harlow, of this city. Mr.. Harlow
said he had read in a Washington
paper communication on the member
ship of the board, and he was in doubt
whether or not he was member. Mr..
Warner Immediately declared that he
was member if he had paid his dues.
Mr. Blount read the report of the COM
mittee, which, as stated above,
was hostile to the railroad company.
Several members spoke in favor of
adopting the report, after which Mr.. A.
ID. Anderson, who maintained that the
public had been misled about the OBJ
jects of the railroad said it did not pro-
pose to touch the reclaimed flats except
on the northwest corner, where it pro-
posed TO cross very narrow strip.
The road was along the route proposed
by the War Department, except in one
particular, which was that the road
should 90 up f street and cross the
river there. IL had been shown that
the road WAS not to make use of steam
power. Mr.. +. A. Reed, of this city,
the vice president ofthe company, made
some practical observations in answer
to certain groundless objections which
had beeu urged by enemies Of the road.
MIR T. J. King said he supposed he WAS
responsible for the reference of the re-
port back 10 the committee, and he
hoped they would have reported favor
ably to the District. He did not think it
wise 10 oppose the entrance of capital.
The District had its Botanical Garden,
its Smithsonian grounds, and Agricul-
tural grounds and the other portions
of the mall, but they were separated
from each other by driveways and by
car lines. Dr. A. p. Pardon declared
that he was in favor of any enterprise
that would help the city, but there
were certain grounds which should be
sacred. He wanted 10 20 to Mount
Vernon by the Mount Vernon Railroad,
but he wanted that railroad TO proceed
along 8 route that would accommodate
the people who are row without rail
road facilities. Mr. Theodore 4. Moves
was the next speaker, who was OF
posed to the railroad using public land.
Nr King Interrupted Mr.. Noyes TO in
Quire ABOUT tie occupation of public
property at present by railroads in
Washington and especially one road in
the Capitol grounds. y vote was sub
sequeuJly taken and The report was
adopted. a communication from The
citizens association CT Georgetown
incio5iug 2 resolution against the
obstruction OF the igee navigation
of tue Potomac river by the construc-
ton OF any more bridges between the
Aqueduct bridge and the mouth of the
river unless built and controlled oy the
government, was read later. The reso-
lutions also presented a unanimous OBJ
lection to tue proposed crossing Of the
Washington. Alexandria and Mount
Vernon Railroad over the river at the
foot of Twenyy-siXth street as tending
to work harm 10 the Georgetown river
front. Should this sleepy suburb OF
the capital city ever be resuscitated 1t
will never be from maritime i'm
portance any moro than Dumfries
or Occoquan, and what possible
harm electric cars could do in
climbing lis hills no one but the
antediluvian residents OF the place can
see. A resolution was adopted by the
board allowing officers OF other boards
of trade to become honorary members,
without the power TO vote, upon appli-
cation to the secretary and on the re-
commentator of the committee on
membership.