Evening star., 1895-06-11
A SUBURBAN ORGANIZATION
Citizens Unite to Promote Their Public
Interests
A Report Made by the Langdon Com
mfttee Concerning Railroad
Rates and Distances,

III LdHSuon 1dl several new members
were received from Winthrop Heights, Av-
alon and East Langdon. Mr.. John w.
Watson presided and Mr.. Henry S. Sutton
acted as secretary.
Mr.. Thomas F. Collins, from the commit
tee on organization and constitution. pre-
sented report, which, after discussion and
several amendments, was adopted by the
association. In order that the movement
may be made to embrace all that quarter
of the District outside the boundary the
name was changed. and the association will
hereafter be known as the Northeastern
suburban Citizens Association 1t will
meet Monday evenings IN the Langdon
Hall. Committees on street improvements.
transportation, gas and water. legislation
and education were provided for, and the
president made the following appoin tmen ts
committee On street improvements-John
w. Watson, DR.. L. c. Loomis. Wilton Har-
yey and A. e. NJ. Lawson; Transportation
A. M. Dewey, 1. ]. Baker and E. p Sher-
man; gas and water-Thomas F. Collins, J.
G. Durfey and B. F. Edwards; education
F. w. Brandish, DIR. Thomas H Sherwood
and Taylor Grimes.
Railroad Rates.
The question of discrimination against
the stations along the Washington branch
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was
brought before the meeting in report from
the committee on transportation, appointed
one week ago. This report said:
Your committee, to which was referred
the question of alleged discrimination
against Langdon in the matter of distance
schedule and Communication rates for trans
portation by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company, hereby submit the following
report:
FIRST, distance-We find unon tnvestiea-
tion that there is ample evidence to prove
beyond question of doubt that the distance
table in use on the schedules of the Wash
ington branch Of the road is a false one
and as used is a constant injury to all pa
trens of the road. and especially to the dis
advantage of all residents of villages with
in ten miles of Washington. The distance
from the center of the platform at Lang
don station to the bumpers in the station
at Washington has been accurately meas
ured, and Is shown to be fourteen feet less
than three miles, while the schedule in
use by the company claims the distance
to be four and one-tenth miles, the charges
for transportation being based upon this
false schedule. We also find that the first
mile stone or post out of Washington Is
located at point considerably less than
one mile from the station. at 9th street
northeast. and Is marked Washington, .
miles; Baltimore. IS miles, We also learn
that the government pays for but thirty
eight miles of distance between Baltimore
and Washington in the transportation of
troops and mails. This seems to your COM
mittee conclusive proof that the schedule
in use by the railroad company is an err
roneous one.
Second. discrimination in rates.-Your
committee finds that the railroad company
does discrimir rate against points on the
Washington branch in the matter of COM
mutation rates. Brookland, on the Metro
politan branch.an equal or greater distance
from Washington than Langdon, and both
stations within the District cf Columbia
enjoys a rate on communication tickets 20
per cent lower than the latter station, the
discrimination evidently growing out of the
use of the erroneous distance table. This
violation of the provisions of the interstate
commerce law. copy of which is here
with submitted.
''In view Of the above facts your committee
respectfully recommends that the president
and secretary of this association be author
lied and instructed tc prepare and forward
to the officials of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company at Baltimore a COM
munication setting forth the above men,
toned facts, and respectfully insist, in the
name and behalf of this association,
that such discrimination shall cease at
once
I'VE also further recommend that, in the
event of a refusal or neglect on the part
Of the railroad officials to remedy the evil
complained of. the president and secre-
tary of this association be authorized to
against the said Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company before the interstate COM
merce commission at Washington"
The report was signed by A. NJ. Dewey,
chairman; A. L. NJ. Lawson, secretary, and
j. G. Durfey, committee.
Complaints of Other Communities.
DR.. L. C. Loomis of Winthrop Heights
called attention to the fact that the rate
on Communication tickets from Washington
to Ivy City and Winthrop Heights showed
a still greater discrimination than at Lang
ho 70 70
the same as at Langdon, and at Ivy City
1t was but 10 cents less per quarter, while
the distance travelled was in one instance
a full mile less than to Langdon.
Mr.. ]. G. Durfey. one Of the committee
that surveyed the road from Langdon to
Washington in the interest Of the COM
mutors, produced his records Of measure
ments to show that the exact distance was
fourteen feet less than three miles, as stat
ed in the report of the committee.
After discussion the report was accepted
and the recommendations of the committee
were adopted by The association.
Street Extensions.
President Watson, from the committee
appointed last week to visit the District
Commissioners and ask that they with
hold approval of the Olmstead plat for
streets in this section until the association
could be heard concerning the same, re-
ported that an inspection of the map on
exhibition at the District building showed
that in the proposed plan of street extern
sion w and 22d streets and New York ave-
nue. all met just south of the railroad
tracks In Winthrop Heights. At the inter
section of these streets there is now a
beautiful grove of oak and hickory trees,
covering a space of about eight acres in
extent and 1t was resolved by the associa-
tion to urge upon the authorities the i'm
portance Of reserving this space and pre-
serving these trees for public park, as it
would require several generations of time
to cultivate as good one should the effort
be made. A committee. composed of DR..
Lafayette C. Loomis of Winthrop Heights,
Grant w. Sexton of Avalon. Ira ]. Baker
Of Langdon and A. NJ. Dewey, was ap-
pointed to wait upon the Commissioners
and present the claims of this section to
the consideration asked.
A petition was recently submitted to the
Commissioners asking that the $500 set
aside in the last annual budget for the
purpose Of providing gravel for the streets
of Langdon be made Immediately avail
able for the much-needed improvement.
No gravel appearing thus far the commit
tee on street improvements was instructed
to call at the District building and ascer-
tain the why's and wherefores of tho de-
lay.