Evening star., 1896-04-07
AGAINST DEPRESSED TRACKS
South Washington 0iHzins Discuss Grade
Crossings
The Garbage Plant-tvlews Expressed
In Opposition to Changing Penn
sylvania Railroad Tracks.

sylvanfa Railroad Tracks.
Owing to the absence from the meeting
last night of the officials Of the South
Washington Citizens Association, Mr..
David Murphy presided. AS chairman Of
the committee on steam railroads, Mr..
Murphy said he had no report to make. He
had been out of the city for several weeks,
but he woul1 now begin work OH his report
and would have it ready to sublnit at the
next meeting. This report, II is thought.
Will be an interesting one, as it will deal
with the question of surface tracks and
grade crossings. and will. in all probability,
embody the ideas of the people OF South
Washington as to what they think is neces-
sary and best for the section.
Garbage Factory.
Chairman NJ. j. Brown, chairman of the
committee On nuisances, made his usual re-
port concerning the nisht-soil and dead
horse wharf. Concerning the garbage Gre
matory, he characterized the plant as a
nuisance, and told the members of the as
ISOLATION of the alleged unpleasant cdors
smanating therefrom. He told his hearers
that persons from the several districts of
the city had been in the Athletic Club
re oms and had been annoyed by the Of
fensive odors. He told of the man who had
been unable to eat pie on the night of the
31st Of last month becassse the stencil from
the crematory had made him sick. Mr.
Brown told Of the visit of the Commission
ers and others to the plant and Of what has
been said and printed about the visit
Mr.. Martin also made a few remarks on
this subject and moved :hat Mr.. Browns
report be accepted.
Before the motion is acted upon," in
terrupted Mr.. Brown II want to :ay that
any man connected with the garbage plant
VINO says there was no stencil from the
plant on the night of the 31st is a liar"
Mr.. Browns report was thereupoa adopt
An Old Petition.
Secretary Story called attention to a re-
quest made of the Commissioners in De-
cember. 1894. which he said had accom-
plished nothing, and he thought it should
be renewed. That request he read, as fol-
lows:
I'VE, the undersigned. owners of several
properties in squares 499 and 5OO and abut-
ting on K street southwest between 4th
ana 9th streets, petition your honorable
provements for 1885 the following: That K
street southwest between 4th and 9th
streets be concreted, and proper drainage
be provided by laying a sewer along X
street, and to connect Herewith a SUBJ
sewer, draining the alley between 1 and K
streets. In this alley there are twenty
two stables. and by reason of a lack of
proper drainage facilities the above-men-
toned alley has become menace to the
health of the neighborhood. In addition to
the above. there are located in said alley
TWO tenements one containing ten and the
other eleven families, with but one water
closet for each house, the alley being used
as general urinal. Wes earnestly petition
your honorable body to cause such action
to be taken to remedy these evils may
be necessary in the premises"
Grade Crossings.
Mr.. John B. Prout said he thought the
association should go on record in the rail-
road matter. This question, he said. Is
being discussed, and there seems to be
some difference of opinion as to what
Should be done with the tracks.
Mr.. Story said that it was impossible to
depress the tracks without putting them
below low-water mark. and then they
would flood. He also thought elevated
face tracks, he thought. were what were
best for South Washington.
That's exactly my idea," said Mr.. Muir
ply. 1--WE want no change In the grade OF
the road. The tracks can't be depressed,
as they would interfere with the sewers,
and If they are elevated 1t means that
South Washington will be cut off from the
other sections of the CITY,"
whats the objection to eleVating
them?" anxiousiy inquired Mr.. He'll.
Because" responded Mr.. Murphy. that
would disfigure the city and depreclate our
property. l own $4,000 worth of property
along Virginia avenue and l would spend
one-half that amount to prevent change
in the grade of the Pennsylvania roads
tracks"
buy all the property between Virginia
avenue and the river, with the exception OF
the piece where the garbage plant Is, said
Mr.. Story. ''and let the two corporations be
together"
Mr.. Prout said he saw no reason for
changing the grade of the road. For twenty
five years the road has been where 1t is. and
he could not understand why 1t should be
removed.
Depressed Tracks.
Chairman Collins submitted a report of
the committee on streets and alleys. This
report shows the property valuations Of the
sections, as is shown in the report of the
District assessor, and calls attention to the
improvements needed in South Washington.
Special reference is made In the report to
the substitution of naphtha for gas, and
this, the committee says, accounts for the
poorly lighted streets.
THE committee wishes to call the atten-
ton Of the association to the proposed plan
of depressing the Pennsylvania railroad
tracks," says the report. This plan of de-
preston will result in the closing of several
streets intersecting this road at Virginia
avenue southwest: bridges at some streets
exceeding sixteen feet in height; the streets
obstructed in order to get an incline for such
elevation, and citizens thereby incon-
venienced.
"It Is suggested that the erection of
bridges incident to the depression of railroad
tracks shall be charged to the taxpayers of
the District, apparently for the benefit of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. This
plan of depression, If carried out, will neces-
sarily involve the future value Of property
in South Washington.
1.-The question Is, will such plans Of de-
preston, If enacted, depreciate or advance
the value Of real estate In this section? Your
committee is of the opinion that with the
ever-memorable James creek canal on the
east, portion Of the streets vacated, now
in the line. of daily travel, surrounded by
elevated bridges will most assuredly secure
decline in the value of real estate"
The report was received and adopted.
For the Poor.
Mr.. Brown said he wanted to call st
tention to an illustrated lecture on Rome,
to be given at the Washington Athletic
Club tomorrow wednesday, evening, for
the benefit Of the poor of South Washing
ton. The lecture will be given by Father
Riordan of BarnesvilleLMd.. and the pro-
ceeds will be devoted to the relief of. the
poor Of South Washington. He hoped that