The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-15

| A delegation of residents and property
| holders from Southwest Washington were
granted a hearing yesterday by the Com
| missioners to file protest against the
practice of the Baltimore and Potomac
| Railroad in using Virginia and Maryland
Avenues for shifting and parking cars.
| r. Harrison Johnson headed the party
| and introduced Dennis Carr to the Com
| missioners, who presented a petition set
| ting forth the views of the compliments.
The petition set forth that much noise
! and annoyance were caused by the on
! tinued use of Virginia Avenue, especially
in the neighborhood of Seventh and Ninth
Streets. The storing OF cars on Vir-
ginia Avenue was also a matter of COM
plant ard the practical use of a public
street as a freight yard.
Mr. Carr supplemented the presentatio
of the petition by few remarks in which
he said that he did not believe the petition
was strong enough. He also criticised
the opinion of the Attorney in the COM
plant of Benjamin McQuay, stating that
he did not think it was founded upon
proper conception Of the facts in the case.
Decisions of the courts, particularly that
of Justice Cox, were cited to show that
the railroad company had no rights in
the streets mentioned except to convey
their cars to and from the freight and
passenger depots. Attention was called
particularly to the loading and unloading
of excursion trains along the avenues.
Benjamin McQuay submitted to the
Commissioners a written statement to
the effect that cars are constantly park
Il Of h tc ND no
caused by the movement of traffic in the
avenue had become intolerable. Father
Moran spoke of the inconvenience and an
noyance caused at the Academy II the
Visitation, the sisters who conduct the
school having suffered loss of patronage
and depreciation of property on account OF
the conditions complained of.
Frederick d. McKenney appeared in the
interests OF the railroad company and en-
tered into long argument showing that
the corporation is performing its duty TO
the public along the lines established by
Congress. 1t was shown that Congress had
prescribed the streets to be occupied and
the squares on which the depOts and yards
were located. HE claimed that the railroad
company was not operating its rolling stock
in violation of the law.
Mr. Mckinney reviewed the circum-
stances which have resulted within the
past few years of an enormously increased
volume of business coming into the city
and the necessary obligations which had
been laid upon the company in conse-
quence He also spoke of the necessary
economy practiced by the company and as
serted that every locomotive, every old and
disused freight car. every passenger coach,
had been brought into requisition TO salts
fy the demands made upon the corporation
for transportation. This he said had neces-
STATED larger calls upon the streets which |
Congress had empowered the company to
use.
Mr. McKenney also mentioned the bill
pending in Congress intended to relieve thu |
servitude now put upon the streets. and
reviewed the prospects of the passage of
the bill. If this became a law he said the |
company would without a moments delay.
proceed to make the necessary changes in |
the location and grade Of its tracks TO suit
the improvement. and to remove the an
noyance to individuals which the noise and
confusion of railroad traffic on the streets |
at grade now makes. The attorney de-
clared that the company could not help |
the conditions which exist in Southwest
Washington, as they were incident to the |
increasing business required of the COM
pany. !
The Commissioners informed those pres |
ent that they would give the matter care
full consideration and would make their |
views known as soon as circumstances I!
would permit.
The Independent Oil Company recently |
requested permission of the Commission |
ers to extend a hose across Patterson |
Street for one and one-half hours three |