Evening star., 1900-02-24
BY WAY OF ROCK CREEK
Plan for Bringing Steam Railways Into City
Over One, Route.
Report of Committee to Georgetown
cerning New Telephone Exchange.

A special meeting of the Georgetown Cit
liens Association was held last evening at
the hall Of the First Cooperative building,
1925 S2d street. Mr.. B. T. Janney. the pres
ident, presided, with Mr.. James H. Taylor,
secretary, and all of the other officers pres
ent. Messrs. Samuel Ross, ]. j. Hemphill
and Mr.. Danenhower were also present.
MIR. George G. Boteler, the chairman Of
the committee appointed at the last regular
meeting to consider and report upon the
plan for bringing into Georgetown all of
the steam railroads by way of Rock Creek
valley. presented a report. as follows: THE
special committee appointed at the last
regular meeting Of the Georgetown Citizens
Association to prepare and submit to that
body bill to abolish grade crossings and
to establish union terminals and bridges for
steam railroads within the District Of Co
lumbia. herewith respectfully hand you the
bill that they have prepared.
In preparing this bill your committee
wish TO state that 1t has been done with
out the aid or assistance of any railroad
now entering the District, or which may
wish to enter this territory. and the inter-
ests OF all railroads have been treated alike,
as well as the Interest and welfare OF the
entire city and District. Your committee
nave endeaVored not to shift the burden
from one section to another, and believe
that IL the bill becomes law many de-
slrapie OBJECTS Will be accomplished. AS far
as property values are concerned, the To-
cation now occupied by the steam railroads
will be very much enhanced residential
sections. and the property proposed to be
taken Will appreciate the change 1t Is
only suited for business purposes and not
for residences. They believe that it Is the
route which will cause the least damage to
the present and future great nations capi-
tai. being the only eaSihla and natural
to unite the great trunk lines from north.
south. east and west into one grand union
depot
THE location would be convenient to the
hotels and travelling public. as are the
present depots. The beauty of the Mall
would be restored, and the plan originally
designed to locate the government buildings
on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
would be carried out. The government will
have restored to it the park and reserva-
uons now occupied. The business interests
of the city can be provided for by estab-
fishing ornamental way stations along the
line of the proposed railroad for remote
sections of the District outside of the heart
of the city. The navigation Of the Potomac
would be obstructed by one bridge, instead
of many, and. lastly, no railroad monopoly
could exist within the District, as all COM
panies would be given an opportunity to
compete for the nations travel and equal
rights"
Title of the Bill.
The measure reported was entitled "a bill
authorizing the President Of the United
States to appoint railroad commission
with authority to construct union tracks,
depots, terminals and union bridges to be
used by the steam railroads now entering
the District Of Columbia. and which may
hereafter enter the said District of Column
bia, and for abolishing grade crossings and
the removal from the public grounds OF all
existing railroad tracks, stations and
freight yards within the District OF Column
bia."
Resolutions were introduced by Mr.. Bote-
Ter, and carried without dissenting voice,
to the effect that 1T is intolerable that the
advancement of the capital Of the greatest
nation of the world should be retarded ir
any way by the venality of persons,
whether Individual or corporate, and that
in order to facilitate its commerce the Dis
trict of Columbia should be made the point
Of convergence for every legitimate line Of
railway traffic that may seek to enter its
borders. In this way =enly will the states
contribute to the prosperity of their cap
ital and add to It's unriyaled facilities for
manufacturer whereas this end can only
be accomplished by opening the District Of
Columbia as a field for occupation of all
legitimate railroads, operating under COM
mon restrictions ard submitting to common
requirements; whereas the business well
fare of the city is largely dependent upon
the union Of all existing and prospective
lines of railway In one common terminal
station; whereas, the subject of a union
passenger depot, the matter of grade cross
ings and the numerous casualties resulting
therefrom are of pressing moment and their
speedy disposition must be earnestly de-
sired by all good citizens. Those only would
postpone their adjustment whose selfish
aims can be best subserved by the separate
and exclusive appropriation Of privileges
which should be the subject of common en-
toyment Unhappily for the community the
wishes of the latter are promoted by those
who have been unable to agree upon the
location of site and appropriate route for
attaining IT; whereas the preservation OF
the mall and south side of Pennsylvania
avenue for the government use is Of press
ing moment: therefore,
vorablc action on bill authorizing the
President to appoint railroad commits
sion to locate and construct union railroad
stations, terminals. and in the manner set
forth by the bill just prepared by it's COM
mittee as being desirable for the solution
of the railroad difficulties now requiring the
attention Of Congress-; and be 1t resolved
further, that copies Of this bill and the
proceedings Of the meeting be printed and
sent to the Business Mems Association,
board of trade and citizens associations Of
the District Of Columbia
All of the resolutions and reports on the
railroad question were adopted without dis
sent and referred to the committee on legis-
lation for report.
ToIn