Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-02
OPPOSE USE OF THE PARK
Citizens State Objections to Proposed Grant
to Railway Company
Discussion Before the Commissioner
of Bill Authorizing Abolition of
Grade Crossings.

The District Commissioners today gave
hearing to persons interested in the bill now
pending before Congress authorizing the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company to abolish
grade crossings and for other purposes, and
especially to those opposed to the provi-
sion in the bill authorizing the company to
extend its line through reservation II, or
Garfield Park. While the several persons
who addressed the Commissioners advo-
Gated the abolition of grade crossings in
the city. but one of them, Mr.. M. 1. Weller,
expressed willingness that the company
should be permitted to make use Of any
portion of the park.
The first speaker, Mr.. w. c. Dodge, ex-
planned that he was present at the request
of certain citizens of the southeast section
of the city to protest on their behalf
against the proposed use of the park by the
railroad company. The people of this sec
ton. remarked Mr.. Dodge, have really but
this one park. and it is perfectly natural
that they should oppose any diminution of
its extent. He referred to the fact that the
route proposed in the bill will bring the
railroad tracks much nearer Providence
Hospital, about 500 feet. so the Engineer
Commissioner stated, and add that much
more to the annoyance already occasioned
the patients of the institution by the noise
and smoke resulting from the operation of
tIe I1t oppostu VI
any portion of the park to the railroad
company, adding that it should be COM
PEELED to pay for all land taken by 1t, as
is the rule in other large cities of the
country. 1t has been stated that the Wash
ington passenger business of the company
is one of the best in the country, and while
it is to be expected that the company de-
sires to increase it's accommodations. it
should be made to bear all the expenses
thereof.
Views of MIR. solberE.
Mr.. Thorvald Solberg. resident and
property owner in Southeast Washington
followed Mr.. Dodge, contending that the
mere desire of the railroad company to
straighten it's tracks Is not good reason
why good portion Of Garfield Park should
be forever given up to it. This portion the
Engineer Commissioner informed him, is
six acres, leaving about eighteen acres
remaining in the park. Mr.. Solberg said
he never heard that curvatures in the tun-
mel are dangerous. but was interrupted by
Captain Beach, the Engineer Commissioner.
who explained that the object in taking
portion of the park in the manner de-
scribed in the bill Is not merely to remove
danger, but to allow the trains to be run
at a much greater speed in entering and de-
parting from the city. So. further ex-
planned Captain Beach, the abolition of the
grade crossings will not only. the company
through the city limits less dangerous to
the citizens of the city, but will also bene-
fit the travelling public by enabling the
company to run its trains at greater speed
and thereby reduce the distance between
this city and other points.
Not n Good Argument.
Mr.. Solberg remarked that this is not. in
his judgment, much of an argument. GER
tainly not he declared. for taking away
one-fifth of a public park and giving it to
wealthy corporation for nothing. He also
objected to granting the company large
pieces of land. making its accessions
amount to between thirteen and fifteen
acres. The people do not and very likely
never will have too much park space, he
said, and the bill, he pointed out, not only
robs the people of a great portion of one
park, but by planting railway tracks, round
houses, etc. where proposed, an insurmount-
able obstacle is created TO the further
continuation of the great parking system in
South Washington of which the mall is a
part. He, too, spoke of the annoyance TO
the residents in the vicinity of the park
which will arise, in his opinion from bring
ing the tracks nearer than they at present
exist. and especially to the patients in Prov
idence Hospital. He asked why the COM
pany should not be compelled to go south
of Virginia avenue, and declared that If
the bill in its present shape becomes law
not only will the property of the people in
the vicinity be seriously damaged, but they
will also be compelled to assist the rail-
road company in inf1cting such damage.
TFOSluchcc hobVltdI ODJecIS.
DIR. J. W. Bayne of the staff of Provi-
dence Hospital addressed the Commission
the representative of Sister Louise,
in charge of the institution. adding to the
remarks as to the greater annoyance which
will be occasioned the patients therein by
bringing the railroad tracks 800 feet nearer
1t. Not only will the health, but also the
very lives of the patients, be menaced, he
stated. and he explained that Garfield Park
is now used as place OF recreation by
convalescent patients, which, he believes,
they could not do should the portion de-
scribed be given up to the company.
Mr. L. NJ. Fouts declared that the eigh-
teen acres remaining in the park, after
portion is given to the railroad company
will be of little. If any, real value, as the
noise, smoke and other Objectionable fea-
lures of a railroad will destroy its useful
ness. Objection was made by Mr.. Danen-
hover to placing his property south of the
tracks. and he declared that the land which
the company proposes to give back will be
of no value. because of the grade crossings
V hich will surround 1t.
Mr. NJ. l. Weller said that while he is.
matter of sentiment. opposed to reducing
the extent of any park. he does not agree
that the grant of portion OF Garfield Park
to the railroad company will result so ser
iously had been declared by the other
speakers. He is. he stated, in favor of the
abolition of the deadly grade crossings, and
he ventured the opinion that if these two
questions: Retain all of the park and
maintain the grade crossings" and Grant
a portion of the park and do away with
the grade crossings should be submitted
to a vote by the people OF South Washing
ton, a great majority of them. practically
every ore, would say let the company have
a part of the park IL 1t will abolish it's
grade crossings.
MIR. WelIer's Interest.
Mr.. Weller said he is very much inter-
ested party. explaining that he has lately