Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-25
Local Association Proposes a Sub
stitute for the Measure.
UNDER ONSIDERAT TON

| ositions in the BILL and by many others.
| Indeed the hearing was one of the largest
attended in the past several years, and no,
a voice was heard dissenting from the op-
position expressed to the bill in its present
| form. At the conclusion of the hearing
Commissioner Wight,speaking for the board
| of Commissioners, said the board has not
| yet been able to give much consideration
| to the Baltimore and Ohio measure, being
| closely engaged in preparing a report on
| the Pennsylvania railroads bill. The Com.
| m:Ssoners, he said, had been much inter-
| ested in what had been said at the hear
| ing, and promised that they will give the
| arguments and propositions presented very
careful and deliberate consideration.
| The first speaker was Mr. Linton, who
| explained at the outset that he and his as
| sociates were present to object not to the
| proposed elimination of grade crossings, but
merely to certain features in the bill
which. in their opinion. if enacted, would
| result in the absolute destruction of Eek
ington and the vicinity. He expressed his
belief that the ends sought to be attained
by the bill can be as fully secured by a
modification of the measure.
| The Objectionable Features.
| He read the following report of the asso-
cations committee appointed to oppose the
| objected-to features of the bill:
1.-The citizens of lexington and vicinity
| are III 1ull accord WIFI the AUTHORITIES anu
citizens of the District of Columbia in their
I efforts to secure the elimination of grade
| crossings in the city of Washington and in
| all contiguous and improved suburbs there
| of. This bill, however, provides for the
| closing Of substantially all its streets. the
maintenance of round houses, machine
| shops, yard tracks, switches and other
| structures necessary or proper for the ac-
commodation of locomotives and cars for
| the conduct of its business or for the pur-
l of.rLt to-, S1lr,
| highly-improved extension of the city. and
| nearer the business center thereof than
| many portions of the city within it's present
| legal limits. The maintenance of such pro-
posed structures in its midst would utterly
destroy it for residential purposes and bring
| ruin to many whose all is invested therein.
Then, again, all means of travel would
| be cut off between this section and the
| east, from New York avenue to T street,
| causing great inconvenience, not only to
| the citizens of lexington, but to large
numbers of residents of the county, whose
| only means of access to the city is by way
of the streets which it is proposed to close.
From q careful study of the bill and
| its purposes. and an intimate acquaint-
ance with the territory involved, we are
confident that the end sought by Senate
| bill No. 1893 can be attained without IN
| jury to the private property rights or the
beauty, symmetry or future growth and
| material interests of the city. We there
| fore protest against the passage of the
bill In its present folm.
Substitute Proposed.
AS substitute proposition Mr.. Linton
| submitted the following, on behalf of the
association:
Il. That the proposed masonry viaduct
| be continued from NJ street northeast to
include 7 street northeast, with masonry
arches bridges over all intersecting
streets, and that the said viaduct be COM
| menced so far Forth that T street will be
n an law ion, not IT,,
terfere with the usual traffic.
~. That track connection between
the two branches of the road be construct
| ed as follows: Beginning at a point on the
metropolitan branch at or about Baltimore
street, running southerly to about V street
thence in an east-southeasterly direction to
a point upon the Baltimore branch of said
road at or about L street extended and
18th and 18th streets northeast
). That all yard tracks, switches, round
houses SHOPS and other structures neceS-
sary or proper for the accommodation of
locomotives ana cars for the conduct of the
business of the railroad or for the purpose
| OF freight yard, be located at or near the
point of connection of the Baltimore branch
and the "
II. That none of the streets in lexington
| be closed.
%. That all roads, switch yards and
switches OF every character be removed
Florida avenue to u street north and that
| the construction of any such tracks west of
said viaduct shall be prohibited.
IS. That the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company Vacate Its tracks from New York
avenue to above 4th street east and the
| roadbed thereof be dedicated to the city for
use as street to connect said avenue with
4th street.
OF Q street, or west of the viaduct
49, That in the construction of the Balti-
| more branch no street shall be closed
The Explanations Made,
In explanation of the substitute PROPOSE
ton Mr. Linton said neither the associa-
ton nor the people of lexington and its
vicinity desire for moment to inflict by
their opposition upon any other section
what they object to. He stated, however
that the people of lexington pay more
taxes proportionately than do those of the
section which the bill proposes to relieve
Mr.. A. r. Server also explained that the
people of lexington do not desire to OPP
pose the elimination of grade crossings.
Indeed, he said they will do all in their
power to do away with them, but not in
the manner proposed in the bill. He spoke
of the advantages of lexington and its Vi
hardships its people have endured in the
past because of their belief in its future
remarking that about 81, SOC, 900 have been
invested therein.
Reasons for Opposition.
The residents of lexington and vicinity,
he said, are opposed to the bill in its pres
ent form for the following reasons:
Because it is proposed to terminate the
masonry viaduct south of Florida avenue
and substitute therefor dirt embankment
through the improved subdivision of Eek
ington.
because it is proposed to authorize the
railroad to establish its freight and stock
yards and switch tracks, with their at
tendant nuisances, in this improved sec
ton.
Because it authorizes the location of
shops, round houses and other structures
for the purpose of storing and repairing
locomotives, cars and railroad machinery
in this section, with the attendant noise
from shifting and switching cars, locomo-
tives and the din from boiler shops. the
OIL grease, dirt. dust and filth of such a
place. and the smoke and stencil which will
pollute the atmosphere and smirch the en-
tire section.
Because 1t provides for the establish
ment Of this disfiguring institution in an
otherwise beautiful and charming section
Because of the undesirable element,
| composed of tramps and criminals. that
ha ota.1 tn ,,Joy,