The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-26
Row York Cotton Market.
THEY OBJECT TO THE BILL.
Citizens Protest Against Grade Cross
ing Legislation.

Members of the North Capitol and Eek.
ington and the Northeast Washington
Citizens Associations appeared before tn.
Commissioners at public hearing yester-
day TO present arguments against the bill
for the abolition of grade crossings along
the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road. The enactment of the bill into a law
Will close up number OF streets, the citi-
zens argued. and will so affect the neigh
borhood OF lexington that IL viii be lit
orally useless as a residence section.
President Linton, of the lexington Asso-
I citation, said that he had the report OF the
committee appointed by the association to
oppose certain portions Of the bill, and a
| substitute measure prepared by the COM
mittee
THE citizens of lexington and vicinity
are in full accord with the authorities and
| citizens of the District of Columbia in
| their efforts to secure the elimination Of
! grade crossings in the city OF Washing
| ton and all contiguous and improved sub
| urbs thereof
This bill. however, provides for the clos
ing of substantially all its streets, the
| maintenance Of structures necessary for
the accommodation OF locomotives or for
the purposes of freight yards in Ecking-
ton, which is a highly improved extension
OF the city and nearer the business centre
| thereof than many portions OF the city
within its present legal limits. The sec
ton Is residential in character, built up
with beautiful houses, and the manten-
ance OF such proposed structures in its
midsS would utterly destroy Il for such
purposes and bring ruin To many whose
all b. Invested therein.
Then again. ali means OF travel s-Ouid
be cut on between this section and The
east, from New York Avenue 20 T Street
causing great Inconvenience. not only 20
the citizens Of lexington but TO laru,
nunbe.-s o. residents OF the Comfy. whose
only means-of access &C the CITY IS Nv way
OF the streets which it Is proposed 10
close"
The substitute which Mr. Linton auh-
mitted TO the Commissioners provides
that The proposed masonry Yiaduct pro-
vided for IN the bill be continued from
Street northeast 10 include + Street,
with masonry arches or bridges over all
intersecting streets, and that the viaduct
shall be commenced SO far. north Of T
Street that the crossing will be such as
will not interfere with the usual traffic,
that w track connection between the
two branches OF the road be constructed
That all structures necessary for the ac-
commodation of locomotives and cars for
the conduct Of the business OF the rail-
ROAD. or Tor the purposes OF freight
yard, be located at or near the point of
connection OF the Baltimore branch and
the ~"
That none OF the streets in lexington
be closed.
That all roads. switchyards. and
switches OF every character. be removed
fran the west side Of the yiaduct from
Florida Avenue TO L Street north, and
that the construction OF any such tracks
west OF said viaduct shall be prohibited.
That the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company yacate its tracks from New
York Avenue to above Fourth Street east,
and the roadbed thereof be dedicated to |
the city for use as a street to connect
said avenue with Fourth Street
That no coal shutes be allowed north |
of Q Stree, or west OF the viaduct
That in the construction OF the Balti- |
more branch no street shall be closed
Addresses were also made by A. r. Ser |
ven, Chairman Henderson, of the railroad |
committee; Prof. Menafee, OF the Washing |
ton College; Rev. Mr.. Pond, and s S |
Daish. At the conclusion OF the hearing |
Commissioner Wight Informed those pres |
ent that the Commissioners still have the |
bill In their possession. and have not made
a report on II as yet. He promised the |
committee that they will carefully consider |
the papers that have been presented 10
them by the members OF The lexington
auf other associations.