Evening star., 1902-03-11
DISCUSS RAILROADS
CITIZENS EXPRESS VIEWS ON
PENDING LEGISLATION.
Union Station for Steam Roads and
Cross-Town Street Car Line
Other Matters.

| the proposed railroad Legislation at last
nights meeting of the association. SAID
| that the union station bill recently intro
duced in Congress eliminates some OF the
Objectionable features of the old Dill. lie
said the Engineer Commissioner is looking
| out for the interests of the citizens and is
doing the best he can for them. Under the
bill recently introduced, he said, II street
and other thoroughfares will not be closed
AS a member of the committee on pro-
posed legislation President Tucker said he
regretted he could not report favorably
upon the bill, providing for the enactment
of the Torrens law or the Australian sys-
tenn of registering titles. The bill. he said,
was referred to the District Commissioners
and by them referred to the bar associa-
ton.
Mr. Chappel inquired if President Tucker
had learned where the railroad tunnel
would begin and at what points there would
be openings. He also inquired about the
depth below the street grade.
President Tucker said there would be
open tunnel effects at H. X and l. streets,
while other provisions had been made for
the Nj street and Florida avenue crossings.
He said he Informed that at no point
would the road be depressed more than
two or three feet. The Commissioners. he
said, will make a report the bill during
the next few days.
Inquiry was made to why street
work has been done during the present fis-
cal year. Mr.. Frizzell said he understands
the successful bidder was not equipped for
the work. No sheet asphalt had been laid,
SO far as he knew. but he believed some
asphalt blocks have been put down. Mr..
FriZzell said he understood one reason why
the former Engineer Commissioner Capt.
L. II. Beach, was removed was because a
new contrac tor had been awarded the con-
tract for putting down sheet asphalt pave
mcntS.
Cross-Town Railway.
Mr. Lang one of the delegates to the
central body. reported the action of that
body on the proposed cross-town railway
bill. A change he said. was made by the
central body. 18th street being substituted
fol Sth street.
Mr. Fleming said he thought it would be
bad move to place the tracks on 10Th
street. as they would come in contact with
the tracks of the Washington Traction
Company at Lincoln Park Where tracks
are used in common by different roads, he
said trouble invariably results. He re-
ferred to the trouble on the tracks be-
tween the Peace monument and the Balti-
more and Ohio depot.
In considering the croSs-town railway
question Major Burke argued that the as
sociation should keep in mind the effort to
have passengers carried to the vicinity of
the city hall from the northeast section on
while paying any attention to the matter
unless one of the railway companies wants
to construct such a line.
Four or five years ago, President Tucker
said, he called upon Mr.. Dunlop and Mr.
Glover of the Capital Traction Company
and mentioned the subject to them Both
representatives of the electric company, he
said, told him they were not ready at that
time to make such an extension, but they
would be glad to extend the line % the
northeast section at some future time The
service of this company, he said. would
greatly benefit the people Of the northeast
section. and he felt certain the company's
fiberality in the matter Of transfers would
not be curtailed.
1t was moved that the delegates from the
association be instructed to object 10 the
designation OF 18th street for the cross
town line, and to favor Sth street instead.
Mr.. Millard objected to the designation OF
Sth street and said he knew every resident
OF the street would enter a strenuous pro-
test. railroad track in front OF dwell
ing house, he declared, constitutes a nui-
Sance.
DO you want a cross-town line at all?"
Mr.. Millard was asked
NO, SIR was Mr.. Millards response
The motion was adopted.
On motion Of Mr.. Lang the association
Noled an Endorsement of the proposition of
the East Washington Citizens Association
for the government to buy site and erect
a branch post office on East Capitol street.
Union Railway Station.
Mr.. Josiah Millard presented a series Of
resolutions in opposition to the move to
have the union station erected north of B
street south. In the resolutions Mr.. Mil
lard referred to pending legislation respect
ing the steam railroads. and rected that
the people of the whole country are inter-
ested In the preservation Of their rights in
their capital against the greed Of monopo-
lies, and that the Knights of Labor and
other organizations have protested against
the measures.
The resolution provides THAT this asso-
citation protests against the same and urges
Congress not to attempt to grant license
in mortmaln to any railroad company
whatever; not to attempt to authorize any
such company, by means of a viaduct Of
by tracks. freight yards, depots or other
structures, the possibility of developing
this city in harmony with the original plan
thereof: not to attempt to tax the people
OF this District for the payment Of one
half Of the subsidy to be given to a giant
corporation without the consent Of the peo-
pie Of the District duly ascertained by
plebiscite. nor to attempt to give away the
approaches Of the city to such corpora
tion.'
Provision is made in the resolution for
Congress to construct, at the expense of
the United States, suitable bridges, tracks
and terminal facilities for all railroads
which may desire to enter the District. In
matter should be submitted to vote Of
the taxpayers for their approval or rejec-
ton.
After the resolutions had been discussed
at some length they were referred to the
committee on proposed legislation. The as
sociation then adjourned.