Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-02
PROTEST OF CITIZENS
RAILWAY OCCUPATION OF SOUTH
WASHINGTON RESERVATION.
Letters Filed With Secretary of War
Asking That License Be
Revoked.

MANY of the citizens of South Washington
are again up in arms against the Philadel-
phia. Baltimore and Washington Railroad
Comnany on account of the alleged dangers
attending its occupation of reservation 10,
between Ith and 9th streets and Mary lana
avenue and street southwest. Mr. X.
Harrison johnson of the South Washing
ton Citizens Association has written sew
eral letters to the Secretary of War asking
for the revocation of the license granted
by the War Department authorizing the
railroad company to use the reservation IN
question.
That license was issued by the War De-
partment about a year ago Ito enable the
railroad company to furnish same and ade-
uuate accommodations for and to facllltaie
the delivery of large quantities of building
material and other freight intended Tor use
in the constructor of the new buildings
for the Department of Agriculture the Ma
tional Museum and the municipal bulldlhg
of the District of Columbia.
The application was for permission TO
Law four temporary side tracks across Inc
reservation and was made necessary &C
cording to the railroad company, by reason
of the restriction of the ordinary transpor-
tation facilities in consequence of the con-
structon of the union depot and It's ap-
proacheS.
Alleged Nuisance.
In his communications to the War De-
partment Mr.. Johnson represented that
the present condition of the reservation was
a nuisance and annoyance to the residents
of the locality and largely increased the
danger of accidents to life and limb. In his
last lettel Mr. johnson called attention
TO the derailment of street cars by the loco
motives at 7th street and Maryland avenue
on the mornings of October and n last,
and also to the collision between a loco
motive and a street car IN that VlcintS
on the 9th ultimo.
I'm view of the recent accidents said
Mr. Johnson 'it seems to us to be almost
criminal on the part of the war Department
to allow the railroad company to continue
the use of reservation lib, use which
means more cars and more locomotives, in
addition to heavy wagon traff1c.
The matter was submitted to General
Davis Judge advocate general of the army,
and on his recommendation was referred to
General Mackenzie, chief of engineers, as
involving questions of fact more immediate
ly within his jurisdiction. The license under
which the railroad is operated was issued
on the recommendation of Judge Advocate
General Davis, who held that the proposed
use of the reservation for the delivery OF
materials for public buildings might proper
ly be regarded as public purpose and not
prohibited by statute In view, however
of the fact that the license was granted to
facilitate the business of the railroad com
many il was decided to exact rent OF 81 $40
a year from the company for its use.
The question to be determined by the war
Department is whether the operation OF
the railroad cars on and across reservation
liz constitutes public danger such as
would require a revocation of the license
and a change in the present system of
transporting and delivering material for
public buildings in this city. 1t is expected
that Colonel Bromwel the officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds, will be
called on to investigate and report the facts
in the case.