The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-03-17
Citizen Associations
Air Their Grievances
South Washington Opposes
Proposed Railroad Yards.
COMMISSIONERS BLAME I'd
Residents Say the Freight Sheds Will
Prove Serious Menace to
Their Section.

when the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia cease to be the repre-
sentatives of the wishes of the people
and become the slaves of corporate in
terests they are no longer worthy to be
called Americans.
The greatest good TO The greatest
number is what they are supposed 10
seek. NUT what. / am sorry to say. seems
to have been forgotten by them" was
the statement made by DR. Willard F.
Thompson before the South Wash
irgton Citizens Association last night
at their regular monthly meeting in
Grace Parish Hall. The statement was
made in his protest against the action
of the Commissioners in approving the
bill providing for the establishment Of
freight yards on Virginia avenue De
tween Four-and-a-haIf and Seventh
streets.
Indignation Gathering.
When the railroad question was
brought before the association, the meet
ing was literally changed TO an indig-
nation gathering. IL was stated that
without consulting the interests of the
citizens OF South Washington the Com
missiOners approved a bin providing for
the location OF freight yards on Virginia
avenue between Four-and-a-half and
Seventh streets by the Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington Railroad
Company. The yards are to have a
capacity for rs cars. 10 feet long, max
ing more than one mile OF cars TO be
continually standing in the heart of the
city The citizens claim that the health
and beauty of the city and rights of
property owners will be sacrificed IL the
proposed yards materiallZe-
School and Church in Jeopardy.
Two churches and three blocks of
houses Will have to be destroyed. be
side the abandonment OF the Jefferson
school. the largest public institution
in the Southwest. The members claimed
that the smoke from the railroad en-
sioes will All the rooms OF the school
Yrbich is opposite the site of the pro-
posed yards and that 10 close the win
dows in the heat of summer VIII be a
menace TO the health of the children
Some asserted that residents near the
wards would be unable to sleep on ac-
count of the noise from the shifting en-
gines.
Members Of the citizens association
claimed that they had been treated with
urfairness by the Commissioners When
they were not informed that such a bill
was pending They assert that the Dill
was approved in December without the
consent or the knowledge of any OF the
uroperty owners affected. The railroads
have been given more by the Commis
sioners and tolerated with more for-
bearance by the citizens during the past
wear than ever before according 10 those
present at the meeting last night.
The committee on railroads had waited
rnon the Commissioners with a formal
Drotest against the location of the
Yards, but they stated that their mission
had been fruitless. They said that they
had been treated with curtness and
reconsideration at the audience WhlcI
"a been the cause Of much chagrin &C
those who served on the committee. II
Was decided to frame a bill of protest
and submit il TO the proper committee
of Congress within the next forty-elsh'
hours