Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-12
SCARE At NAVY YARD
Railroad Company Gives
Notice of Removing Tracks.
DANGER OF BIG DISCHARGE
Work for 1000 Men Contingent
Upon New Tracks.
ADMIRAL LEUTZE POSTS ORDER
Bill Prepared Urging Congress to
Build New Tracks Refused by
Railroad Company.
ADMIRAL LEUTZE POSTS ORDER

Disaster is threatened to the Washing
ton navy yard far greater than the much
talked-of discharge of 200 workmen, ac-
cording to officials of the yard.
The Philadelphia. Baltimore and Wash
ington Railroad Company has announced
it's intention TO remove its tracks now con-
Meeting with the naval gun factory at M
street southeast because of the failure
of Congress to take action in the pending
matter.
The removal of the tracks, naval offi-
cials declare, will necessitate the navy
yard authorities resorting to the means
of transportation of past century-ox
teams and mules-and will result in pos
sible reduction in the force of mechanics
and helpers of 1900 men.
AS a result of these disclosures today
the employees of the great gun-making
plant of the government are much
wrought UP. Rear Admiral Eugene II.
G.. Leutze, commandant of the navy yard,
calls attention briefly but pointedly In
an order that was posted in the several
shops and offices at the yard today to the
menace caused by the threatened cut-on
Of railroad connection with the establish
ment.
Admiral Leutze's Order.
The order follows:
I'm view of the fact that certain addi-
tional work has been allotted to this yard,
the notice in regard to discharge of about
200 men on the 1st of January. 1909. pub
lished November 81 1905 is hereby modi-
fed. AS. far as now can be foreseen the
present force of employees can be retained
until about April I. 1909, unless the rail-
ROAD connection with the yard is cut of. -
.'.As the sum Of about $4,000 per day Is
paid In salaries to the employees of the
Washington navy yard in cold cash and
not In pTornissory notes. naval officer
the District for rent. food and other ne
cessities. the menace to the gun factory
becomes a matter Of moment to the busi-
ness men Of Washington. and they should
assist In providins 9 check to the threat
Congress-. by Hs' acts Of 1901 and 1908.
required the removal OF the present rail-
road track coun1stinn by date not
later than April %. 1905. BY act Of May
1904 Congress authorised and direct
inEten Railroad Company to construct at
its expense q single branch track or sid
ine from Its present main line at q point
in the vicinity Of the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. bridge over the Eastern branch Of the
Potomac. along a prescribed route to a
connection with the track system of the
navy yard. 1t was provided that the
work should be begun within six months
IIOJ1 TIC Oxtte OI Tue passage OF Inc act
ana to be completed within two years.
Company Refuses. to Build.
1t was learned today that the railroad
company has advised the Navy Depart
meut that It cannot see it's way clear to
build the tracks as prescribed by Con-
gress. More than six months have elapsed
since the passage of the act it Is pointed
out. and the construction has not been
commenced.
Before the passage of the act of May
q. 1908. proceedings had been Instituted
by the government In the Supreme Court
Of the District of Columbia to restrain
the railroad company from its contem-
plated action in removing the present
track connections The injunction was
granted and is still in force. The rail-
road company now threatens to ask for
the dissolving of the writ in order that 1t
may proceed to remove the tracks. which
enter the navy yard at the NJ street gate.
The railroad officials declare that the
United States government should build
and own the proposed track from the
vicinity of the Pennsylvania avenue
bridge. which" they add. ,'is as much. a
part OF the navy yard plant as any other
constituent portion of it,
The railroad authorities. therefore. have
positively declined to proceed with the
construction of the track named by Con-
gress and announce their intention Of re-
moving the NJ. street tracks as soon as
possible. This will, II carried into effect
leave the gun factory without means Of
transportation for the heavy naval ord
nance and other weighty supplies. except
by the ancient methods Of trucks hauled
through the streets of Washington BY
oxen, mules and horses. AS this means
would be entirely inadequate. it is the
opinion of naval officials that a discharge
of approximately 1900 men would be nee
sssary.
Appeal to Congress:
To meet the emergency it is said the
Navy Department has Incorporated in it's
estimates to be submitted to Congress a
request for an appropriation OF 1908, ,6S3. 33
for the construction of the proposed sid
ing, including the acquisition. of the nee
essary lands and rights Of way.
In order TO reduce complaints of citi-
zens In the southeast to minimum, Rear
Admiral Leutzc has caused all the railroad
switches In the northwest portion of the
yard to be turned about, SO that no more
switching or drilling Of cars will have
to be carried on outside Of the yard in
the public streets. The gate at M street
ID closed and is only opened to allow the
passage Of trains in and out Of the ward,
about twice each day.
In view OF the threatened disaster to the
yard, steps are being taken to interest in
the matter all the citizens associations of
the District, the patriotic organizations
and others