Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-13

station by. means of tunnel under Gap
itol Hill.
The Pennsylvania officials ana tn zen.
congressional agents insisted on the 9Th
street site and exclusive use OF the STA
ton to be erected there. Hearings We're
held on the bill by the House DlscricI
committee, and public-spir1ted Wasnlns
tonians opposed the dissection or the MA! MAI
hy railroad tracks, but March %, 1872,
the District committee, through MT:
Starkweather. favorably reported the bill
granting the 9Th and b streets slte 10 the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad. IL was
entitled "A bill to confirm the actlon Oh
the board of aldermen and common coun-
ell of the city of Washington designating
a depot site for the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad and for other purposes, and
providing also that the United States
shall have the right to repeal or modlfy
the provisions of this act" The Baltimore
and Ohio congressman Upholstered
against the bill for number or days, but
it was passed.
The bill came before the Senate April 8,
1872, and Mr.. Cameron moved that It's
consideration be proceeded with. Mr.. Nor
rill spoke against the propriety of giving
so considerable a portion OF land to a
railroad company without any equivalent.
He disliked to go against his friend from
PENNSYLVANIA. Mr.. Cameron, but he con-
sidered it his duty to stand up for the
rights of the United States. He hoped
that Senator Cameron, who, as Secretary
of War, had done so much to save the
capital from the rebels, would not now
surrender such fair portion into the
hands of a. grasping corporation. can
# - he asked. .'be possible that any one
of us will be willing to mar the beauty OF
this Capitol by such Dissertation or tne
public grounds which surround II IN
fact, in view of the terms by Whlcn the
United States acquired title TO THESE
grounds proposed to be given away,
doubt whether Congress has the power
to confirm the grant made by the terri
torial legislature" He favored dhow
ance OF all proper railroad facilities, put
thought this bill should be referred to the
Committee on public buildings and
erounds instead of to that on the District
Of Columbia.
\
There was a contest over the reference
of the bill. Senator Hamilton OF Mary
land pointed out the effect on surrounding
property wherever railroad depots were
located, that they were surrounded NY
tenement houses and groggeries ana tnat
the streets were blocked up with Vehlcles
of all kinds. He deprecated the IDEA OF
giving up to this dissertation the great
Avenue of Washington, and the mafrlhs
Of the symmetry of the public grounds.
He believed that it was the duty OF
Congress to exercise the most watchIui
SUPERVISION over the city. to improve and
beautify it, as it was to be the capltai
of the country not for fifty years or
hundred years, but for all time. But on
the motion to refer to the committee on
public buildings and grounds the vote
was 1S for and 80 against. and it was &C
cordingly referred to the committee on
the District of Columbia.
Public opinion in Washington was ex,
o;<ad oyar tho idea of giving a parcei
Of the Mall. a piece of land which would
interfere with the proposed development
of the park. In the old chronicles may
be found accounts of citizens indigna-
ton meetings. The bill was favoraDly
reported back to the Senate May 1o'