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

everyday English (and good English)
and was more concerned about accurac,
of statement than style, and more in
terested in presenting sound doctrine thar
the reasons why The Star had influence
not only with the citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia but with the national
legislature, or with that part of 1t bent
on giving the District a square deal.
They understood that The Star. repre-
scented the intelligent opinion Of the city.
1t tirelessly presented the ideals and the
rights and wrongs of Washington. with
the news and editorial departments
working together, local public sentiment
was fused and organized. whereas Tor
merly it had been intermittent.
Every civic body was heartened and
public opinion began to weigh heavier
and heavier against railroad tyranny
A sentiment was developed In congress
that the national city should be redeem
ed. Every civic agency was nght
ing under the inspiration of The Star
and day after day and year after year
the pounding by The Star brought con
gressional opinion to a point Where rail-
road management became inclined to
deal with therquestion on its merits. Inc
grade crossings were abolished and other
railroad abuses were corrected.
Day after day through the years from
1886 until the acceptance OF defeat ano
change Of front by the railroads and
their representatives in Congress, The
Evening Star hammered away at rail-
road occupation of streets and parks.
railroad obstruction Of cross streets,
railroad at grade in the city limits, rail
road speed excuses in the city. death ane
injury at grade crossings, railroad con
tinuance of the Long bridge, railroad
,laWlessness railroad avarice and railroad
influence in Congress.
The position of the railroads was at
tackled at every point and from every
angle Relentlessly and pitilessly the
fight was waged until the railroads
yielded. The result of that victory has
been a benefit to Washington not calcula'
BILE in sums of money. The campaign
which The Evening Star set in motion
and kept in motion drew into the contes
a large number of broad and able mer
who devoted a share of their talents to
ward compelling just treatment FOL
Washington. Among this distinguished
number should be mentioned Senator Jus
tin D. Morrill, of Vermont and Senator
James Mcmillan of Michigan. and, finally
A. j. Cassatt, president of the Pennsylva
MIA railroad, in succession to Scott anC
Roberts, and the greatest, most progress
sive and broadcast minded of American
railroad men.
The year 1870 found Washington dis
traught with ward politics. municipa
scandals and bankruptcy and with only
such railroad facilities north, east ant
west as the Baltimore and Ohio monop
oily, arrogant and obtuse. was willing tc
concede. Washington hoped for adequate
facilities, and some of the persistent Opt
mists in Washington dreamed and talked
of a greater Washington.
The act of Congress approved Febru-
airy 5, 1867, gave the Baltimore and Poto-
mac Railroad Company authority to Gen.
struct its line into Washington and to To-
cate a passenger depot on Virginia ave-
nue. In The Star Of February 2 1870
it may be read that pending in Congress
was a bill extending the time of the com.
pletion of the road from 1871 to 1875, and