Evening star., 1921-07-31

F1fty years ago Washington was
still waiting for it's second railroad
connection with
Progress on the the north. which
r~,, had been project
Of the Baltimore & Potomac. and was
being constructed. The Star of July
"a. 1871, contains an article more than
column in length relating to the
| state of the work. which had pro-
creased to a point at which The Star
lwhistling of the locomotives in a COM
paratively short time" Piles for the
Eastern branch bridge were nearly all
driven and the stringers were being
set In place. The embankment ap-
proaches had been finished and it was
expected that the bridge would be
ready for trains by October. Work
was in progress on the deep cut at the
city end of the bridge and on the
tunnel beyond. The tunnel work was
especially slow inasmuch as II was
being built on ''cut and cover" plan
instead of by boring. The ground was
very hard and many distractions in
the way of water and gas pipes were
encountered. The tunnel work began
early in July, 1870. and 1t was esti-
mated that another year would be re-
quired to complete 1t. at total cost
Of about q million and a half dollars.
Operations were continuing at the
Long bridge in building causeway
from the Virginia shore to the abut-
ment and in driving piles and setting
the piers. Work on the north end Of
the bridge had not been started.
Opposition to the District improve
ment bond Issues was lessened by
the explanation of
Triuncfior the favorable terms
obtained by Gov.
Against Loan. Cooke in floating
the loan in New York. The Star OF
July "a, 1871, states that the proposed
injunction had not yet been filed. but
Walter S. Cox Uater Judge Of the Dis
trict Supreme Court had drawn a
bill which was to be filed the next
day. 1t was. in fact, so filed, before
Justice Wylie. This petition for an
injunction is in the name of a num-
Der of citizens headed by A. Grant.
who complained that the Governor Of
the District was about to issue bonds
| under a pretended act of the legis-
| lature and that the proceeds of the
sale of them were to be disbursed on
warrants at the judgment and dis
cretion of the board of public works.
The petitioners averred that those
acts would, they believed. be highly
injurious to them. They set forth that
the District debt already amounted
to $3,349.124, and the assessed value
Of the property of the District was
$77.l9l.941.37. They urged that by law
the aggregate debt could not be in
creased beyond per cent OF the as
sessed value of the property unless
authority was given by a majority
of the voters at regular election,
and that the proposed new loan would
| bring the Districts debt TO beyond
that point of restriction. They claimed
further that the legislative act had
not been officially published.
While this writ was being prepared
proponents of the improvement loan
! held a secret meeting and, according
to information which reached The
Star, agreed to cease their opposition
and to take no further steps If the
100000 improvement bill was re-
pealed and another one passed ap-
propriating $1.5oo.000.'
~
A picture of the condition of WASH
ington's streets in the center of the
city is afforded
Rad Conditions at by the follow
a., ing paragraph