Year: 1870

VI Cne baltlmOre ana fOtOmac rallrOau, autnOr-
lied by the act approved February 5, 1857, and
to change the location in the city of Washington
along the bank of the canal, was considered as
in Committee of the Whole.


The bill contains a preamble reciting that a
charter was granted by the Senate and House
Of Representative of the United States, and
approved by the President February s, 1867 !,
giving to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company the privilege of constructing lateral
branch Of their railroad into the District OF Co
lumbia and the city of Washington, and that
under the act, the time for the completion of the
lateral branch was within four years from its
passage, and as the work on the line of the road
within the city OF Washington is very heavy and
will consume a long time in its construction, and
as the work has already been delayed In submit
ting the plans and location to Congress for their
approval, hence the bill proposes to repeal the
seventh section of the act of February 5, 1856.
and to extend the time for the completion of the
lateral branch Of the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad to the list day OF February, 1875. The
company is also authorized to adopt a line in the
city OF Washington from South Fourth street,
curving to the right, either to the north or south
bank OF the canal, northwestwardly to Virginia
avenue.


Mr.. Sherman asked whether ii will take until
1875 to conclude this railroad?


Mr.. CamerOn.-NO; but we find great deal
OF difficult work at the termini of the road, at
its terminus in Washington and its terminus in
Baltimore, and it is desirable to have as much
time as possible to finish that difficult work.
We shall have the road in operation, however,





Mr.. Sherman.-I certainly should not have
voted for chartering this railroad, which L did
with great pleasure, if L thought the company
was going to take so long to build forty miles OF
road.


Mr.. Cameron.-Let me tell the Senator from
Ohio, who has a just appreciation of this sub
!ect that 1t requires a tunnel under the city OF
Baltimore mile and quarter in length, and il
may require some tunneling before we get here;
but the road will be in running operation by
this time next year, or by the 1st of April next
hntrr hoTf
the exception of the termination in the CITY OF
Baltimore, and perhaps the termination here;
but the cars will be running so that street road,
in the city can connect with them.


Mr.. Sherman.-What is the objection to put
ting that requirement in the bill?


Mr.. Cameron.-Because it is better not to
hamper it. Accidents may happen.


Mr.. Sherman.-I do not like to put OF the
completion of another railroad to this city for
four years when think capital can be found to
complete it in year. Ii the Senator will put
bill, reserving until 1876 the right to complete
the termni in the two cities, but requiring the
road to be in running order between Baltimore
and Washington i'm one year from this time,
think 1T will be better.


Mr.. Cameron.-All want now is to change
the road from the southern side of the canal to
the northern side. This is a road i'm which every
body who comes to Washington is interested.
and we expect to have it in operation early next
year. We have within fourteen miles Of the
whole line now graded.





that it will be completed by the LIST OF April next
year.


Mr.. Cameron.-Between the two places. You
shall have that.


ton of the Senate to section two OF this bill. 1t
will be seen that it allows the railroad company
to 60 through the city either on the south or
north side of the canal. L do not know but that
may Interfere with plans that are already before
the Committee on the District of Columbia and
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, which contemplate that something
shall be done with this canal-that it shall be
covered over, one half of it, and the market
building allowed to extend to the north bank OF
the canal, which is asked for by the citizens of
Washington. Now, to authorize this road to go
along the north bank may interfere with what
Is contemplated by the Committee on Public
Buildings in relation to the new market Then,
again, desire to call the attention of the SEN
ate to plans which have been heretofore often
presented for having a public mall extending
faom the Capitol TO the Presidents grounds;
as to the policy of allowing this railroad to 90
along exactly in the track Of where we propose
to have public highway.


I'M Mr. GameTonmWs only ask to have the site of
northern side Of the canal. If coming on the
north side shall interfere with the mall or the
drive the Senator talks about, it is already inter-
fered with by our charter privileges. The only
difficulty is that by keeping us on the southern
side you compel us to take down some expensive
buildings and expend much larger sum than
III
line which is not occupied at all. That Is the
only difference. 1t does not interfere with this
great work.


Besides that, these committees have been for
years talking about this drive and this great inn
prOvement, and every year We are about as far
from 1t as we were when we began. L have
always voted and shall continue to vote to buy
property about the Capitol necessary to deco
rate this great building, and am surprised that
the gentlemen who have charge of that subject
should have let it sleep SO long. 1 would not
bring even this railroad in here in such way
as to interfere with the beauty of this great city,
but We requir, above all things another railroad
to this District. Passing through Baltimore now
wastes an hour always, and it takes about one
fourth OF the whole expense OF going to New
York to pass between this city and Baltimore
and over the latter city.


Now. We are compelled, in order to make a
railroad which shall be equal to the times, to
make tunnel through the city of Baltimore
more than a mile and quarter in length; and
we shall have to tunnel here in some places. 1t
will require probably two or three years to finish
these tunnels. That is a sort of work that you
know cannot be hurried, Mr.. President. The
stockholders in this company are spending their
money freely, and by April next they viii have
road from Baltimore here completed except
at the two termini, and their passengers will be
carried from the Temporary end OF the road
here, wherever it may be. to the depot at the
Center Market, saving money to every body who
comes here, and saving him time and adding to
his comfort.


Mr.. morrill,, of vermont.-The Senator is mis-
taken in supposing that he asks nothing more
than to go to on to the north bank. The section
provides "that said company is hereby au-
thOrized to adopt a line i'm the city of Washing
ton from south Fourth street curving to the
right either to the north or south bank Of the
canal nol thwestwardly to Virginia avenue"


really think we ought to have q little time
to see whether this will interfere with what is
proposed or not, and in relation to the action of
the Senate Of the United States the Senator,
perhaps, has forgotten that the Senate has
more than once, or certainly Once-I think
twice-already passed q bill apprOpriating the
two squares on the east side Of the Capitol for
public grounds, with view to having them
properly decorated and inclOsed. So the Senate
and the Committee on Public Buildings have
not been remiss in relation to that subject. But
in relation to this matter 1t Is important with
regard to various propositions that are now
pending. hope the Senator, therefore, will
not insist upon passing this bill this morning.
sort Of objection to it after having fully investi
gated the subject.


Mr.. CamerOn.-I will relieve the mind of the
Senator from Vermont by allowing him to strike
out "either," and simply say that If they desire
ii the company shall be allowed to run the road
to the north bank. They have the right on the
south bank now, and they do not want anything
more in that respect; but it may be necessary to
60 to the north hank. That is all want.


Mr.. Morrill, (Vt)-I hope the bill will 60 over.


Mr.. Cameron.-Well, let it 60 over;


The Vice. .President.-Tbe bill will be laid
aside.


THE soCIABLE of the Indiana Association last
evening, at Liberty Hall, was one Of the pleas
opfoc <To;r oo<< <ha The hall " 6l1od