Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-14

necessarily DE provided with draw fo- the pas
sage or vessels on account OF the curvature of the
riVer at that point he depth of water is also very
great any other objections which can be maze
| equal force to IT, The present site OF the Long
bridge Is probably the most convenient point OF
crossing. The present structure is, however, la
many ways oblec tionable. and should be removed
ana replaced by properly constructed bridge
Win such lengths Of span as viii offer the least
one hundred and forty feet in length. The piers
are built upon piles surrounded by rp-rap. The
center OF the stream Is Ob5tfucted by the remains
! Oh the draw picr OF an old bridge, AMI by long
lines OF piles sti visible at low wat ter belonging
10 the some structure The river at this point is
practically dammed 10y the useless distractions
which have at different times been placed in it.
During the frcSEet Of last spring the ice grounded
In one solid mass from the bar opposite 18th street
I down 10 the Long briige. and backed the water
over ali The low lands south OF Pennsylvania
nue.. The possibility or recurrence o. such a
HOOD can be avoided by removing the present OBJ
StructionS and by repiacng the present bridge by
one of proper construction.
Assuming That the foot of Maryland avenue is
the proper point for the passage OF the river the
choi g OF t. toT the union station for passen-
gers and express freights would appear to De con-
fined between the head OF the Long Bridge and re-
! servttion II. The center of the property valla-
lions 81 the city is at the Intersection OF Sth
| ana r streets northwest. Reservation I. is dis
Ciht from this center one mile and half BY the
nearest practicable approach Its selection would.
iutnermore. involve excessively deep cutting and
heayy gradients along the line of connection OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railway. For these rea-
sons it appears to be advisable to select some
point west OF 9th street and south OF street south
west.
The intersection of Maryland and Virginia ave-
nueS or some spot between that interSeC ton and
the head OF the Long Bridge appears to fulfill most
nearly all the conditions necessary to the conve-
nlence OF the travelling public and to offer no
reasonable difficulties along the lines of approach
OF any OF the roads Interested. Having this point
in view for the site OF tie union depot it is
sary to consider whether the approaches OF the
several railway lines are practicable at a not IN
reasonable expense.
1T is not to be expected that steam railroads can
avail themselves OF the advantages of depots lying
within the city limits and close to it's business
eenters without being subject to large expense in
CURED for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary in
tererence with the other interests OF the city. II
IL should be found to the interest of the railways
not 10 enter the city, but to establish their depOtS
in the suburbs and outside of the corporate limits
no reasonable objection could be made. If by cir
curious routes. not occupying crossing the public
highways, the several lines could be concentrated
Ties would be Obviated. 1t is assumed, however,
that no such possibility exists. and that the lines
must traverse the thckly settled parts Of the city
In the case OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, it
is proposed to unite the two branches this road
at some point outside the city limits to be selected
Dy the company, and bring them into the city at
Boundary street. on the line of 18th street east,
ana on the established city grade. Thence the
on the grade OF the street to G street, at which
point the grade changes so to enter tunnel at
the north building line of Maryland avenue. Fol-
mel continues to Lincoln square, and passing
Deneath TINS square turns into the line of North
Sarollna avenue which it follows to the west
building line OF I'd street east. At this point the
city grades fall precipitously to the low grounds,
and short open cut connects the tunnel with an
elevated road which follows the same line Of
North Carolina avenue to its intersection with
Virginia avenue southwest; thence along the line
OF virginia and Maryland avenues to the head OF
In the case OF the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
road, II 1t should be considered necessary to keep
necessary to adopt one of two alternatives:
FIRST TO defect the line where IL is in tunnel. at
sta street and virginia avenue southeast north
Hard along the line of Sth street, continuing in
tunnel to street south: thence along street to
the west building line OF 81 street east thence by
short open cut and elevated road on the line OF
street TO connect with the line heretofore described
for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Second. To leave the line in it's present position
Dut requiring the track to be elevated from the end
| OF the tunnel at the intersection of 9Th and
ss 50 as to pass twenty feet above
joining the line OF the Baltimore and Ohio on Viz
ginia avenue, between South Capitol and LIST
streetS Either OF these alternative methods Is
expensive. the cost being about 100000. 1t is
questionable whether the value OF the property
interests south Of the line is such as to warrant
the passage OF an act OF Congress compelling the
Immediate expenditure
lam disposed to leave this question to be decided
In the future.
This road has its depot at 9th street and Penn
SyYan1a avenue, which Is reached by branches
from the main line On Virginia avenue and Mary
land avenue, down the line of 9th street, running
across the mall and cutting Off the Capitol from
the Executive Mansion and public buildings
WhtH privilege Oh Ibis location was granted TO
the company the mall east OF 9th street was unim-
proved, and the objection was not so obvious. At
present this improvement is progressing by annual
APPROPRIATIONS, and the presence Of the depot and
tracks Is serious and unsightly obstruction
These branch lines are open to the common objec-
ton OF occupying the greater part of a narrow
| street at grade. These tracks should be removed
ana the road should be confined to the line Of Viz
glnia and Maryland avenues, as in the case of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad
| The lines OF the two railways having been
| united upon Virginia avenue should be carried by
shorter and more direct route might be chosen.
put would involve the condemnation OF private
pr Ts
occupy the public land at the intersection OF Mary
land and Virginia avenues, or should be placed
upon private lands condemned for the purpose. is
question to be decided by Congress.
Therefore recommend, in obedience to the terms
OF the resolution OF Congress
1St That point at or near the intersection of
Maryland and Virginia avenues southwest be Sc
lected as site for union railroad depot for all
the steam railways which enter or terminate in
! the city OF Washington.
ID That the roads interested BE- authorized to
i construct joint line Of fOur-tracked road west
ward from the union depot to the head OF tn e
Long bridge along the line of Maryland avenue
and eastward along the line OF Virginia avenue to
| point at OF near South Capitol street
! Sd. That from the point OF junction with the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad be authorized to continue the
use or tS line eastward, as now located, by a sin
gle or double track, subject to such alteration as
may be necessary to effect the said Junction, and
ouoJCCt W DIS COnSrtSS may mere.
after see fit to direct
4th. That from its point OF junction with the
baltimore and Potomac railroad at near South
Capitol street the Baltimore and Ohio railroad be
authorized to construct a line OF dOuble-tracked
road eastward across reservation It. and along
North Carolina avenue to Lincoln square thence
along 18th street nOrthward to Boundary street
9Th. That the general construction OF the pro-
posed roads shall be as follows: For the Balti-
more Ohio double-track IiRe:-From Boundary
street south, conforming to the established grade
OF 18th street, to street; thence by open cutting
416 feet more or less; thence by tunnel passing
Maryland ave nue. at reference 425 feet above the
datum, TO Lincoln square, and by tunnel under
that square TO North Carolina avenue: thence
along North Carolina avenue by open cutting and
beam tunnels at the several street CROSSINGS tn
I'd street southeast, which shall be crossed at ref
erence 1915; thence by open cutting and vtaduct
passing New Jersey avenue at reference A. and
dropping the grade OF that avenue four feet across
Reservation II, upon the line OF North Carolina
avenue extended TO the Intersection of Virginia
avenue
For the joint ine:-FrOm the point OF junction
Dy Nlauuct carrying four tracks to point be-
tween 30 and AZ streets; thence by open cutting
and beam tunnels at the street crossings passing
~ street at reference H. TO the Union depot and
thence by similar construction to the head OF the
Long bridge.
9th. These lines to be built substantially in ac-
c0rdance with the plans submitted herewith, but
subject upon the application OF the railroad COM