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

III elevated road for the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad Is constructed only from New Jersey ave
nue. to junction, the cost OF the road will be about
$4,000 on low grade and S170,o00 on high grade
porary works be used the cost will be very largely
reduced.
All the estimates are considered very liberal for
BY the substitution OF iron bridges for the beam
tunnels anu OF iron elevated railways for the via
ducts, very great saving in first cost could be
In regard to the right of the existing railways
TO occupy their present lines some difficulties may
arise.
In the case Of the Baltimore Potomac COM
pany the right OF repeal and revision was
specially reserved by Congress in the acts grant
Ing the privileges
No such reservation appears to have been made
In the grants to the Baltimore & Ohio company,
which may therefore claim that its rights are
vested, its charter irrepealable and that no con-
stitutiohal power exists to remove its tracks,
depots and stations. Ii this claim should prove
to be well-fOunded some trouble may be met in re-
moving the existing roads, unless the company
should find 1t to its advantage to abandon its
present lines in consideration Of advantages to be
gained by the new connections. Or, If Congress
should peremptOrily order the removal of the
present lines, some recourse for damages may be
provided Tor by appeal to the Court OF Claims.
The act Of March I'd, 1881 tStat. t. 476), grants
the original charter. This act is continued in
,Oaee by an ma act approved February Supple
scribes the route, but prohibits {sec. 3 the con-
Struction south of Delaware avenue and H street
until until the plans are approved by the mayor and
The same act {sec. S, prohibits the use of steam
ION any part OF the said road within the city Of
washington, except In such parts as may he
agreed to by the corporate authorities of said
city" This act was passed after the corporate
OF the route by a resolution OF February s. 1895
proved April 9. 1885, the mayor r and Council neil
shown on plans of the Baitmorsp ohie
rallroad company, under certain conditions, as to
furnishing bridges over the road. Tie same act
IN rt tJo
track as far as New Jersey avenue and street
present depot Site, until otherwise directed by an
however, the rights to limit the rate OF speed
In August, 1885, the corporation passed an act
releasing the road from furnishing bridges etc. ON
poration law 4. SIS W.
Later the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
extended their tracks from street and New Jer-
sey avenue TO Pennsylvania avenue and I'd
street, and established depot there. This loca-
tlon was very unsatisfactory to the corporation,
and 1t was mutually agreed that the company
would move away from Pennsylvania avenue
an and build permanent substantial depot square
Oh present iOcatOn} On condition that the cOrpO-
ration should give them a more certain tenure OF
the right to use steam, which by the corporation
act OF 1888 above quoted, was merely at the plea
report OF the committee OF councils, giving a full
history OF this controversy is found in the National
IHteHigeHcer OF May q, 1849
On May 30. 1S49, the councils passed an art AL
InorlZlnS the mayor to carry this agreement into
effect, i.e., the Baltimore and Ohio Company to
the corporation s., 200 for improvements OF G. and
ID streets, along the depot grounds in considera-
, uon OF which the company was granted the priyi
IeSe OF using steam for thirty years {46 council
laws, p. 9s. This agreement, however does not
appear TO have been carried out at that time for
year later MAY 81, 1850. 9th council D. 3S "a com
mttee consisting Of the mayor and two council
men was appointed to confer with the Baltimore
ana ONO Railroad Company on the same subject,
anu 10 make substantially the same conditions It
appears Ihat This was accepted by the company
n aasa 'aS h, agreement made the next day. June
~ as Lar do as New Jersey avenue and street up
~ In 1856, the Baltimore and Ohio Company pro-
Ro Ses TO open a line from Monocacy direct to
Washington, known as the Point of Rocks road o NJ
metropolitan ME branch They obtained their Char
the corporation ga council, D. 7 gave them a tho
right 70 come In on LIST Street east. LAS now
gnee tbr Msn Inc privilege of using steam en-
The same act, In section B. extended the a%rae e.
men mt Of June 1850 In regard to steam engines
IT,, to June l, 1910. ANY 'oais'
1t appears therefore, that so far as any action
privilege, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com.
pany has the right to use steam engines ia the
city, as follows on the washington Branch, until
tatton. In conclusion / have to say that while
the location for the union depot and the routes
mended In this report those which, in my opin-
on are best calculated to advance the interests Of
the city, and to afford the greatest facilities for
1
the rights OF the companies involved, do not by
any means contend that they are the only loca-
ions and routes available for the purpose, that
may measlreably fulfill the conditions mentioned.
~ may furthermore be found that the conflicting
interests OF the several roads centerng In the city
may De such that it will require the interpOSition
OF an independent transit company to effect the
concentration desired.
respectfully transmit herewith draft of bill
designed to carry into effect the recommendations
mace; also the following maps and plans:
one sheet plans OF proposed routes.
one cross sections
am, very respectfully,
W. j. TwININs,
Major OF Engineers, U.S.A.,
Engineer Commissioner
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL TO CARRY OUT MAJOR
TWININa'S PLAN
The bill "to define the routes of steam roads In
the city OF Washington and for other purposes "
provides that so much OF the act OF Congress an
proved March Sd. 1885, entitled IAN act supple
mentary to ian act to authorize the extensive
construction and use OF lateral branch OF the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad into and within the
District OF Columbia passed December 1870 sS