The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-11-23


which have been made to abate Il. After do
ailcd statement Of the route OF cach OF tho
railroads inside the District limits aud do.
scription of Major Twinug's plan for the
union depot tho report says;
There Is no doubt that this plan would AFFORD
n permanent and satisfactory solution OF the
question, though its enormous cost makes II
seem improbable that such q solution can be
effected at present But II the anal so,tle.
ment can not be effected now IL Is not impos.
sible that something may be done u better
the present condition OF analrs which la
almost Noticeable and In this view venture
to mako the following suggestions for such
as you may SEQ 1T - Give to
them. In the frat place IL Is manifest at a
glance that the southern section OF tho city Is
the proper location for the railroad lines, ns Il
has no public buildings and 1t IL adjacent to
tho river front, and must therefore, OF necos-
slty, be largely devoted to business. 1t con-
taine the only practical route to the crossing
of the river aud tho southern limo; 1t is In
every way adapted TO whatever manufacturing
or business interests. may be developed here;
There can be llttlo doubt that II the rallroad
routes were permanently established there,
and freight depots were constructed, great
benefits would result to the property In that
section ms well as TO the whole city.
There arc two main avenues, virginia and
Mary lnnd, passing through that section and
leading 10 tho Long Bridge; each OF them is
100 feet Wide. This affords ample room for
tho railroad lines under proper restrictions,
which Will be hereafter mentioned. The Bal
tlmore & Potomaclroad now occupies that llno,
and no change could DO made In 30 much OF
be moro of benefit than an injury. Tho Bal
tmore & Ohio route on the other hand Ia in
convenient, both TO tho road and TO the city,
and should be moved over TO the southern
section. There are only two methods by
which this can be accomplished, either by
Passing Around Capitol Hill or
TnnneIing Under II.
on the lrst route the two branches would
be united outside the city limits, noar the
fair grounds, and would then run to the East,
street and passing around the base OF tho
blum east OF tho Jail, meeting tho baltimore
Potomac line near the Congressional Gene:
the Baltimore & Potomac road is not large
enough for the business of tho two roads. Il
that Is tho case tho Baltimore OHIO should
be granted tho right TO build parallel tunnel
adjacent 10 that of the other road. Tho width
OF Virginia avenue is ample for this purpose.
On emerging from the tunnel the Baltimore
street until 1t Joined the other road on
the canal, and thence run with 1t
through Virginia and Maryland avenues.
Tho topography OF this proposed route is such
that there would DO no unusual expense or
difficulties attending 1t except at the tunnel
under Virginia avenue, near the Navy-Yard,
which would DO 1000 feet in longth. II the
Baltimore & Ohio Co. prefers to tunnel
under Capitol Hill, the two branches should
be united at the Fair Grounds, as before
stated, and should enter the city at Twelfth
street east; following thence either the route
selected by Major Twining, under Twelfth
street and North Carolina ayonue, or another
route under Maryland avenue, Second street,
and North Carolina avenue. The length OF tho
tunnel would be tho same, 100 feet, In either
case,and tho cost would not be greatlydlfferent.
In the latter case small intercepting sewer
would have TO be built parallel with the tun-
mel to provide for the eeworage,whlch II would
cut or but the company might possibly con-
slider the advantages OF an underground pas.
senger station at Second and East Capitol
streets as more than an equivalent for this ad.
ditlonal expense. In either case the tunnel
would end at the intersection Of North Caro-
lima and New Jersey avenues, and thonco tho
road would pass along street TO Virginia
avenue. so far as tho interests OF tho city arc
concerned there is little or no choice between
those two routes, one going around and the
other going under Capitol Hill.
The Difference in Cost
would DO very great, one involving tunnel OF
1000 feet, which on the basis OF the estimates
submitted by Major Twining would cost about
100000 and tho other requiring tunnel OF
5000 feet, costing 100000. 1t is believed,
however, that tho interests OF tho Baltimore
& Ohio Road, as we'll as those OF tho city, re-
quire that Its route should DO changed to the
southern side OF the city, whence 1t can obtain
an outlet into Virginia, and that 1t would not
hesitate to expend even the larger sum 70 &c.
eomplish THIS purpose, II these routes should
the city limits would be IA miles, of which 2
miles would be underground and Oh on the
street grades On these 21a miles the tracks
can be sunken In some places and elevated at
others, 80 rs to remove them from tho street
grades, should that system become indispens-
able at some future time. While they remain
on grade certain restrictions are absolutely
necessary for the safety OF the public, and laws
for their enforcement should be enacted with
out delay. They are as follows;
First-The space reserved for tho tracks,
not exceeding 60 feet on avenues and 30 feet
on streets, should be inclosed ON each side by a
solid granite curbing at least one foot above
the roadway, on which there should be an
iron fence TO n height'of not less than olght
feet above the ground.
Second-Automatic lowering or folding
gates should DO placed at each intersecttng
street on the line of the fence previously men,
toned, so as to effectually close tho crossing
on the approach of train.
Third-Thc companies should be required
to build adequate freight depots and caryards
on private property, which could DO accom-
plished by imposing heavy penalties for I'M
loading freight or leaving cars standing on the
street tracks.
II is believed that these restrictions would
remove at once tho principal source Of annoy
ance and danger which is now so constantly
and Justly complained OF by the cltlzens OF
Washington. Al the same time Virginia ave-
nue. should be improved by q granite block
pavement on each side of the tracks from
Seventh TO South Capitol street. The cost of
this improvement is estimated at $4,000.
Whether any portion OF 1t should BIO paid by
the railroad companies as an equivalent for
the right OF way is n matter for the considera-
ton OF Congress. If the Baltimore Ohio
tracks were brought to the southern section Of
the city, and the above requirements strictly
remain only one point to be settled. This,
however, is likely to give rise TO more opposi-
tion than all the others combined. tits
The Question OF the Passen ger Dep OF
on Sixth Street,
There Is much to be said on both sides OF
this question, which may be summarized by
saying that the interests OF tho travelling pub.
lie and OF tho road which is the servant of
those Interests require the depot to be as near
the centre OF the city as possible, and
II is tho policy OF railroads everywhere to
push their way Into the hearts of cities; on the
other hand tho interests Of Washington do.
mand that q portion OF Its principal park
shall not be cut off by railroad. Tho decl.
sion between these conflicting interests lies
with Congress. In 1872 both sides OF the ques-
ton were fully presented and the decision
was In favor OF the railroad. But at that time
the old canal was not yet filled up, the park
was only partially Improved, ana Its value
was only appreciated as thing OF tho future.
Now II Is reality, and II is not too much to
ask that tho subject may now be reconsldered,
as was distinctly implied in tho wording OF
the bill and 80 stated In the debate, and q
final decision be made. II It is again decided
in favor OF the road, then there Is nothing
more to DO said, the park Will practically
terminate nj Seventh street, Its size win be
reduced from $50 to $50 acres, and the con
tnuous drive from the Capitol to the White
House will DO cut on. II It Is decided In favor
OF tho city, then the park Will DO preserved
and the depot Will havO to be moved one.thiri
OF n milo 10 the south, still remaining, how
| ever within but little more than half n mile
| from the centre Of property valuations, which
Is at Eighth and ID Streets on every ground