The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-05-24
THE STEAM RAILROAD ROUTE.
A Bill, which, IL Is Said, the Senate
Committee Has Practically Agreed

A BilI, which, IL Is Said, the Senate
Committee Has Practically Agreed
Upon.
The Senate Committee on tho District of Co.
lumbia has at last practically agreed upon
bill defining the route OF steam railroads In
the District Of Columbia and fixed upon a
route and the location OF u depot for the b. &
o. Railroad. The route and the location are
about the only material changes In the bill.
The second section OF the bill, as agreed upon,
proydes ,
Company Is hereby authorized to construct,
lay down and operate, with steamengines and
cars, one or more tracks OF railroad, not ex,
cceeding four, commencing at a point on the
Railroad, between the National Fair grounds
and Boundary avenue, and running cast
wardly, by suitable curves and tangents,
north OF Boundary avenue to point near the
Eastern Branch; thence on suitable ground
along the shore OF said Eastern Branch to q
point near the Baltimore II Potomac Rail.
road; thence parallel to said Baltimore &
Potomac Railroad to the north side OF the
center line OF Virginia avenue; thence along
said north side OF said Virginia avenue, by
tunnel where necessary, and where not In tan
mel on the grade OF the north side OF said ave-
nue., to point between Third street and Four
a space thirfy.six foes in width pV on
nue.; and thence by suitable curve, and
crossing d street south and Four.and.a-half
street, TO and into squares 493 and 1872, IN
which said squares the passenger depot OF said
company shall be located, and with right to
occupy such squares and portion OF o street
south, between Fourand.a-half and Sixth
street west with It's tracks; and for this
purpose such portion OF said street be, and the
timore & ohio Railroad Company shall have
the right to acquire, by purchase or condemna-
ton, such portions of said squares as may be
necessary for said purposes, other than such
portion or portions OF said squares as were on
tho first day OF January, eighteen hundred and
eighty.four. owned and used by the Baltimore
& Potomac Railroad Company. Said company
shall also have the right to connect Its tracks,
near tho intersection OF d street south with
virginia avenue, with the tracks OF the Baltl-
and over the vladuct over the Potomac River
known as the Long Bridge, and
S t. Sse po,on rashs n.,p6aa 6 said
pany, as the same are now constructed or
may be hereafter constructed from said point
VIM Ts -
the said yiaduct or Long Bridge, or any bridge
built IN lieu thereof, subject TO tho reasonable
police regulations OF the Baltimore Il Potomac
Railroad Company, and to the payment OF such
rental as may be agreed upon between the re-
spective companies, or as is hereinafter by
meet its tracks with the tracks OF tho virginia
Midland Railway Company, or OF any other
railway company now or hereafter to be incor.
porated,at or near the western terminus OF said
said tracks shall not exceed
thirty-six feet in total width on Virginia ave.
nue., and the tracks Of said Baltimore h Ohio
Railroad Company and OF the Baltimore Po-
tomac Railroad Company shall be 80 laid on
Virginia avenue as TO leave an equal proper.
tion OF the said avenue on each side OF said
tracks, and II shall be separated from
tho rest OF said avenues by a substantial
granite curb or wall, projecting one foot
and surmounted by q continuous Iron fence,
tho top OF which shall be eight feet above the
grade. At each intersecting street automatic
lowering or folding gates, OF pattern ap.
proved by tho Commissioners OF the District
OF Columbia, shall DO placed on the
line or the fence previously described, In
such manner as efrectually TO close the crossing
during the approach and passage OF every
irain. Congress reserves the right TO require
The erection OF other vladucts over tho tracks
OF said railway company should the necessity
for such structures become apparent"
Another important feature OF the bill IA the
provision compelling tho Baltimore Potomac
Railroad Company TO move their depots. This
provides that the freight, passenger and other
depots and buildings OF said Baltimore \
Potomac Railroad Company shall DO located
on such squares or parts OF squares
on the south side OF Maryland ave-
and:a'halt street and Fourteenth street
weet, at such points rs tho said
company may select. The said company shall
have the right 10 acquire said squares or parts
OF squares for the purposes aforesaid, by pur-
chase or In the manner and by the special
cases by railroad companies organized under
the general laws In force FOR the Incorporation
OF railroad companies In the District Of Colum.
bia."
The above bill was glyen to a CRITIC re.
porter with a statement that It had been
agreed upon. Later Mr.. Harris, q member OF
the committee, said no did not understand
that II was exactly the bill agreed upon.