Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09
ONE WAY OF SOLVING 1T.
Mr.. Dodge Suggests q Way OF Settling
the Railroad Question.
To the Editor Of The EvrsISe sr.n:


To the Editor Of THr EVENING srAR:
II 10 not true that the citizens desire to Grip
pie or sntagonize the railroads. As said be-
fore the Senate subcommittee, We understand
perfectly that no city can exist In this day and
age without railroads and that the railroads
must have the necessary terminal facilities;
that We desired they should have better ter
minal facilities than they now have, the only
question being how they can secure them and
at the same time render trade and travel, life
and property more secure. That this can be
done to me seems clear enough.
First, the railroad wants more room for Its
trains and for housing freight, and both the
railroad and business men want side tracks and
switches by which cars can be run into yards
and ware houses. On the other hand the pub
lie wants the grade crossings abolished. SO the
streets can be opened. and travel and traffic 20
and from the river be uninterrupted and safe.
As to the removal of the depot from its pres
ent location. l consider that subordinate mat
ter. which need not necessarily enter into the
discussion of the two main points above.
although L think the company could be bene-
nted by its removal to the junction OF Mary
land and Virginia avenues. originally in
| tended.
In order TO fully comprehend the importance
or necessity of doing away with the grade
| crossings il should be borne in mind. first that
| the business by boats is concentrated between
9th and 18th streets on the river front. and
second, that from A. to 18th street there is but
one street that we can go through from Penn
sylvanls avenue to the river-that ID. 9TH
| strickland on that are two street railroad
tracks, which are much worse since the cable
cars have commenced running. and that for
half the day 1t Is almost impossible TO drive
through that street in front of the market
Many persons seem not to be aware OF the
| fact that there is no 9th street below the ave-
nue. and that 9th street is completely closed by
| the railroad company.
Now, when 1t is considered that the entire
river traffic and travel, including all the res
idents of South Washington and every person
going to Mount Vernon or elsewhere on the
| river, and every load of freight hauled to or
from the river front, has to cross the numer-
| Gus railroad tracks at great danger aud delay.
every one must see how important il is that
| some means be adopted by which this diff
Guilty can be avoided, and at least two IL not
three, streets be opened to travel between Az
| and 18th streets.
SINKING THE TRACKS.
This can be done by simply sinking the tracks
sufficiently to enable them to be bridged over
at the street crossings. That this can be done
does not admit of question. The surface Of the
streets, as shown by the established grades and
surveys is abundantly high to admit of it, To
illustrate: First street west is nearly ii feet
above mean high tide. From there westward
the ground rises, being 171t feet at Az street. rs
feet at 9th street. u feet at 7th street. 80 feet
at 9th street, 341 feet at 10th street. IS feet at
18th street. 81 feet at 18th street and from there
descends to IN feet above at l4th street.
Twenty feet clear space is required for the pas
sage of trains and it is clear that the tracks can
be sunk so that most, II not all. OF these streets
can be carried over the tracks on bridges
Suppose some OF the bridges should have to be
raised few feet above the surface what Of il?
At 9th, 18th and 9th, where the bulk Of the cross
ing is. they would not need to be raised ex-
cept, perhaps, a little at 9th, depending on the
grade adopted for the tracks.
Heretofore there has been no controversy on
this point. When we were before the House
committee on the Ludlow bill three wears ago
ana made this suggestion to the committee
the now Senator Barbour, then chairman, re-
piled that Col Scott, the former president of
the company, had offered of his own accord to
sink the tracks Two years ago, in q converse
ton with Mr.. Wilkins their general manager at
Baltimore, who was formerly superintend-
ent of the Baltimore and Potomac road in this
city and who is familiar with the locality and
the grades, admitted that il could be done and
said the company would be willing to do so on
condition that 1t was permitted to retain its
depot on the mall
THE ONLY OBJECTION.
This would afford the relief sought by the
general public. The only reason now given
for not doing this is the cost At most this
could not exceed s40O, 900 all told, and when it
is known, as stated in H. X. Report No. 92s of the
present Congress. that the company spent up
wards Of 81, 900 to get through Baltimore"
the cost here surely ought not to be an OBJ
| stacle.
President Roberts himself says grade cross
ings ought to be abolished, that il is the policy
of the company to do SO, and that it has spent
large sums to rid Philadelphia and Baltimore
of them. 1t is understood that the company
now has in contemplation plans for abolishing
its grade crossings in Jersey City that will cost
near 81, DOC, 900.
Other roads are doing the same. The New
York Central has built a viaduct to carry its
four tracks over the streets through the city of
Rochester at a cost of 81 500, 900, and il pro-
poses to do the same in Buffalo at q cost of
S2,000,000 In view of these facts do not see
how the company can object on the score of
cost here If 1t has any disposition to act fairly
with the citizens while seeking these additional
privileges for itself.
On the other hand. for the relief Of the COM
pany, 1t might be authorized to condemn all
the land 1t wants east of Al street, clear down
to the river front If necessary. and to make all
the switches and turnouts necessary to con-
meet with ware houses, Yards &C., east of Al
street, thus giving it all the room and facilities
il will need for all time.
Even west of Az street, if the tracks are sunk,
there could be no objection to its making turn
outs to connect with ware houses, factories, &C.
if made below grade. they could be most Of
the way. There is plenty Of room to sink two
or even four tracks on Maryland and Virginia
avenues and leave good roadway each side.
A wall should be built up along each side to
render travelling safe and prevent horses from
being frightened by the passing trains, which
could then go at any desired speed
MIGHT BE PASSED AT ONCE
Now, il the company will introduce bill
embodying these two provisions imagine it
would be passed at once. 1 am sure the great
mass of the citizens would do all in their power
10 help pass it Why not do it? For one,
would be willing to compromise on this basis
and let their depot remain where it Is only
they should get entirely out of 9Th street, so 1t
could be opened to travel.
At the same time / believe IL would be better
for the company to remove its depot 10 the site
originally designated, at the junction Of Mary
land and Virginia avenues. There is plenty Of
ground for depot large as will ever be
needed. The trains would run below, the
same as In Baltimore, the passengers COM
ing out above, and the trains or cars could
then be run into the oompany's grounds
east OF A. street, where they would have
plenty of room to store them, make up
trains and switch about as they please.
Their present entrance is too narrow and they
have to be switching back and forth constantly
TO get the trains in and out, and it will con-
stantly become worse the number of trains
increase with the increase OF travel IL would