Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-16
THE RAILROAD WAR.
Railroad Legislation Should be on q
Comprehensive Plan.

To the Editor Of THE EVENING Star:
III the Atkinson bill passes. it by no means
follows that 1t is a finality. The next or some
subsequent Congress may undo the proposed
action. 1t Is certain that there is bound to be
agitation so long as the tracks remain where
they are and az they are. The time 10 coming
when the banks Of the lower Potomac will be
teeming gardens for the city supplies, and sur
face tracks across our thoroughfares Of princi-
pal access must not be permitted to disturb
the facilities OF distribution. But it should be
our policy to encourage all proper railroad
enterprises. But, as we, the people, cannot do
without railroads, neither can the railroads do
without us. the people, II should be consid-
cred that there are other railroads than the
Pennsylvania, some Of which we have with us
and others to enter, just how many in the
future it is impossible to foresee Legislation
should grasp the whole and not part, the
location OF the tracks Of the Pennsylvania rail-
road for partial example. 1t is
not only for the interest of the
people, but for the Pennsylvania rail-
road as we'll, that the subject should be treated
with broad and comprehensive view Of the
looking over the ground carefully for several
years, but only recently have been able to
come to "A conclusion in my own mind how con-
ficting interests may be reconciied.
Plan is as follows The Baltimore and Ohio
to effect junction with the Baltimore and Po-
tOmac on the east side of the Anacostia river
both to enter through the tunnel and pursue
the present course to the James creek valley.
where both may buy land cheap and establish
freight depots and have convenient access to
deep water, if desired, at Buzzard Point; the
open tunnel cuts to be bridged at street cross
ings as occasion may require. Proceeding
westerly, with sunken tracks and leaving
grade driveway on each side, on the present
lines to the junction Of Virginia and Maryland
avenues and 9Th street, where a union station
o. sufficient magnitude may be erected on the
south side OF said junction on condemned land.
including d street; the principal streets along
this course, Az, 9th, It'll and 9Th streets. to be
bridged over. Again. westerly on the present
line of Maryland avenue, with sunken tracks
and bridged at 10th, 18th, 12th and 18th streets,
to l4th street, leaving grade driveway on each
side Of tracks; northwesterly along the river
front on grade to the line of the old canal near
18th street northwest; thence along the old
canal line to the Rock creek valley. An alter
native for this part of the route is pre-
sented by following the line Of Virginia
Up that valley to the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal, thence up the bed thereof drained and
wldened. to the neighborhood of the Three
Sisters, where another depot and station may
be established. From this point access is easy
to the west and the Potomac can be bridged
iOT d connection along the line OF the
abandoned branch of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal to Alexandria. At the Three Sisters the
Baltimore and Ohio could form u western con-
nectlon if it desired. Any other railroad could
come in from either end. This plan embodes
the removal of the tracks of the Bait more and
Potomac from 9th street and from Maryland
avenue between 9th and It'll streets, the re-
moval Of all the tracks of the Baltimore and
Ohio within Boundary street or Florida avenue
and the removal of the Long Bridge across the
Potomac, an impedment to navigation The
southern extension would still furnish coal for
fuel and transportation for bricks for the brick
yards in Virginia The Chesapeake and Ohio
canal line would furnish coal for the George
town mills more reliable for motive than
water power. In any event Georgetown would
be more than compensated for its loss of water
power by the presence of the railroads and
depots. This plan presents but few engineer
ing difficulties.
Let us have peacei gro HENNINa