Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-13
Thsrs are four bills affecting the e1istins

Ihsrs are four bills affecting the existing
scam railroads Of the District now pending in
Ne Sonata The Ingalls, bill, introduced by
rsqnsst for the benefit of the Pennsylvania
railroad. and the Morrill, bill have already been
considered In TEE SrAR- The latest bill IL that
introduced by Mr.. Farwell, which states the
changed plan Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road a. presented by the road 10 the secret ses-
aou Of the Senate District committee. It pro-
posss that the two branches of the road shall
units outside the limits of Washington
uDdss the supervision Of the Connie
noners, and come down Delaware avenue
70 d street, curving thence into the square
where the present station is located, and curv-
iAg cot again 70 Delaware avenue and Fstreet,
the tracks at the station thus forming . loop.
ID street between New Jersey avenue and
Dslsvafe avenue, and North Capitol street
between @ street and Massachusetts, avenue
ass given mp to tracks. and in addition
to these streets z street between Della
ware and New Jersey avenues, and F street be-
tween Delaware aud Massachusetts, avenues are
to be closed. Bridges are to be constructed ar
Massachusetts avenue, II street and Boundary
street II il evidently contemplated that the
tracks shall run at or near grade, for provision
bridges The practical removal Of the main
line Of the present B. Il o. tracks from the city
voald be great advantage to East Washington.
The smount Of surface track and the number OF
grade crossings would be largely reduced. The
loop Of tracks, however, which il the substi-
int for the Illegal at present used, if con-
structed - proposed, would establish great
block Of inpassable railroad territory in the
very shadow Of the Capitol, and would perma-
nently devote important streets, including
North Cspitol street, to railroad purposes.
Ths ststion should be removed and the loop
constructed north Of Massachusetts, avenue and
east Of North Capitol street, . few squares.
nosthvsst Of the site proposed. The increase
in value of the abandoned railroad hand at
present used for station purposes, and the saw
ing Of the expense of the costly bridging at
Massachusetts, avenue, would prevent the re-
moval from being, comparatively speaking, a
drain upon the road resources. In order that the
tracks may be the smallest possible obstruction
to travel and traffic they should either be ele-
waited 80 that the public can pass under them,
OF sunk 70 q sufficient depth SO that bridges can
Be built across them without spelling adjacent
property for considerable distances by the con-
struction Of long approaches, and the bridges
should be sufficiently numerous to prevent the
necessity Of . long detour from his course on
The part Of any one who wished to cross the
tracks. This proposition on the part of the
Baltimore and Ohio seems TO indicate that the
plan Of tunneling Capitol Hill is abandoned 90
far as the railroad is concerned. Probably the
interests Of Washington will have to be pro-
tected in the new phase which affairs
have taken by propositions Of amendment
to the Farwell bill so far as the
Baltimore and Ohio Is concerned. and
By a remodeling Of the Morrill, bill to apply to
the Baltimore and Potomac alone. The fourth
BIN which apparently has . bearing upon the
problem Of regulating the existing steam rail-
roads is that introduced by Senator Mitchell,
in form for the amendment of the act
Incorporating the Georgetown barge, dock
and elevator company. II proposes to extend
the Georgetown tracks of this company
through the reclaimed lands along the river
front 70 18th street and the long bridge, with
the right 10 connect with the tracks on this
street and bridge and run cars thereon.
10 proposes second extension of
ths Georgetown tracks along B. street
northwest to 18th street northwest.
The tracks crossing 18th street would close that
street - an unobstructed thoroughfare to the
long bridge and the privileges granted would
be extremely valuable either to tho Pennsyl.
vania railroad in extending its system through
the reclaimed fats and Georgetown to other
with the incidental gain of station
and storage facilities, or to the Baltimore and
Ohio in supplying it with the means Of reaching
southern connections. This bill deserves care
fal consideration from Congress before action
upon it ID taken. first, to discover whether pro-
vision has been made for the safeguards for
ne protection Of the public, which experience
AAs Taught the people to require in the lay
hg Of new steam railroad tracks
within the city limits, and, second,
shether the project will not inure to the bene-
ft Of an existing railroad which 10 NOT entitled
- The valuable privileges conferred BY the
proposed legislation unless as compensation to
the public 1t improves the conditions of its
present occupation of the city's streets and
reservations. Except for very good reasons in
exceptional cases Washington does not want
any more grade crossings BY steam railroads.
The danger along the Mississippi Of an over
nev such e. has not been known since its dis
covsry has slarmingly increased. The heavy
rAirs Of the past three days have augmented
the peril, already very great Last night New
ORLEANS had more water by four inches in her
city front than had ever been noted. and the
street commissioner said that the levees could