Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-03
TRACKS AND sIDTNGS.
A Senate subcommittee Said to Favor,
With Notifications, the Atkinson Bill.

For some time past Senator Mcmillan, Sena-
tor Higgins and Senator Vance, a. . subcom-
mittee OF the Senate District committee, have
been engaged in hearing what the Pennsylvania
railroad and the people OF the District had to
say about the bill which confirms the company 8
title to several reservations and streets
through which 1t now meanders without let or
hindrance. This subcommittee has held
several meetings. The report, which is now
complete, may DO handed in at the
meeting Of the whole committee ON Friday
next, but the probabilities are that it will be
delayed for week or more. 1t is understood
that the report Is heartily in favor
of confirming the title of the railroad
company to everything it now has in
the way OF tracks from the Navy Yard tunnel to
9th street and Virginia avenue. The shops.
Stations and other structures now existing
are to be legalized. No changes
are to be made in the present system
the reason that the subcommittee is Of opinion
that any attempt to depress or elevate the
tracks would end only in failure.
sIpISes AND SIDE TRACKS.
When that matter had been disposed of the
subcommittee took up the important question
Of sidings and side tracks and it was agreed to
recommend that the District Com
missioners be empowered whenever they
consider 10 public benefit to grant the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company permits
sion to lay, maintain and use side tracks and
sidings from the main line lines
OF said railroad into any real estate
abutting on the streets or avenues
on which such line or such company is or may
be situated, which may be used or occupied
ness purposes, by parties desiring the use Of
such facilities. The subcommittee also agreed
to the condemnation section Of the Mcpherson
Tor Atkinson) bill.
SIXTH STREET AND MARYLAND AVENUE.
There was one thing, however, that
was too much for the subcommittee.
1t could come to definite conclusion
as to what ought to be done with
the tracks from 9th street and Virginia avenue
to the depot and to the Long Bridge. There
was strong sentiment in the committee
favorable to having some change
made, but the sentiment is said
to have given way before the statement of the
railroad people that when the bill under con-
sideration becomes law they will enter into
in improvement. The Pennsylvania railroad
authorities refused to assent to proposition
which would do the whole job in one bill.
They want their title made good first and then
from the legal attitude to which they hope to
be elevated, they may, il they feel 80 inclined,
conditions.
THE DEPOT SITE.
1t is asserted that the company has de-
cided to keep its depot just where it is,
and there seems to be no very marked
desire in the subcommittee to combat
this corporate conclusion. Broadly,
the company says it is willing to depress the
tracks from the stations to the Long Bridge, so
that the tops Of the cars would be about level
with the street. Then it would wall the tracks
in and put across them all the
necessary bridges. In the mall it would sod
the ground from its present level up to the
inclines, which would terminate at the top of
the inclosing walls. This, however, is
matter upon which there will be
q good deal Of discussion and there is not
member of the subcommittee that believes
anything can possibly be done during the pres
ent session.
The committees and the railroad representa-
tives will gather together once more and pre-
pare to think about it-some day.