Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
APPLICATION OF EUROPEAN HINTS TO WASHINGTON

APPLICATION OF EUROPEAN HINTS TO WASHINGTON
The idea Of central union station in Wash
ington approached by masonry viaduct or tun-
mel lines from the different points Of the COM
pass, cannot now perhaps be realized. The
two roads intrenched here have agreed that
they do not want union station, and appar-
emily Congress will not force them into unwil-
ing partnership. Assuming that they are to be
treated independently there is still the need
and opportunity of applying European teach
ings to the improvement OF terminal facilities,
both for the passenger and freight service, the
betterment of stations and the removal of
grade crossings.
The present terminal conditions are Injurious
and disgraceful to the capital of the American
republic. The stations compared with similar
structures in Europe are inadequate in size.
awkwardly arranged and ugly. However liberal
and progressive the roads serving Washington
may be in other localities here they have been
short-sighted and stingy. For freight purposes
instead Of purchasing ample ground when
they could secure it cheaply they have pre-
ferred to do this business still less extensively.
though illegally, ON the public streets and
cramped. The rush of delayed freight business
after Knights Templar conclave causes a
blockade that paralyZes the business COM
munity. A like blockade is threatened this
winter in handling the naturally growing bust
ness without any occurrence like the
radical change in conditions is eff
fected it is difficult to calculate when
Washington will recover from the blockade
that must follow the Grand Army encampment
next September. The situation in regard to
grade crossings is equally discreditable. Both
roads sustain a series of death traps at which
losses OF life and injuries to limb periodically
occur and each one Of these crossings is a d.
rect business injury and Inconvenience and
cause of financial loss to the city through the
obstruction to traffic and travel which occurs
at them. At a single one of the Pennsylvania
railroads crossings last year the delay Incl
dent to the lowering and raising OF the gates
was experienced by the public l16 times within
the daylight hours of a single day, and nearly
5000 pedestrians and considerably over 1000
vehicles passed and were exposed to the chance
of danger and these delays. Though the use of
this part Of the road for shifting cars or making
up trains is illegal. shifting engines engaged in
this illegal work obstructed this crossing fifty
one times on the same day. The Baltimore
and Ohio surface tracks isolate East Washing
ton and throttle its prosperity. The Pennsyl-
vania railroad tracks perform similar service
for South Washington and the river front.
WHAT ONE ROAD WILL DO.
The Baltimore and Ohio has shown recen
indications of an appreciation of the discredit-
able condition Of its terminals, and of q dis
position to make them better.
1t ID understood tina. this road proposes to
spend soon a large sum of money in terminal
plans 1t proposed to the last Congress to
unite its two lines outside of the city and to
bring them down Delaware avenue to its
present station site, which it proposed to en-
large as to form within it q track loop. If
this were permitted it promised to build q