Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07
THE TERMINAL RAILROAD
Full Report Of the Commissioners Made
Two Years Ago
The Line Not Approved rs an Addi-
the Present Pa. R.R. Tracks.

the District Commissioners Of July IA, 1892,
as showing some of the general reasons in
favor OF the Washington and Georgetown
terminal railroad bill, which still hold good.
This communication contains the only rea-
sons ever urged by the Commissioners with
reference to the proposed termiaal railroad,
and they still hold good but the slightest
examination shows that they are not
reasons which favor the project of the
terminal railroad. On the contrary, the
reasoning of the communication is opposed
to duplication of steam railroad trucks
and multiplication Of grade crossings
across South Washington, and favors a
requirement that the Pennsylvania railroad
abandon It's tracks on Maryland and Nir-
ginia avenues and follow a new course
along X street and Water street. the route
OF the proposed terminal railroad In view
Of the consistent and vigorous warfare
waged against grade crossings by the Dis
trict authorities. this was the only recon-
mendation possible. II carried out, II would
not increase the number of grade crossings
and would make beneficial change in their
location.
The report Of the Commissioners, dated
July II. 1892, and addressed to the chair
man OF the Senate District committee, is
as follows:
Report of 1892.
''The Commissioners have the honor to
make the following response to the refer
ence to them at your instance of Senate
bill 1912, to incorporate the Washington
and Georgetown Terminal Railroad Com
pany'
Ordinarily, We would be content with
the suggestion that two steam roads paral-
leling each other through the same portion
OF the CITY, starting and terminating at
the same respective points, would seem to
be undesirable and unnecessary Under
sIch circumstances simple provision
giving the second road the right to use the
tracks OF the first with proper compensa-
ton would suffice. But we have seen in
the suggested route of this proposed road
a convenient, practical and Inexpensive
disposition OF the long existing railroad
trouble In that part of the city, and the
Following suggestions are tentatively thrown
out:
The city map shows that this company
proposes to start at or near the western
mouth OF the tunnel used by the Baltimore
ana Potomac pennsylvania company on
street southeast, and thence via X street
10 Water street, and thence to the Long
bridge. This is a dirsct, straight way from
the tunnel to Water street, and thence de-
to the bridge.
This road would be nearly a mile south
OF the tracks of Virginia avenue and Mary
iahu avenue, In parsely settled portion
OF the city and eight squares away from
the tracks of the two named avenues, where
the houses are compact and numerous
Why not let the Pennsylvania Company nut
TWO tracks on X street to Water street and
up water street to the Long bridge, and
thus relieve the people of Virginia and
Maryland avenues from all railroad occu-
patton? The grade crossing at X street
would with proper guard gates. be COM
paratively harmless for years. The switch
Ing could all be done either east of the tun-
mel or on the companys properties near the
bridge. The large population about the ave-
nues would be entirely relieved of all their
troubles nra rali xr.a rNS
q Large expense for sinking or elevating
tracks and the barge company could be
given the right of way over the Pennsyl-
vania road to the bridge We have looked
at n street southeast and at Water street,
with view to the above tentative sugges-
ton, and our thought seems feasible.
There Will have--to be some day In the
near future right to barge loaded cars
from Georgetown to the roads on this side
or the town and District, for II Is pretty
certain that railroad outlet for the soft
coal of West Virginia will be needed for a
road from that state TO the District down
along the river. The coal that is to go to
the eastern or northeastern states would be
barged across the city front and taken Off
by the X street route through the tunnel
The Pennsylvania company could save SO
much money by the above plan by being re-
lieved from the necessity of depressing or
elevating their tracks, where they now are,
that they could no doubt afford to build
fine new bridge to accommodate both their
roads and the city's travel. and to avert the
dangers of an overflow. The track from
their depot would, of course nave to be ex-
tended down 9th street to X for local pas
senger purposes, and all present tracks re-
moved from Virginia and Maryland ave-
nues.
After the removal of the present tracks
pretty square at the Intersection of the
two avenues would be available for i'm
mediate Improvement and the avenue for
paving.