Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-09

While 1t viii probably not be claimed
by any one that the shelter shed now being
built on 18th street, near the Treasury De-
partment. is an architectural adornment
TO the city. Senator Hale's objection to It,
A. formulated in the resolution he offered
in the Senate yesterday Is not in all re-
spects well founded. That 1t may present
IAN unsightly appearance to the public Ia
likely: but that it will be IAN obstacle to
travel cannot be so readily demonstrated.
As \ matter Of fact the structure as such
viii add but very little to the obstruction
TO travel now formed by the throng OF
passengers constantly assembled at the
point Of transfer between two or more gen.
orally used street railway lines. These
people must stand somewhere, while await
ing the arrival OF the car they desire TO
take, ard a pavilion like the one now IN
course of construction will afford q well
come and much needed protection against
the SHOWS OF winter, the hot suns rays or
summer, and the rains Of all seasons. This
Is point that should not be overlooked;
and. bearing 1t in mind. The Star thinks
that Senator Hale and his indignant coll
leagues will. reflection. admit that the
structure such is not to be wholly con-
dennned
1t was. OF course. q grave mistake. viewed
from an esthetic point. to locate a shed like
that IN such close proximity to a building
Of the size and style OF the Treasury De-
partment building. but the real ground Of
objection lies not in the pavilion itself. but
IN placing il where IL is, and In the more
serious fact that its erection tends to make
permanent the crowding and constantly
increasing congestion at point that is
now. and has for long time past been, In
sore need Of relief. From its geographical
position. 18th street, between New York
and Pennsylvania avenues. Is, and must
always be. the most crowded thoroughfare
IN Washington. Efforts should be made.
therefore. to draw from 1t portion Of the
travel now pouring through ii, instead OF
making that step impossible by creating
new devices to keep IT there and to in
crease 1t In future. This is the point to
which the Senator from Maine and the two
houses Of Congress should give their early
and earnest attention and their best
thought.
A simple solution of the whole vexed
problem was outlined in the columns of
The Star some time ago. and If Congress
would adopt and enforce this plan speedy
and permanent relief would be secured.
The first and principal step in this direction
Is for that body to authorize or compel
the Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Company to diverge its 14th street branch
from the main line at the crossing Of that
street and Pennsylvania avenue, and carry
the branch line due north directly from that
point along 18th street to its terminus at
Mount Pleasant. Make the transfer station
at the new intersection or divergence point
thus created, and put the shelter shed now
complained of on the sidewalk on the south
side Of Pennsylvania avenue. in front of
where It would serve a useful purpose, and
cease to be either an eye-sore or an OBJ
struction to travel.
But this would really be the least Of the
advantages to be secured by the adoption
of the proposed plan. The great gain would
be the removal from the crowded section of
18th street Of half the number Of cable cars
that now use 1t. which would Of itself JUS
tify the change Another argument in it's
favor is the fact that passengers on 14th
street would thus gain the time now lost
In going two blocks out of the way, while
those to and from Georgetown would be
In every way as well of at present.
There may be sound objections to this
plan, but The Star has never heard them
urged. and they cannot be insurmountable
or very serious, and The Star feels sure that
II Congress should give the matter the con-
sideration its Importance demands ii or
stil better one would be adopted without
much delay. Certain II is that almost any
change from existing conditions would be
an improvement.