The Washington times., 1895-06-24
Railway Tracks to Be Removed
and Union Depot Built.
Two ELABORATE SCHEMES
Engineer G Graduates of Columbian Unit
versity Have Plans Approved by
and Ohio and BaItimOreand Potomac
Roads To Change Their Routes.

Washington mas waited long and pa
tientIy for the railroads mere 20 relieve
the public from the dangers and incou-
veniences Of their occupation OF the streets
and TO permit the grand park and boulevard
from the Capitol TO the White House To
be realized as a fact instead OF being
enjoyed as a fancy.
A union depot. an uninterrupted mail,
and streets entirely free from grade cross
ings are the advantages proposed by
system of improvements upon which two
intelligent, welI-traiBed civil engineers
at Columbian University have been en-
gagged for two years past The plans for
the union Depot were completed IN the
thesis OF Mr. Perlcy Egbcrt Stevens, which
was read at the close of the school year
Just gone. and upon which ne was granted
his degree as civil engineer and awarded
the annual prize for work judged by a
committee OF eminent engineers 10 be OF
permanent professional value.
a novel feature FOR an American college,
which preceded the granting of the de-
gree. was defense of the thesis before a
committee of experts, consisting OF Major
Claiming II. Bolton, of Charlottesville,
Va, until recently chief engineer OF the
Southern railway, and Aessrs Joseph G.
Hornblower, OF this city. and John NJ
Carrere, of New York. The prize was
awarded by u committee consisting OF
Engineer Commissioner Powell, Mr. F W
Holt. of the Patent Office. a graduate of
the University of Wisconsin, aud Building
Inspector j. B. Brady.
CHANGING THE ROUTES.
The plans for changing the routes or the
two railroads that now enter tie city and
for removing the tracks from the grade OF
the streets were made by Mr.. Harold Davis
aud set forth in a thesis upon which he
gained his degree and won a prize over two
competitors whose professional sklll was
pronounced To be OF a high Cegree. TIE
preparation OF the thesis was under the
supervision or Prof. Francis X. Fava, Jr ,
of the engineering department OF c Columbian
Mr.. Davis, who Initiated the study of the
problem, considered the existing rights OF
the railroad companies and the changes
which would best give relief from the
present incoHveuienCeS and dangers. He
found that the Baltimore and Ohio company
has rights apparently beyond tie reach Of
Congress 10 operate its Washington branch
within the city till 1910 and its Metropolitan
branch Indefinitely. Grants of privileges
to this company begin with The tight TO
enter the city given on March 2, 1881.
The charter for the Metropolitan branch,
then Known as the Point OF Rocks Road,
was granted on July %. 1866.
The projectors OF the Baltimore and
Potomac Road began by securing d charter
from the Maryland Legislature IN 1858
hut il was 1867 before they got right Of
way in the city and not till 1871 and 1S72
did they secure the right TO occupy the
reservation at Sixth and 3 streets north
west, and the streets leading up to it
from Seventh and Virginia avenue. All
their rights. too, are subject to recall by
Congress at any time. II was stipulated
at first also that the tracks laid on Sixth
ST rect should be flat like street car tracks.
and that not more than two tracks should
be laid.
TRACKS ABOVE GRADE.
Mr.. Davis proposes that the existing
lines of the Baltimore and Ohio shall BE- rc-
moved so as to enter the city at the inter
section of Delaware avenue with Florida
avenue. run aloug Delaware avenue TO +
street, thence by First street to b street.
A long sharp curve takes the line from
First and b streets 10 Delaware avenue and
c street. whence the road is straight uD Z
street to the proposed site for the union
depot at Seventh and c streets The Bal
tu,tUrC ana tONauaC tricks Lc Irade To
come from the foot Of Fourteenth street
down Maryland avenue to the depot. This
would involve very little change in that
road'sroute. Noprovision iSmade, however,
for the numerous tracks ROW occupied by
standing freight and passenger trains,
making a sort of enclosed car yard OF the
| streets.
All the freight business is to go pIac.
| tiCally outside the boundary
His plan provides for two freight Eepnts
| and K street, from Fifth to Seventh streets
southeast. Way stations are located at
| Florida and Delaware avenues, Delaware
| avenue and + street, Maryland avenue, c
street, and Virginia avenue, and at Vir
| ginia avenue, / and Sixth streets southeast
Everywhere the track is TO be raised above
| tue grade off the street or carried undeI
| in tunnel. The longest tunnel would bt
| that under Capitol Hill. going in some
where near First and f streets EOrtheasi
| and coming out near FiTst and h streets
| southeast. Mr.. DAVIS site for the unioT
| depot involved running by the building by
| trains from one direction and then backing
! in.
Mr Stevens in his plans for the depot
| with which he was specially charged, OBJ
| viatcs this necessity by changing the lo
| cation from squares 40 aud 434, which ht