Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-06
B. & 0. WADUCT
Model Examined by Congressional
Committees and Others.
OFFICIAL TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA
Explanation by the Chief Engi-
neer of the Road.
DETAILS OF THE PLAN

DE 1AllBO Of l1lEL L Ian
The District Commissioners did not, as
was yesterday expected, leave the city for
the purpose of inspecting garbage crema-
tories. They were in Philadelphia eXamin-
ing the plans of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company for the improved termi-
nal arrangements in this city, which are
to abolish grade crossings south of Florida
avenue. \ party of nine left the city at
10 o'clock by the private Annapolis,
undtf the direction of Mr. George II.
Hamilton, local counsel for the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company in this city.
Those present on the were Senators
Mcmillan, Proctor and Faulkner who will
compose the subcommittee of the Senate
District committee on the b. and o. viaduct
bill; Commissioners Truesdell and Powell
Maj. Charles ]. Allen, the engineer officer
in charge of the local river and harbor
work; Mr.. John c. Duncklee, his assistant;
MT. Charles Moore, clerk of the Senate Dis
trict committee, and reporter for The
Star.
From baltimore to Philadelphia.
At Baltimore the party was joined by
Mr. w. T. Manning, chief engineer of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
and Mr. w. H. Pratt, division engineer of
the Philadelphia division. The officials on
board the Annapolis were greatly interest
ed in the proposed cutoff at Relay station
where. 1t was pointed out by Mr.. Hamilton
at least quarter of a mile is expected to
be saved by a Strengthening of the tracks
This work was inaugural ted some years ago
and was abandoned when the hard times
came upon the railroad company. 1t was
announced yesterday upon the train and
later in Philadelphia that the work was
ABOUT 10 De resumed and will be actively
pushed Its estimated cost is $2.OO0o and
1t Is expected that in the neghborhood of
hve minutes al least will be saved on rapid
running trains.
At Baltimore the new tunnel was examfn-
ed as the train rushed through on its way
northWard, and Mr. Mannln, pointed ont
now this Improvement, too saved time on
the through run to Philadelphia and New
York He called particular attention 10
these points 10 emphasize the Importance
10 the railroad company of securing an
Improvement for the Washington end that
would give to the company the opportunity
to make fast time.
When the train reached PhiIsdaInbi,
shortly before l o'clock, the guests from
washington were greeted by Mr. c. c. F.
beh superintendent and general agent of
the Philadelphia division, and Mr.. W. H.
Addicks, the local counsel in PHILADELPHIA
or the baltimore ard Ohio read. Under
the guidance of Mr.. Addicks the visitors
were escorted to the Art Club, on Broad
street, where dinner was served Repre-
sentative Babcock chairman of the House
committee on District affairs, Joined the
party at this point, having just come from
chicago for this purpose. Dinner over the
WaShingtonians and their hosts were Clriv-
Pm back to the Chestnut street station where
the central object of all this enterprise was
located, namely, the model showing the
exact plan of the railroad company for the
terminal Improvement. This plan was
placed III one of the offices on the top floor
of the station building. where it was made
by Mr. Egan, one of the assistants in the
office of the chief engineer.
Model Examined.
At first the committee were somewhat
confused by the fact that there were four
such models in the room, each showing a
proposed method of elevating the tracks at
and near the present station. Mr.. Man
ming, however, quickly explained that three
Of these sketch models had been aba ndoned
and that but one of them, known as No 4
represented the proposition of the COM
pany, so that upon this model all attention
was Immediately centered. The model is
about six feet long by five wide and reDre-
sents the north slope of Capitol Hill and
the territory as far midway between c;
and II streets on the north and to about
lSt street on the east and west 1t shows
The area that Is to be taken by the railroad
CON pany under the pending bill as gen.
orally indicated in the accompanying de-
sign. which was sketched from the model
itself yesterday.
Tha company proposes, according TO
tfese plans, to take possession of the en-
tlre square bounded by North Capitol. C
and ID streets and New Jersey avenue: al
n ost all OF the square bounded by North
Capitol, ID and E streets and New Jersey
avenue; all of the square bounded by North
Capitol d and E streets and Delawara
avenue: very nearly all of the square
bounded by North Capitol, z and + streets
and Delaware avenue, and small portions of
the two squares lying Immediately west
and south OF the last Damed square The
total area tins taken has not vet been
computed
Proposed New Passenger Station.
This area Is to be covered by a practi-
cally solid structure of masonry twenty
feet in height, and of sufficient width at
the widest point to give room for twenty
five railroad tracks. Almost the entire
front of New Jersey avenue between C and
ID streets is to be occupied with a new
passenger station that is to be erected after
a beautiful design that is now in the hands
of Vice President King. No sketches of
this plan were at hand yesterday Mr.
Manning assured the members of the com
nittee II at the building that is contem-
plated will be distinct improvement and
VIII be one of the handsomest passenger
houses in the country The main entrance
will remain at the southwest corner of
the square, where the street railroad tracks
now center, but there will be access to the
train shed from all points on this frontage.
Immediately in the rear of the passenger
distance of GO feet will be a train shed
$50 feet wide, accommoda ting ten tracks
separated by raised platforms. The en-
g1neers yesterday stated that according to
the plans this will he one of the most COM
plete terminal stations in America A little
TO the north of the passenger she'd and
occupying the northwestern edge of the
artificial plateau proposed, will be the
freight station, fronted by handsome and
convenient office near the present inter-
section of d and New Jersey avenue. and
considerably larger than the present struc-
ture.
The yiaduct Proper.
The elevated structure thus established
for the terminal arrangements tapers grad
uelly to the corner of Delaware avenue
and G street, where the viaduct proper
begins with a width of about fifty-four
feet and height of twenty feet from the
pavement According to the model, this
viaduct will occupy the entire width of
Delaware avenue, as at present laid out,
but ii was pointed out when this fact was
called into notice, that the avenue Is enc
of the widest in the city, and the parking
along its entire width is exceedingly broad
so that new driveway can easily be
planned and laid out on one or the other
side of the viaduct, or perhaps on both
sides