The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08

The Senate District Committee is await
ing a reply TO letter addressed 10 Mr.
Cowen, one OF tie receivers OF the Baltl-
more & Ohio railroad.
When that road says what ii can 90 IN
the shape or building a viaduct on which
its lines will enter tie city the committee
will know what can he done i'll the matter
of abolishing grade crossings. The com
nittce already knows what the Pennsyi-
vania rairoad will do.
There seems TO be, however, desire on
the part OF some of the Commissioners
to object TO the plans OF the Senate com
niittee ami OF The engineers OF the road.
The idea OF at least one OF the Commls-
sioncrs is to have Gn elevated road and
make of South Washingt on beautiful bust
ness section. The road objects 10 this, as
il would cost ten 10 twelve millions CT dol
lars.
GRADE CROSSINGS.
Senator Mcmillan, at considerable trouble,
has drawn up u bill, the main features or
which are agreeable to the management OF
the road. In some OF the minor details 1t
may have to be changed. According 10 the
committee now the people OF Washington
have an opportunity TO abolish grade cross
ings. If they want il they can have it,,
bat il is scarcely possible that the city VIII
ever see an elevated line.
The present plan, which could easily
pass the Senate, provides forthe depression
of the tracks of the Baltimore Il Potomac
railroad. There are engineering difficulties
In the way which prohibit an entire de-
preston, so the depression varies AT GER
tain points. In some places the bridges
which cross the railroad viii be at n sur
face and they vary to twenty feet above
the surface down near the river AT the
| Seventh-strcet crossing the bridge elcYa-
| ton W Ill be three feet.
This means virtually the aboiishing OF
! grade crossings. It will not give the most
| artistic results i'll the world, but members
| or the Senate District Committee hold that
| it is the best that can be done. IL VIII
| save lives, aud that is the main thing Just
| now.
| According TO these gentlemen South Wash
| ington will AWAY be the business and manu-
| featuring portion of the city. There ar,
| many establishments there which must b'
| reached by switches, and the railroad com
| pauy holds that il cannot build elevated
| switches, too. The business men will alsI
| complain because IL would mean the fixing
up OF d receiving and sending place III tie
| second or third stories 0f their manufactur
| ing rsta blishments.
| WILL PUSH IT.
The committee is In. hope that It vii
| soon hear from the CONN lssiOners. In th'
| meantime il will press the present Ireasur,
| no matter what the Commissioners rcpor
| is. Ell
The other work of the committee is ii
good shape They have been able 10 pas
the free library bill. The gas bill is il
such shape thai it can he acted on at th
next meeting of the committee. Then tn
| dollar gas bill Will be pushed through. l
seems TO be the intention OF the committee
| totry and ass thedollar gas bill irrespective
OF any OF the hills for new gas companies
The bill TO give a better aud larger supply
| OF water has been fayorably reported. a
the first favora BILE opportunity the bill vii
be taken up. Or it may be added TO thu
District appropriation bill. If ii passc
the Senate before the District appropriate
! bill reaches it, it viii be added, for ii vii
| come TO the House IN this shape. There ar,
| great hopes that there win be no objection
to the measure in either branch.