The evening times., 1897-02-10
GRADE CROSSINGS
Continued From First Page.


grades and costs of changes of gas mains,
would be S2SS,6S2, including the purchase
of ground for driveways at the sides of the
| stations. Plan is regarded as much bet
ter for street traffic
What is regarded, however, as superior
| to either OF the plans Just considered, is a
route directly west on street from the
tunnel TO Water street, and along Water
street to + street, thence curving to the
approach of the Long bridge. Not street
need be closed along the main tracks, the
Commissioners say, by the adoption OF this
route
depot branch would lead up Eighth
street on a level to an end passenger station
on street, and coming out near the sire ct
surface. The train platforms would be
about three feet above the street level at
the station and little more along the
sides, and therefore convenient for hand
ling baggage, express, and mail. This is
just the kind of station which the COM
pany's plan seeks to secure
The only streets to be closed by this plan
would be Eighth street, bet ween + and C
streets, and ID and E streets, partially
The cost to the District for street work
would be $169,70S, the smallest for
any of the plans discussed, and the area
to be occupied by the railroad would be
1 .047 ,025 square feet.
The yard would close II street, from
South Capitol street TO Canal street, First
and Half streets, from / TO Canal street.
and the small reservations, in whole or in
part, numbered 2S7, 2SS and 2S9 It
would remove existing tracks alongside
of Garfield Park to the south side OF
Canal street.
The wall Of the elevated yard would
be sixty feet north of the south side OF
tile street. between New Jersey avenue
and G street. Canal street is now filled
by ten tracks. There is no authority OF
Congress to use this street as a railroad
yard. The Commissioners plan would
transfer the route to street, and allow
space for four tracks. The area of public
space within the yard would be 156, ,42S
square feet.
TopnGraphically, they say, the depot site
of plan is fitted for a passenger station or
an architectural design, and or capacity
and accommodation worthy of the great
railroads and the National Capital.
According topIan there wouldbe twelve
tracks in the depot. from $40 to ,29o
feet long, averaging $40 feet, or an aggre-
gate OF IL $50 feet OF depot trackage.
Plan 5 is preferablein this respect. the Com
missioners say, and makes better arrange
ments for the company.
The report does not fail to recommend the
previously agitated plan OF an entire re-
moval of all railroad tracks and the b
street depot from the Mall. and the building
of an union depot for all railroads in South
Washington, thus ridding that splendid
park of the blight which has been an eye
sore to Washingtonians for 80 many years.
Itissuggested that Congress intende that
occupancy OF the Mall should only be tenn
porary, and also that the railroad com
pany has transcribed the right given it
to condemn for its use right of way outside
of public highways, by occupying the streets
OF the city.
In conclusion, the Commissioners recon-
mend the adoption OF the method of doing
away with grade crossings, substantially
as described by the plan aforementioned
OF an end depot.
To summarize the expense to the Dis
trict of the depot plan, would comprise
$257 ,999, including changes OF grades, etc;
the purchase or the street depot Du1dings
assessed at 81 oe 600; the value represented
by the grant Of 12,9o5 square feet OF
space more than now used by the railroad;
the cost of restoring the surfaces ofstreets
after removal OF tracks, and an indefinite
amount for damages to private property.
While the Commissioners are impressed
with the urgent desirability of abUlishing
grade crossings and the establishment Of
an improved and permanent railway routes
and terminal facilities suitable to the Ma
tional Capital, they recognize that as Wash
ingten is not commercial city the expense
to the railroad companies involvedin their
plan may be too heavy to be borne alone,
and they suggest that the District may be
in fairness to the railway COM
panies, to bear large part OF the ex-
pense in the proposed changes.