Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-20
Pennsylvania Railroad Agrees to a
Solution of Grade Crossings.
TIE IDEA OF COMMISSIONER BLACK
Elevated and Depressed Tracks
Both Used.
n f W LO n G. B r I D G E

1t remained for Engineer Commissioner
Black to settle the railroad problem in
South Washington. This afternoon En-
gineer w. II. Brown of the Pennsylvania
railroad had an important conference with
the head of the engineer department. and
the result of the interview was the ac-
Acknowledgement on the part of Engineer
Brown that the compromise plan Of Capt.
Black was satisfactory to the railroad. and
that ne was prepared to recommend it.
This action on the part of the Pennsyl-
yGnia railroad marks the beginning of the
end of the most important contention be-
tween the officials of the road and the
Commissioners The latter have been
anxious for several years to better the
conditions In South Washington along the
tra cks of the Pennsylvania railroad, and
thereby do away with the deadly grade
crossing. The Pennsylvania railroad have
shown d disposition to help out. provided
a plan could be agreed upon. Year after
year the matter hung, and it did not seem
possible that the railroad officials and the
District authorities would ever be able to
get together and agree upon some plan.
Shortly after Commissioner Black came
into office he took up this subject of rail-
roads and studied the situation in South
Washington carefully. He realized at once
that nothing could be accomplished until
the railroad and the Commissioners could
agree upon a plan that would be mutually
advanta geous.
The ether plans he saw were unfair to
the railroad company, whose rights he ac-
knowledged. He worked steaoily for sev-
eraI months the matter. and finally an
nounced through a letter to the railroad
company his willingness to talk over the
situation. This brought the officials of the
railroad 70 the Commissioners office, and
they ponG6red long over the two altcrna-
tive plans submitted. Neither suited them.
The railroads rights We're not guarded
enough. they said. by either of them. What
was wanted. they said. was something
which would recognize the rights of the
railroad. and at the sane time snow due
regard for the best interest; of the Dis
trict.
Commissioner Black thought he had just
such plan Ii was his reserve card in
this railroad game. and when he played it
ii took all the other plans. He called il his
compromise plan. The railroad officials ap-
lrecIated at glance its points. and asked
permission 10 take it home and study it
out This was immediately granted for
tie Commissioner had gone over the plan
SeNtF1! tunes and felt assured that there
was nothing in it which the rail.o I'd com
pany could reasonably object to.
The Conference
And so the engineers took the plan to
Philadelphia with them and pondered long
and deep over II. Several days ago the
commissioners received a letter from the
nome office stating that Engineer Brown
would be down this week to confer about
the matter. He came this morning armed
with big bundle of maps and profiles and
was Immediately ushered into the private
office Of the Engineer Commissioner
orders We're sent out to allow no one to
slStrub the Commissioner and for three
hours the engineering head of the PennsyI-
wanna railroad and the head of the District
engineer department talked earnestly The
TalItoad engineer stated that the company
he represented was anxious 10 better. the
conditions in South Washington. and he
Was glad to say he believed the time had
arrived when solution of the yexed prob
lem Vas in sight He then stated his will
ingness 10 recommend to the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad the compromise plan OF Engineer
Commissioner Black.
When the conference had concluded Com
missioner Blacks fac was beaming 1t
was the first time the railroad and the
commissioners had agreed, and this argued
We'll for the future of South Washington.
The Compromises.
Briefly the plan contemplates a cornbina-
tioH of an elevated and depressed system.
II begins at the tunnel as a depressed
system, and, following the line of the pres
tHt tracks, becomes elevated at point
hall way between South Capitol street and
beiaware avenue. This permits the use of
IL present yard of the railroad at New
Jersey avenue without practical change.
From South Capitol street it is elevated so
that all intersectinS streets pass under
without change of grade, as far as "a
street Sixth street is lowered about two
feet from its present grade to permit the
tracks to run on elevated structure to
the site Of the present depot
I ne depot is to be entirely reconstructed
so that all trains enter the second story
The Metropolitan railroad is to abandon It's
route along street between 9th and 1th
and Missouri avenue is to be extended
through the depot and the north end of
the mall to 9TH street. AT Virginia avenue
hnc 6tn street the branch for the Southern
&C: ncctio.i begins to descend from an ele-
waited structure TO become depressed sys-
tenn This Is accomplished at 9th street.
and 1t continues to the bridge
New bridge.
Another feature OF the plan is the build
ing of an entire new bridge to take the
place OF the present Long bridge The
bridge is to be considerably elevated from
the present grade with considerable re-
cuc;icn In the number of piers. Nor is this
al. for the plans contemplate an entirely
Hew bridge of approved architecture.
y the request of Engineer Brown a fur
thcr conference was granted, and this af-
ternoon there was special meeting of the
board Of Commissioners called to hear the
report of Engineer Brown.
The meeting private. but nothing de-
yelOped OF interest save the satisfaction
the Commissioners experience in having at
last found a solution to the railroad prob
lem Of South Washington.
Cement for Fort Washington.
Col. Allen. the engineer officer In charge
of the Potomac river improvements, has