Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-07
Jnwise FOrehandcdn ess.

The Engineer Commission statement
about the estimates. published in yester-
days Star. would appear to indicate that
there has been a departure this year from
the long continued custom of asking Con-
gress for all the money necessary for the
annual expenses and public improvements.
up to the limit of the Districts ability TO
meet its share of the expense. This policy
has prevailed with the approval of the
community. which has recognized the wis
dom Of seeking to all the money avail
able under the law to cope with the many
local needs that have accumulated steadi-
ly from year to year.
AS mitter of fact, however. this SEEM
ing departure from the established and ap-
Proved custom is not departure after all,
for the main reason for the change, as
given by Capt. Black. Is that it is thought
to be desirable that the District should lay
away fund out of which to pay certain
possible expenses of the future including
its share of the cost of abolishing the
grade crossings along the line of the Penn
sylvania railroad in this city. Thus in lieu
of estimates for known needs such as
street improvements. and the like there is
in effect included in the budget, through
elimination and substitution, an estimate
Tor an indefinite. prospective need.
There are serious objections to be raised
against the policy of setting aside formally
large sum OF money to meet drafts upon
the local treasury to finance the solution of
the grade crossing problem. The District
earnestly desires the adoption of some sys-
tenn of terminals that will abolish the pres
ent death-traps but it does not wish to be
placed in such position that it will have
to pay heavily and unjustly for this relief
The apportionment of the expense of this
improvement is now the only question
seriously at issue between the railroad and
the municipality. The position of the
municipality broadly stated is that the
railroad in consideration of the conf1rma-
ton of its present temporary occupation of
valuable public property and of the grant
TO it as proposed by all OF the plans OF
large tracts of public land in addition 10
what 1t now occupies and uses should bear
practically all of the expenses of elimfnat-
ing the grade crossings. The exact items
Of this counterclaim to Offset the railroads
bill for share of the cost of the improve
ment can readily be stated.
IL happens, too, that the solution CT the
grade-crossings problem which is most
beneficial to the community Is also the
least expensive to the community The
IL,
is absolutely the best method of relief, as
We'll As the one which everywhere throws
the bulk of the expense upon the railroad
the street grades being unaffected. Where
the tracks must be lowered instead of ele-
waited the city labors naturally to secure
sucn a degree of depression that the streets
may pass over the cut without change of
grade, with resulting minimum Of public
Inconvenience and expense. The railroad
nights for system of semi-depressed
tracks, under which the streets are in fact
elevated and carried over the tracks, at
maximum of annoyance and expense to the
community and minimum of cost to itself
To disregard current pressing needs and
TO accumulate and set aside a large sum
from the Districts nominal resources to
meet the cost of eliminating the grade
crossings destroys the argument for the
best solution of the problem which is based
upon the financial inability of the District
10 meet the expense to be imposed Upon
II by the worst solution thereof stulrities
the contention that in equity the bulk of
the cost should be net by the railroad and
invites the railroad to adhere obstinateIy
10 the grab-all policy of absorbing public
land at pleasure without Offering in con-
sidcration even the profitable Improvement
OF its own terminals through the eiimina-
ton of grade CROSSINGS