davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1897-02-10

94s,140 1,61S5S1
e Not occupied by railroad company
Grade Crossings Retained.
It may be seen from the plate the
tables that there is practically no deprcs-
sion of tracks at Delaware avenue. South
Capitol street and 1st and I'd streets west
by the plan; but that the grade crossings
are to be abolished by raising the streets
over the tracks or closing the street. Thus.
bridges at Delaware avenue, South Capitol
street, I'd street west and Az street would
be elevated above the present tracks 1876
feet ia feet, III feet and 11.6 feet, re-
spectively, and 1st street would be closed;
or. in other words, as to South Capitol
street, that every load from the brick
works or the asphalt, block and tile works,
or elsewhere on the street, would have TO
be elevated nearly twenty feet for crossing
the railroad tracks,
The closing of Sd street, as proposed,
would be unfortunate. This is wide
street of good grade through from Florida
avenue to the arsenal grounds; street rail-
roads are on the adjacent and parallel
str cts. I'd and AZ. The closing is for con-
We lience of the freight station proposed by
tle railroad company's plans to be estab-
lished at and west of Sd street; bridge
here would be long and elevated fifteen
feet, but had better be so built than that
there should be no bridge here.
Virginia Avenue.
1t may be further noticed that the road
ways of Virginia avenue would pass under
the approaches to the bridges over the
tracks, and that in such cases, excepting
at the very wide spaces at South Capitol
street and Delaware avenue, there would
be no grade connection between Virginia
avenue and the bridged street. This cir
cumstance. together with the closing Of
one side of the avenue from Az to 7th
street, and of the other side from near I'd
to AZ street, would be a most serious de-
traction from the usefulness of the ave-
nue. for general street traffic.
Virginia avenue is located to form a thor
oughfare of great convenience: it strikes
the Eastern branch at natural and suit
able bridge crossing. The proposed high
way extension plans provide for converg-
ing streets at the southern end of an ex-
pected bridge at such location. The bridge
and the opening Of the avenue would fur
nish direct route of easy grade from a
considerable part epf the country south of
the Eastern branch to ,-main points in
Washington. An inspection Of the District
mapowin show this better than any de-
scription.. -. 81 I'm n ~
Cost of the Plan
The cost to the District of the foregoing
plan of track depression, not counting dam
ages TO property by changes of street
Evening star., 1897-02-10

Streets Closed.
Streets to be closed at crossings of tracks.
under plan 18th, east walkway; Sth, west.
from street to street on south side of
res. 113; 18th, west, from ID street to L
street; 131k, west, from d street to E street;
I'll. H, South Capitol to Canal streets; G,
South Capitol to Canal streets; F H, E Il,
D n, (at both crossings; south side Mary
land avenue, from 18th to 14th streets:
Canal from South Capitol street to east
side of New Jersey avenue. and partly
closed, thence to I'd street east. Streets
marked thus, Il. closed IL a masonry strue-
ture is used, but obstructed only IL a metal
lie structure is used
The area of public space to be occupied
Is 1.0l9,252 square feet. The cost to the
District of plan 4, exclusive of damages
from changes Of street grades and of costs
of changes of gas mains, would be $2SS.tiS2,
Including the purchase of ground tor drive
ways at the sides of the station, as indi-
Gated upon plate 4.
Plan is undoubtedly better for general
street traffic thansplan (the best depressed
system) The former would furnish short
maximum grade Of track of 0.76 per cent
the same as In plan 1.
Another Elevated System.
1t is proposed to examine one other ele-
waited system. believed to be superior to
either Of the foregoing plans in capacity
and convenience, and known herein as
plan and show, on the plate of that
number.
The route of this plan is directly west on
X street from the tunnel to Water street
and along Water street to E; thence curry
irg to the approach to the Long bridge
Not street need be closed along the main
tracks. A depot branch would lead up sth
street on level to an end passenger sta
ton at c street. facing reservation 49, and
ecming out rear the street surface. The
train platforms would be about three feet
above the street level at the front OF the
station and q little more along the Sides
and therefore convenient for handling bag
gage, express and mail This Il Just tn .
Evening star., 1897-02-10

o. Closing certain streets or
(c) Raising bridges above present grades.
4th. That the Long bridge be replaced by
a new railroad and highway bridge of GER
tain dimensions near the site of the form
er.
Effect of the Provisions.
No mention is made in the bill of rent or
taxes on the extra public ground to be
granted to the railroad. The company now
pays taxes on the part of the mali 1t uses.
and rent for space for side tracks in Canal
street The bill would seem to relieve the
company of such payments.
In lieu of the closure of Maryland avenue
from 18th to 14th streets the company is
required to widen D street for thirty feet
on it's south side from 18th to 18th.
The street bridges are to be built by the
railroad company; bridge approaches and
wing walls and changes Of sewers, water
mains and street grades, and all damages
are to be at the expense of the District.
One-half the cost of construct ting the new
Long bridge and removing the old bridge is
to be borne by the railroad company, and
one-half by the United States and the Dis
trict.
The Commissioners judge that the provi-
sions of the bill about the Long bridge are
fair and judicious: they suggest that the
clear headroom under the bridge should not
be decreased below that named in the bill,
viz, twenty feet at mean low tide. A limit
ing headroom Of thirty feet would be desir-
able; one of twenty feet, at least, is neces-
sary.
Partial Depression Not SatfsfactOry.
1t is found that the depression of
the railroad tracks, as proposed in the
bill, and especially as insisted upon by the
railroad company, would be. from availa-
biity of other and better means of abolish
ing grade crossings, highly unsatisfactory
to the public interests, in that it would re
expensive to the District, fix a serious and
permanent burden upon general street
traffic by forcing it to climb over the
tracks by high bridges and make detours
On account of the closure of streets, and
grant to the railroad company very large
areas of park and other public space, in ad-
dition to that now occupied by it.
The proposed plan of depression, or more
properly speaking, low-grade plan CON-
prises full depression at a few streets, a
partial depression at others and no depres-
sion al some, to say nothing of the closing
of several streets. The railroad route lies
upon avenues diagonal to the east and
west and north and south streets; one can
readily understand the interruption to
crossing streets made by sunken road
bed, and that east and west streets would
be blocked, If such roadbed were bridged
only at some of the north and south
streets, and in some of these cases by ele-
waited structures. In fact, the proposed
low-grade plan would not leave any
through east and west street in South
Washington north of l. street; not even
Evening star., 1897-02-10

damages from changes of street grades
would also be the smallest.
There should be an extra cost. however,
Of street work OF SIS, ,29l, due to this plan,
viz: for purchasing and paving the drive
ways and hack stand at the passenger sta
ton. and outside of present streets, as in
dicated upon the plate.
Space Occupied.
The area Of public space TO be occupied
by the railroad works. including the l street
yard and Canal street yard of the limits
shown on plate >, is 1,o47 ,025 square feet.
The latter named yard would close III
street from South Capitol street TO Canal
street. 1st and Half streets east from /
TO Canal street. and the small reservations,
In whole or in part, numbered PSI, 2sS and
.s9. 1t would move the existing tracks
from alongside of Garfield Park TO the
south side of Canal street: the wall of the
elevated yard would be Go feet north cf
the south side Of the street between New
Jersey avenue and G street. Canal street
is now filled by ten tracks The authority
Evening star., 1897-02-10
TOT tne DlStf1ct fhtereSts.
A Second Alternative Plan.

plate 2. But rlan is not deemed 1udicious
for the District interests.
A Second Alternative Plan.
Plate 8. herewith. shows a second alter
native plan Of low-grade tracks differing
only from plan by the location Of q
through passenger station at squares 464
424, 40 and ESQ, south Of reservation 113,
and consequently by the omission Of the
depot branch.
that items under depot Branch and op-
posite Sth street. west, should not be con-
sidered, and the grade Of north approach Of
bridge OF 9th street, west, should be 1.5
per cent instead OF 3.3 per cent
The following table shows streets to be
closed at the depot or the crossings Of
Evening star., 1897-02-10

1st That the intended revision of the
railroad company's line shall be along its
present route through the city and to and
from the passenger station on B street, ex-
cept that the existing 9th street tracks are
to be moved west of the street.
I'd. That tine railroad company shall have
a considerably increased area of the mail
for terminal purposes, and shall also have
!or its exclusive use. except, in part, for
structions, certain street spaces outside of
the space needed for four main tracks.
Sd. hat the doing away of grade cross
ings be effected by
(O Depressing the tracks. so that part Of
the streets at the high ground in Southwest
Washington will cross on bridges at grade,
or
Evening star., 1897-02-10
Results of Fifth Plan.

The only streets to be closed, being ones
for the depot branch and site, would be
Sth street between r and c streets. and ID
and f streets for 96.5 and IS feet east ard
west of Sth street. respectively; +, g, III
ard / streets would remain open. IL the
railroad yards shown near and 9th
streets. on plate ;. are established. then
Sth street between I and X might be closed.
The cost to the District for street work.
computed as before. would be slG9.aos, or
the smallest for any of the plans discussed;
Evening star., 1897-02-10

at public spaces similarly situated. More
over there are grave doubts of the rail-
road company's right to occupy the reser-
vation at all: such was the opinion eX-
pressed by the Court of Appeals in case
wherein this question was raised, but not
decided The court stated in it's opinion
that the question ought TO be determined
judicially upon a proper proceeding. Some
facts in the history of the reservation are
now discovered which seem TO confirm the
courts opinion.
The following tables give the data as to
this alternative plan of depressed tracks,
called herein plan 2:
Evening star., 1897-02-10
Virginia nor Maryland avenue, nor Cana
street would be a through highway.
Full Depression Impossible


Full Depression Impossible.
The topography of South Washington
does not admit of a proper plan of depres-
sion; on the east is the railroad tunnel
which should be taken as fixed point, and
whose floor is at reference go above city
datum; west Of that is the valley of James
creek. whose bottom is about ten feet
above datum, and along which and near
the surface of the ground the trunk sewers
are or must be laid; further on is the high
ground to the west of 7th street, and then
the important Water street, which Is at a
low level
The foregoing shows the reasons in gen.
eral why the Commissioners feel con-
strained to report adversely to the low
grade plan of Senate bill 17U2.
For exhibiting the results from such pro-
posed plan Of depression more in detail, at
tention Is invited to plate. herewith, and
to the tables following hereto. showing the
railroad companys plan under the Senate
bill and data connected with that plan.
COmDany'S Plan.
Evening star., 1897-02-10
Sd and AZ streets. and for drainage of
roadbed.
Other suitable locations for a freight sta

Otn6F Su1taOIe IOCHtIOuS tOr q frcfght Sta-
tion are available.
As to drainage Of roadbed, 1t should be
noted that the greatest river freshet known
at Washington only reached a height Of
plus at the arsenal, and that the eleva-
tions of B street north at 9th and 9Th
streets are only plus 6.25 and plus 6.65,
where business has been conducted for
years at time without Interruptions from
floods. The F street part Of the Eashy's
Point sewer of the sewage disposal plans
will intercept a large volume OF storm
water which now finds its way down the
slopes and sewers above Pennsylvania.
avenue and at times of great storms over
flows the B street sewer. The + street
sewer is under contract. and the remaining
Evening star., 1897-02-10

kind of station which the railroad COM
pany's pan seeks to secure.
The following table she&s the changes OF
streets by this plan:
Sf1ah &
Evening star., 1897-02-10

of Congress for railroad occupation of this
street names the south bank of the old
canal and for the purpose of a railroad
route through the city. There is no au-
thority from Congress to use this street
or any other. as a railroad yard Plan &
would transfer the route to X street and
allow space for four tracks. The area Of
public space within the yard would be l.,6.-
AS square feet.
Depot Sites.
The depot location on street, south of
reservation 1l3. Is near point of con-
vergence Of avenues and streets; the CAM:
tai Traction street railroad passes on the
west side OF the location: the Belt Line 10
on the north side. and the Metropolitan
lihe could reach the north or west side OF
the depot by direct routes. In these days
of rapid-transit street railroads a few
squares of longer distance Is hardly noticed.
The site at c street would afford ample
room. most conveniently disposed, for a
commodious station. and reasonable space
for textra trains remaining over at fnau.
gufations or times of large conventions. AZ
CONTINUED on Ninth Page5
Evening star., 1897-02-10
BY reference to the report. these plans ar
readily understoOd:
The Report.

By reference to the report, these plans are
readily understood:
The Report.
Office Of the Commissioner Of the
District of Columbia,
WASHINGTON. February Q, 1877.
Hon. James Mcmillan. chairman, commit
tee en- the District Of Columbia, Senate.
Senator: The Commits ioners have the
honor to submit the following report upon
S. 17o2. Fifty-fourth Congress- first session,
entitled "A bill to provide for. doing away
with certain grade crossings on the lines
of the Baltimore and Potomac railroad in
the city of Washington. District of Co
lumbia, and for other purposes"
The bill contemplates In the main:
Evening star., 1897-02-10
Grade OF

water street to he lowered 8 feet and pass under
railroad viaduct with 12-fOot headroom.
DEPOT BRANCH.
Evening star., 1897-02-10

Station and sheds for the Elevated
Route ON Water, Sth and h Streets.
1. Ladies' parlor.
.. General waiting room
3. Restaurant.
4. Smoking room.
3. Kitchen.
q. Main stairway.
3. Tickets. ~ -s~.-
&. lo5by.
%. Open space fexit TO carrfascA
10. Outgoing baggage Office.
IL. Outgoing baggage Office
II. Incoming baggage office.
13 Incoming baggage Office.
H. Limit Of train shed
ID. Elevation OF rail, 81 feet 3 inches.
Elevation of depot foor 33 feet
Evening star., 1897-02-10

o. Closing certain streets, or
(c) Raising bridges above present grades.
4th. That the Long bridge be replaced by
a new railroad and highway bridge Of GER
tain dimensions near the site of the form
Evening star., 1897-02-10
COmpany's Plan.

Water street to be lowered feet and pass un
der railroad viaduct with 12-fOOt headroOm.
Evening star., 1897-02-10

Va. ave-, Canal to 7th st .201 ,790 227 $50
Va. ave-, south side, I'd to Al
dncludins part Of res. 11SS.... $3.50
Va. ave-. north side, Az to 7th
s.w. dncluding parts Of reserva-
tions 114' and II 1ES......... 65,615
81 st. west, Z to Va. ave. 11,O00
d, AZ to Va. are, (including
part Of res. Embellishments. p 40
9Th st. west, from VA ave. porth-
Wdru 4osSoV s,ooV
ST.. 9Th to 7th ew. (including
parts OF resvs l14s and 2l1s).. 39.S24
ST., 9Th to 7th s.U............ O.25O
Reservation n4..A,......,..129,0 T.. GOO 35S,O16
Reservation 1l3 ~ 2S 40 81 800
MARYLAND ave- 9Th 10 7th ~ $3.50 1924
Maryland ave, 9th TO 18th. 1855 S2,994
Maryland ave., 18th to 18th Tin
elud'ng part Of 1910. 1S.9SO l6SO00
lcth ST., d to uE.-,,........ E. 1880 36,S50
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-12
BARGE TIPPED OVER.
Suit Against the Proprietor of a Block
Island Hotel.

The suit Of j. Illingworth 10 rccove- 5000
damages from b. y. Mitchell, proprie or of he
Spring House at Block Island, for sprained
wrist and other injuries received Ivy the tip
ping over Of a bargs on Blosk Island in July,
lSoi. was tried before Judge Rogers and a
jury today. The plaintiff claims that the
accident was due 10 the careless driving of the
barge by a river employed by Mitchell The
defendant intredH- 81 t-itifesses TO prove that
the plsintif Immediately after the accident
ated that tie driver was not 20 blame and
that hls wrist would not have been iniu I'd
bad he not put his hand hehin his back TO,
save himself from falling, All Of the witness
s for the defendant tetitied that the barge
was in the middle Il tho road and that the
large tipped over gently. The driver claimed
th accident was due 20 hole in the rad that
Il d been improperly filed.
Van SlyclS & Mumford were attorneys for
the plaintiff, and ID. y. Potter and ". T..
Sheffield, Jr represented the defendant.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-12
Doors Closed After Sen
ate Assembled.
A Rather Sensational Incl
dent in the House.
Mr. johnson Makes a Pathetic Reply
TO Attack of Mr.. Mcguire.

WAsHINGToN, Jan. I2.-Only few
senators were present when the Senste
ret todaT. Almcst Immediately aftsr r
the reacing of the journal, on motion OF
Dir. Sherman, chairman of the committee
on foreign relations an executive session
was held.
In the House.
Little interest wac manifested in the
House today In the speakers decision OF
the PORT made yesterday by Mr.. Dockery
(Dem. No. against MIR. Powers motion
to recommit tie Pacific railway fundius
iii. Immediately sfier the reading of the
jcurnsl he speaker sustained the point
CT order aud the hill will not be recon-
mitted.
Mr.. johnson of California replied to
the attack made on him by Mr.. Mcguire
In the Record this morning In senss-
tional ss well ss pathetic speech, in which
he admitted thar he (Johnson) had been
in dicted In New York 80 years ago, bu;
said re had gone to California and paid
'acS every dollar he owed. His voice
sJook as he told OF his early troubles and
be got lelrty rounds of applause.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-12
BROTHER JOHN.
Alleged to Have Driven Brother
William and Wife From Home.
Story Told by IN. Latter 10 tn: Police Of
the S.cOnd Station.

The rtory told by the brother OF John
T. Smith to the police Of the Second sta
tion last night was rather unusual one.
W illism IL the brothers. name and he
claims the family name 10 not Smith but
quite a different one and at 10:3) O'Clock
he sid to John who had just ordered
Him to leave his houss "Pll leave but
don't for Gods sake pct my wife and
child out now for they have no place to
CO." For response John, 1t 10 said.
went into bod room and picxed up q
pis oil.
Mr. Gnd Mrs. William decided to leave
quickly and they did SO and went to the
police station for instructions as to what
to 90. They got all the information 1t
was possible to give and went their wsv.
Before going William said that about q
year ago be was jest after getting iusriied
In England, he wrote to his brother here
asking how the chances would be OF get
ting work in America. Johns reply was
everyt hing would be ell right II his
BROTHER could get his passage money.
William had sased money and he came
here and wss fairly succossfol. He sent
for his wife ana she arrived last Christ
mas morning with her 7-months-old son,
born shortly after her husbands de-
parture for this city.
They all went to board at Brother
Johns house and William did the best he
could though the wages where ne IL
working are at present very small. Every
thing wss all right until last evening
when John was decidedly rough and
made william snd his wife leave their
boarding pl zee so promptly. Mrs. viii
liam Is a neat looking woman and her
husband evidently q sober and industri.
Gus fellow.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-12
ruy oRA,Y AND corToN MARKET.

THE GRAIN AND COTTON MARKET.
The cotton market today showed evidence
OF a retter undertone than was expected, New
Orleans being fair buyer In Liverpool cot
ton opened at good demand and prices easier.
Futures opened easier with moderate de-
mand
In their advices TO Allen & Lynch, Price,
Mccormick g. Co. say: "Adyices from Liver
pool this morning were rather more unfavor-
able, futures there showing a decline of from
5-64 TO i15-6.. Spot cotton Is also l-l6 lower.
but the sales for the day are fairly LIBERAL
spinners taking on the aggregate, 1900 bales.
Receipts at the ports today promise to be
rather full. the estimates Of the total arrivals
being g., ,0O0 against 8O,9el last week and 2o''
Bdl last year. Galveston received 472l bales,
against 1909 last week and 2957 last year.
Il. Wilson a. Co. will today issue a circular in
which they will estimate the SEASONS produc'
tion. The fear that the tenor Of this report
will be bearish had some effect upon prices
Yesterday. No doubt the market will be in
huenced to "a certain extent by the character
OF this report. The volume Of receipts will
still be the governing factor for some little
| time, however.
Trading in wheat was light al the opening.
the scalpers who ovcrsold themselves yester
day being compelled TO purchase.
| The Beerbohm cables today state that Lon
| don wheat off the coast and on passage was
| It adly held at slow demand. Liverpool
wheat futures opened steady az decrease OF
a. Corn was quiet a lower. English coun-
| try markets quiet but steady. Paris wheat
~ higher -four, 10 to 55.higher. Berlin wheat
| s4snark lower.
Farnum, in speaking Of the situation. says:
There wasn't any wheat left IN the pit
| when the market closed yesterday There has
been fair effort made to break the price be-
| low 50 cents, and after the bell sounded II
| sold at So. think it Is going 20 sell lower. y
Provisions opened very firm with some good
demand Hogs receipts were 200 over the
! estimate. Prices We're active and shade
| higher. The estimated receipts for tomorrow
are 5000. A strong market l. anticipated.
| Bartlett. Frazier a. Co., IN their advices to A.
| =. Weeden, report: Hogs today. 3!UO; cat
tie. 1900: sheep, 1900; Omaha hogs, 500
cattle. 1900: sheep, 500; Kansas City pogs, ls
600; cattle. 1900; sheep, 400. Chicago hog'
left over yesterday, $500. The Chicago hos
| mari 'ened slow to stroug. the cattle
| ma ana weak, anu the sneep harke
| weak.
In New York cotton futures opened steady
Sales, 1900 bales. January, 6.9l; February,
695: March, 7.0l: April, 7.O7; May. 7.l5
June, 7.i9; July, 7.23; August, 7.9i; Septem
ber, 69s; October, eos; November, 695.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-12
GOT THE WRONG BOTTLE.
O'Harra Meant to Take Whisky But
Took Ammonia Instead.

Patrick O'Harrs, q lsborer who lives at
IS Newark street, is at the Rhode LELAND
Hospital and will probably be sbie to 60
to his home again In a few nays.
wnen he got up this morning he went
TO the closet. as he says, to get a drink
of wsisky, but by mistake got mold Of a
bottle of ammonia, and from it took
good swig. lie soon discovered he was
not drinking whiskey and succeeded I'm
splitting most OF the ammonia out Of his
mouth. Inc police at the Chsffee street
station were notified, and.O' 'Harra, was
taken to the Central police station, where
he was attended by DR.. kimbail, who
ordtred him removed TO the hospital.
O'Harra Is terribly burned abou. -
mouth snd throat, but the physicans' at
the hospital are of the opinion that
enough Of the liquid did not get into his
stomach to cause any serious results.