Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-30
PROPERTY HOLDERS PROTEST..
Disappr0ve C0mmissioners' Plan for
Abolition of Grade Crossings.

DisapprOve Commissioner Plan for
Abolition of Grade Crossings.
Owners OF property on the north side Of
street between 7th and 9th streets south
west, in front Of which are the tracks of
the Pennsylvania railroad, have sent to the
committee on railroads of the board of
trade protest against the approval by
the board of trade of the plans projected
by the Commissioners Of the District for
the abolition of grade crossings along the
line of said railroad in the southwestern
section of this city"
while these plans" 1t is stated, appear
to provide a satisfactory solution of the
question Of grade crossings" yet, it is add
cd, there are many other phases of the
question of railroad occupancy in this Sec
tion-almost Of equal Importance with the
grade crossing problem-which have not
apparently received adequate attention by
the authorities whose decision in the mat
ter will result either in improving or in
forever running, for residential purposes,
the entire southwestern part of the city of
Washington"
The protestants say that the only logical,
permanent location for the railroad lis,
generally speaking, along K street, in a
straight line from its westerly tunnel outlet
to Water street, thence along the last
named street to the vicinity of 18th street,
where suitable and accessible terminal ia
CllltleS may easily be provided.
The adoption Of this location would result
in the removal Of the railroad from both
Virginia and Maryland avenues, as well as
from 9Th street, along which latter thor
cughfare the railroad is now permitted to
break the continuity of the beautiful Mall,
upon which is cast the shadow of the Cap
itol itself"
In the event the plan Of the Commission
ers Is adopted by Congress, the protest
ants add, "a large additional portion of the
III kn
TO the interests of said company; the tax
payers of the District would be called upon
to shoulder, probably without governmental
aid. a burden Of 81, 100000, in round num-
hers, in defray1ng the expense of readjust-
ing grade crossings, including damages to
Private property; while the owners of resi-
Dental property along that portion of the
line where it is proposed to construct via
ducts would suffer great loss from the in
evitable depreciation of values and rents,
because the existing evils, such as vibra-
tons from moving trains, noise, dust, SCOT
cinders, etc, which continually afflict resi-
dents along the line of the tracks, would
necessarily be aggravated in proportion to
the increased facilities to be afforded the
company"
Even in case the proposed change, as
above noted, in the location of the road
should not be made, the signers of the pa
per would still object to 1.-THE proposed via
duct between 7th and 9th streets, which
would face property, and for the further
reason that there Is no necessity for its
construction. as the site is twenty-nne (29)
feet above datum. Thus. from an engineer
ing standpoint, there appears to be no diff
Guilty In the way of having the crossings at
these two streets at grade. Its construc-
ton, therefore. so far as we are aware is
superfuous, except in so far as it may
prove an economical feature in the interest
Of the railroad company"
An approximate estimate is given of the
pecuniary damage which each property
holder whose Name is affixed to the pro-
test would suffer in case the viaduct pro-
ject OF the Commissioners is adopted
1T Is our unanimous opinion concludes
the protestants, that in the settlement of
this vexed problem Congress should insure
SUCH innocent owners from loss by requfr-
ing the railroad company to purchase the
holdings of those desiring to SELL"