Evening star., 1898-02-07
B. AND O. GRADE CROSSINGS
The Company Anxious to Avoid Expense Of
Elevated Tracks.
Proposition for q Union Depot In
With Norfolk and Western.


conference will take place this week be-
tween the District Commissioners and Re
ceiver Cowen of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, for the purpose OF
further discussing plans by which the
grade crossings of that company in this
city may be abolished. In this connection
1t is interesting to note that the files OF
The Star, just twenty-four years ago this
month, show that the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company submitted plan to
the District government fer the erection
of a new passenger station at New Jersey
avenue and street northwest, but the old
depot which had been an eyesore to the
citizens of Washington, as we'll as to mil
lions of visitors to the national capital for
many years, is there yet.
In the same connection i: may be stated
that a bill has been passed by the legis-
lature of Virginia, under the terms oi
which the Norfolk and Western Railroad
Company is authorized to build a line from
Front Royal. Warren county, to a point in
Fairfax county, opposite this city. The
predecessor of the Norfolk and Western
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company,
long desired to build a short line from
Front Royal to the District line, and Sc
cured charter from the legislature OF
virginia for that purpose. Financial diffi-
culties. however, intervened. The road
went into the hands of receivers, and until
since it's reorganization as the Norfolk and
Western it has been unable to do any
thing in the matter of building new lines,
however desirable it might be to possess
them.
Proposed Combination.
1t is believed in some circles that if the
Norfolk and Western does build the short
line referred to. and can secure from Con-
gress permission to enter the District, that
company and the Baltimore and Ohio will
together build a union depot in George
town. 1t is further believed that the man.
agement of the Baltimore and Ohio would
prefer to do this to incurring the expense
which would be necessary in order to ele-
vate its tracks within the city limits in
the northeast section.
There is considerable agitation among
those interested on this subject and Re-
ceiver Cowen has on several occasions In
timated that the expense of eievating the
tracks and building 4 proper station here
would cost in the neighborhood of 5000,
600, and that this would if made be done at
the sole expense of the Washington branch
OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
The entire line of the Washington branch
covers but thirty-one miles. 1t is double
tracked, ard. with the Washington termi-
nals is valued at but 100000. 1t is, there
fore, not venturing too much to assert that
If the improvements are to be consum-
mated, the funds for the purpose will have
to be provided from some other source
branch.
A very prominent official Of the Balti-
more and Ohio, in speaking to a Star re-
porter on this subject, said it was fore
gene conclusion that the Baltimore and
Ohio would have to abolish grade cross
ings in Washington before many years
and that the money needed would be fur
nished by a syndicate foc the use of which
the company or companies using the i'm
proved facilities would pay proper rem
tai.
Lack of Facilities.
Each of the railroads which enters Wash
ington is cramped for want of proper ter
rnal facilities AS is well known the
Pennsylvania, Southern and Chesapeake
and Ohio companies, respectively, have ar
commodations both in Washington and it's
vicinity. The Baltimore and Ohio and Nor
folk and Western have not.
President Henry Fink of the Norfolk and
Western, in conversation with Star
reporter some time ago, admitted that his
company was anxious to secure terminal
in Washington, and intimated the willing
ress of his company to join hands with
the Baltimore and Ohio and erect a union
depot in Georgetown. There would be no
use, he said, of attempting to have the
Norfolk and Western use the Pennsyl-
vania terminals, not only had the Penn
sylvania not invited them to do so, but on
a previous occasion when a bill was be-
fCre Congress to give his company the
right TO enter the District, that company
used It's influence to defeat 1t. The BaIti-
the Norfolk and Western all the accommo-
dations in its power, and the Norfolk and
Western was disposed to reciprocate to
the fullest extent it was able.