Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-06
A HEAVY CREDITOR
National Capitals Big Bill Against
Steam Railroads Entering City.
GRADE CROSSING FINANCES
Offsets Against the Districts Share
of the Burden of Damages.
FAVORS WORTH A FORTUNE

W aShinStCn ana the railroad approaches TO
the city from the evils of grade crossings
is naturally divided into two parts. each
of which has in the past required the
gravest consideration. On the one hand
is the engineering question as to how best
TO avoid the grade crossings whether by
the elevation or the depression of the
tracks. by the use of viaducts, tunnels or
semi-deDressed track trenches. On the
otter hand, is the equally important and
in some ways more perpexing question
of the proper division of the cost of such
an Improvement between the corporation
and the municipality. In the case of at
least the PENNSYLVANIA railroad this item
or cost has proved a most embarrassing
element in the case, the railroad COM
pany insisting upon a scheme of settle
ment throwing a disproportionate share
of the burden of the betterment upon the
citizens. the Commissioners demanding a
more equitable distribution of the finan-
cial responsibility. OF course. the railroad
company pays all the cost of the actual
improvement upon its right of way. Citi-
ZenS do not bear a share of the burden
OF the actual construction of viaducts
tunnels or trenches The financial ques-
uon in the case relates to the matter of
paying for such damages as those incurred
in the changing of street grades to con-
form with the elevation or depression of
tracks that now cross and traverse the
=
erty caused by long approaches to high
bridges over tracks.
Early Action by the Board of Trade
II has always been conceded in the dis
cussions of the case in the District that
some small percentage of the total cost Of
the Improvement would naturally as IN
other cities, be assessed against the Inu-
nicipalty, but the contention has. been
that there are offsets to this charge not
existing IN the case of other municipalities
which cancel the national and municipal
obligation and equitably throw the entire
cost upon the railroad. This question was
discussed at some length i'll the course
of the report submitted to the Washing
ton board OF trade by its committee on
bridges and unanimously adopted Fcbru-
airy ~. 1>!'2- The committee discussed the
Tlan for the reconstruction and replacing
of the Long bridge. and stated that il
was understood good authority at the
time that tie Baltimore and Potomac rail-
rodl had expressed a willingness to re-
construct Long bridge in substantial
manner IN line with the general improve
ment of the city's terminal facilities and
that Grammar Mcmillan of the Senate
District committee was then preparing Il
Dill providing for the rebuilding of Long
brldSe, the removal of grade CROSSINGS in
the city and the elevation or de preston of
the tracks in crossing the mall. The COM
hlItec report then went on follows:
~ inns legislation is through Senator
MHAlilldn $ shlllful negotiations and man
ag@-nent and the progressiyeness of the
rdlircad. accomplished. the railroad will
have, IT is estimated. bill against the
tinted states, and possibly the District on
account of the construction of The public
highway part of the new Long bridge But
there are offsets to the railroads bill
against the public. This fact is fortunate
ior the fate Of the proposed measure, for
there could he no more serious impeachment
TO the success of a bill at this session of
the present Congress than the fact that il
involved large appropriation from the
District revenues, upon which the demands
already 50 largely exceed the supply.
Balancing the Accounts
an balancing the accounts between the
public and the railroad, it is to be remer-
ber'd that the latter secures from the for
rner in connection with this legislation:
% Release of claim for rental for the ad-
nSttedly Illegal use and occupation of
streets and certain reservations for, 10,
these many years. An act of the last Con-
EreSs 1egalized the occupation and use of
six small reservations which had for years
been used without legal authority. The
road has occupied. and still occupies, the
large reservation at the intersection of
Maryland and Virginia avenues which Mr.
A @. Riddle. when attorney for the Dis
Trict. reported to be held only by virtue of
'squattor sovereignty 1t has paid nothing
for its long Illegal use Of the streets and
reservations as storage depots and shifting
yards. 90 LegaliZing the alleged illegal
tracks along Maryland avenue between 9TH
and 6th streets, if route along this ave-
nue. is agreed upon. 90 An increase of the
number Of its legal tracks and the space
occupied by them on public property be-
tween Virginia avenue and the 9th street
station; also along the whole route on both
Maryland and Virginia avenues. and across
the reclaimed flats. This means the dona-
ton Of valuable strip of public property,
AZ, IL
grant. representing a heavy expenditure if
payment were exacted at the market price
ca Nest important of all, the removal of
the grounds Of public hostility founded on
the present condition of Long bridge, and
the uO-tboroU@hfare belt of surface tracks
along Maryland ard Virginia avenues and
Ssh street, and the Cancellation of the pub
lie by the erection here. as virtually proms
ised. of the finest station to be found
TIE Pennsylvania whole system, will in
effect cause the temporary grant of right
Of way from Virginia avenue to the free
station site on the mall to become perma-
nent. Ii viii then be impossible to loosen
the railroads grip upon the park
Benefit Worth n Fortune.
THE value of this benefit to the railroad
IS almose incalculable. Some time ago
Senator Ingalls, estimated the value of the
mall privileges. from which the railroad
would have to pay elsewhere. as at least
half a million dollars. They are worth
more now. This estimate indicates only
the pecuniary value of the acquisition and
allows nothing for the injury and practi
cal destruction of the continuous parks
from the Capitol TO the White House which
Cur fOrefathers planned and which is nee
eSsary as an in-the-city breathing place
for those who have neither the means nor
the time for a suburban outing. If the
Citys magnificent original plan is to be
permanently altered and disfigured for the
railroads benefit let the latter pay hand
sOmely for this Dissertation. as well as for
Its land grants. II the esthenc sentiment
al and sanitary considerations which plead
for the uninterrupted mall of LEnfant's
plan are to be buried beyond hope of res
direction. and the issue is reduced to the
business-like question of dollars and cents
let the dollars and cents of compensation
also be eXacted on strictly business prin-
cip-es. If a part of the city's birthright is
to be disposed of for a mess of pottage
let those who are responsible for the trans
Ter at least see to II that the municipal
stomach enjoys every particle of pottage
justly due. The railroads direct gain
when the temporary loan of its mall privi-
leges becomes a permanent gift, will be so
vast that, without the aid of the other
Items enumerated, IL will be sufficient to
outweigh any claim against the District,