The evening times., 1899-03-16
FREIGHT STATION
FOR GEORGETOWN
Reported Project of the Penn
sylyania Railroad.
Prospective Competition Between
Rival Lines.
Negotiations for Site for tine
building Are Now in
Progress.

The indications now point to the estab-
lishment of freight station in Georgetown
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
1t is understood that representatives of
the company have been negotiating for the
purchase of a tract of land on the liver
front upon which to build a receiving sta
tion. The property said to be under con-
sideration is located near the foot OF Thir
ty-second Street and is so situated as 10
be easy of access not only TO the stores and
factories of Georgetown but TO the lumber
yards and business places farther down the
river.
1t is said that the company proposes TO
carry its freight cars across the river on
large railroad barges such as are used
for taking cars across the East and North
rivers in New York. The tracks of the
company have already been extended to
Rosslyn, directly across the river from
Georgetown, so that the plan is entirely
feasible.
II is quite probable that it viii be nee
essary to dredge the bottom of the river
near the Virginia skore as the water for
a distance is somewhat shallow. But this,
il is said, will not cost a great deal.
1t is well known that the station at
Rosslyn, TO which the goods directed to
Georgetown business men are sent and
from which the products OF the III ami
factories of the West End are shipped, has
paid remarkably well since its establish
ment several years ago. a number Of
business men when discussing the matter
yesterday stated that the company evil
deEtly wishes 10 still further increase its
trade ct this point. There is belief, said
foremost business man yesterday, that
this move on the part of the Pennsylvania l
Railroad people is intended to checkmate
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad which is
10 enter Georgetown in the near future.
II is evidently the plan of the officials OF
the Pennsylvania road TO establish sta
lion and build up large business bsfo c
the Baltimore and Ohio can be removed
from the hands of the receivers and ex-
tend its line into Georgetown over the
route already surveyed.
The Rosslyn freight station of the Penn
sylvania Railroad was destroyed by fire
several weeks ago. 1t was reported at one
time that the company would replace the
destroyed building with a handsome and
substantial structure, but this was rot
done 4 large wooden shed somewhat
smaller than the old building has already
| been completed. This is taken to mean by
those who are watching the matter that il
! is intended only for temporary use and will
be torn down as soon as the station is built
| on the Georgetown side of the river.
One business man who is well posted in
regard 10 the railroad operations Of the
| past twenty years in the vicinity of Wash
T, ington stated this morning TO Times re-
| porter that he thought the same sharp and
| spirited fighting which has always taken
! place between the two roads when either
OF them attempted TO reach new territory
| Is already Oh in the present case. II is
| thought that soon the two lines are
! able to enter into active competition 1T
| Georgetown there Will be a rate war which
| viii benefit local shippers.
For q number of years past the Pennsyl-
ysnia Railroad Company has been pur-
| chasing land lying along the Virginia side
| Of the river from the Aqueduct to Long
| Bridge until now il practically controls or
! owns the entire strip extending back from
| he water for some distance. 1t is quite
| evident that the company expected 10 have
use for the land and il is thought that il
| is about 10 be utilized by the extension
| into Georgetown.
The developments of the railroad situa-
tion are being watched with intense inter
| est by all those who own property there
! or whose business would be benefited by
the lailroads projects.