The times., 1899-03-31
THE PROPOSED NEW
PASSENGER STATION
Pennsylvania Roads Plan for
improvements.
Elevation of the Tracks and Grade
Crossings Abolished.
Long nrid-c to Rc Replaced With "a
Mammoth SiX-Track Steel
Structure

II would seem that the Pennsylvania
Railroad has about perfected its plans for
the erection Of a mammoth passenger rail-
way station in this city. It is the inten-
tion of the road, as stated by President
Frank Thomson and First Vice President
Charles E. Pugh 10 District Commissioner
John B. Wight. while ia Philadelphia OF
Wednesday, to erect a large freight dep t,
also In addition 10 this. the officers of the
road said TO Mr.. Wight that they intend ed
eleyating the tracks Of the road through
out the city, thus abolishing the grade
crossings. II is likewise the intention of
the officials to replace Long Bridge with a
six-track steel structure.
Mr. Wight said 10 Times reporter yes
terday that the railway officials had said
TO him that the road would spend in the
city of Washington during the next three
years. upward of five millions dollars, en-
braced in the Improvements above men
toned.
1t is the intention Of the officials, ac-
ccrding to Mr.. Wight, to build the new
passenger station upon the present site.
ment property, and it will be sufficient Y
large 10 accommodate the business of the
five trunk lines that now use it. These
embrace the Pennsylvania, Southern, Ches-
apeake and Ohio. Seaboard Air Line. and
Atlantic Coast Line. II is also the inten-
tion, so stated, to have this station the
terminus of the electric line bstTeen
Washington and Alexandria.
To Face the Avenue.
1t is known that the Pennsylvania peo-
pie have been for a number of years desir-
Gus of acquiring sufficient amount OF
yania Avenue on the north and Stree,
on the south, to extend the new sta a.ion
through 10 the Avenue. Before the company
decided to elevate its tracks it was desirous
of having Street vacated between Sixth
and Seventh Streets Now that the tracks
are TO be elevated, ii will be necessary to
give the station itself an elevation equal
gued by the officers of the road that they
can build an arch over Street the same
as prevails in the Broad Street Station in
Philadelphia. where street for almost
an entire square is thus protected.
1t is not known. but is supposed that the
company has already acquired sufficient
property to allow the construction of a
large station with frontage on Pennsyl-
vania Avenue Immediately facing the Met
ropolitan Hotel. This property includes the
Howard House, al the corner of Sixth
Street. Pennsylvania Avenue, and Street
together with a number OF wholesale
houses on the west. The original intention
of the company was TO obtain, if possible
the entire square extending from Sixth to
Seventh Streets, and from Pennsylvania
Avenue TO b Street.
II is said that the company proposes
making for Washington one of the hand
soonest passenger stations on the line o
its road. Perhaps not as large as that OF
the Broad Street Station in Philadelp i:
or of the station in Jersey City. but larg,
enough to accommodate the present trafh,
snd TO make allowances for the increase
as the city becomes larger.
Engineering ObstncIcs Removed.
While in Philadelphia Commissioner
Wight had a long conference with Presi-
dent Thomson and Vice President Pugt
touching upon the subject. The railway
officials informed the Commissioner that
the engineering difficulties in the way of g
solution of the grade crossing difficulty in
this city had been practically overcome
and incidentally they disclosed the fact tha
they contemplate making radical changes
in the Pennsylvania Railroad terminal
here, as above stated.
This proposed new bridge alone viii cos
about sI.0oO.000 and will supplant the ole
Long Bridge, which has been both an eye
sore and a source OF danger for many
years. II is understood that the bridg,
will be built SO high that II will offer nc
obstruction to navigation and that It viii
not be a menace during times of flood and
ice flows. II will be an easy matter tC
erect such a structure when the city ap-
proach has been elevated.
The Grade Crossings.
The plan for the abolition of grade cross.
ings along Virginia Avenue toward tn,
Navy Yard Tunnel includes elevation anC
depression of the tracks. as conditions re-
quire.
Commissioner Wight was entirely un.