Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-27

come with tracks on grade. at an eXpenoi-
ture of not more than half million dol
| lars, and that the four or five millions re-
uuired to do the work called for by the
bill is mainly for the improvement ana
advantage of the District and city.
The company claims that under contracts
and agreements made by said company
and the municipal authorities. authorized
by acts of Congress dated March ). 1883.
and March 3, 1895, under the terms OF
which the depot was removed from It's
it, and its tracks were confined to that
part of the city east of New Jersey avenue
and north of c street. the right to occupy
its present site and tracks was authorized
ferred to is dated June 10, 1850. and the
| ordinances authorizing and confirming it
are dated, respectively, May 81, 1850, and
January II, 1867
nation and consultation. that there Is merit
in the claim of the company. and that
should it not be willing to abandon the
present routes and elevate It's road it could
not be compelled to do so even by Con-
gress prior to 1910.
The company states quite frankly that
under the circumstances they expect as
sistance in carrying out so much of the
plan as relates directly to changing their
routes. elevating their tracks and remov-
ing them from grade for the purpose of
improving the city and for the convenience
of street traffic.
Considering the advantages which will
be derived by said city and public general
ly, and the vastly greater expense proposed
to be incurred by the company than what
could be required If it stood upon its strict
ly legal rights under the terms of the con-
tract above referred to. and considering
also that railways in other cities Of the
state or both in the work of abolishing
grade crossings. the Commissioners feel
| that the request of the company is equita
BILE and not immoderate.
ha MAJ II, n 10
made is considered very reasonable. A
sinking fund is to be established, and the
million and a half dollars is to be paid
only upon presentation of a certificate from
the Commissioners that the work required
by the bill has been satisfactorily exc
cuted.
1t is believed that the value Of the bene-
fits and improvements resulting from the
proposed changes will exceed considerably,
even at the present time, the million and
a half dollars which the government is
required to pay, and that the ultimate bene-
fits will be of still far greater magnitude
Taxation.
1t is recommended that provision be
included in the bill that the property oc-
eupied by the company under authority
conferred by the bill, should 1t become
law, together with the improvements which
may be put thereon, shall be subject to
taxation by the District of Columbia the
same as other property in said District
Requirement of Necessary Land.
In cases where the company cannot agree
with the owners for the purchase Of any
land It is authorized to acquire, 1t is be-
| neved that power should be given 1t where
necessary to take immediate possession of
such parcels as may be needed. upon filing
with the court good and sufficient bond to
insure the payment Of its value when duly
determined by the proper authorities. If
this is not done, condemnation proceedings
may delay seriously the execution Of the
work, and add considerably to the time and
difficulty Of bringing about the desired i'm
provements in the railroad situation.
Amendments.
In accordance with the suggestions con-
tanned in the report the Commissioners rec
ommend that the bill be amended as fol-
lows:
Add the following at the end of line 20,
page 2: Provided, that no portion of any
street shall be closed under authority of
| this act until said railroad company shall
have secured control Of the property abut-
| ting upon said portion to be closed, it be-
ing the intent hereof that no property own