Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-27
THE BILL
Commissioners Report on Baltimore
and Ohio Proposition.
SOME AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED
Oppose the Plan Of the lexington
Citizens Association.
DIV ION OF cos L

The report of the District Commissioners
on Senate bill 800 to eliminate grade cross
ings on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
and for other purposes, was today submit
ted by them to Senator Mcmillan. chair
man Of the Senate District committee. A
number of amendments are recommended
by the Commissioners. and with the meas
ure amended suggested by them they ad-
wise favorable action on the bill.
The report Is as follows:
The Comm;ss oners have the honor to SUBJ
nit the following on S. 2329. Fifty-sixth
Congress. first session, to eliminate grade
crossings on the line of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad in the city of Washington,
and for Other purposes, referred to them by
your committee for report:
Present Condition..
A blue print is submitted herewith show
ing the present and proposed routes of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad with the Dis
trict of Columbia. From this 1t may be
seen that the tracks now cross twenty four
streets and avenues within the city limits.
Along the Washington branch within the
city limits the tracks are partly at grade
at certain portions of the route; at others
they are in cut, and others en-
bankment. On this account Sd, 9th, Sth,
the road; at Florida avenue the tracks are
below grade and difficult of approach; at
oth and Itn streets the tracks are on an
embankment, and at ID street there is a
bridge over tie tracks, the approaches to
the crossings being narrow and steep in
each case, the bridge crossing being eXcep-
tonally undesirable. Between the present
passenger station and Fl street the cross
1ngS are so INSTRUCTED by tracks. and also
~ sf'f' ire trains from time TO time as 10
be a constant source of annoyance and dam
ger. and several of the crossings within the
limits named are now practically aban-
doned on account of the difficulty attending
their use
The Metropolitan branch now comes into
the city along LIST street east which is 10
feet wide 1t crosses Florida avenue prac-
tically in the line of New York avenue
making a bad curve upon both the south
and the north side of Florida avenue the
one on the north. owing to the position of
the small station at this point and the con-
ngurauon or the ground, being exception
ally dangerous
The Washington branch enters the city
near the intersection of l. street and Flor
ida avenue northeast between 9th and 1Ot h
streets and crosses Intervening blocks dag
onalfy to the corner of 9Th and l streets:
1t then follows l street to second. curving
into Deia ware avenue at H street This
curve Is particularly DANGEROUS owing to
the ract that H street is occupied by a
street car line and is one of the principal
lines of travel to the northeastern portion
OF the city. Several bad accidents have oc-
CURED here.
The freight and passenger stations of the
company are inconvenent and insufficient
to meet the present demands of traffic and
commerce. and this condition is becoming
worse each year.
Objects of the Bill.
The main objects of the bill are:
ID To eliminate grade crossings by ta)
abandoning certain portions of the railwa Y
routes; Oh by consolidating the Metropoli-
tan and Washington branches bringing
them into the city on a single viaduct along
the line of Delaware avenue, the viaduct
being carried over street crossings; (c) by
closing certain streets.
t2) To provide modern passenger sta
ton on the north of street northeast be-
tween 1st and North Capitol streets, and
also station for fast and perishable
freight on the east of North Capitol street
between d and F streets.
t3 To provide railroad yards and station
for heavy freight in the territory bounded
by Florida avenue, S street. the Metropoli-
tan branch and the Brentwood road.
The bill also proposes to authorize the
formation OF terminal company, if deSir-
ed, in carrying out the purposes of the bill.
But this is believed to be an internal feature
of the project which need not be discussed
in this report.
Routes Abandoned
Under the bill the present Washington
branch would be abandoned between VIM
throp Heights station and Delaware ave-
nue. This would abolish every grade cross
ing along the road within the city limits
east of Delaware avenue. The right of way
between I'd street east and Winthrop
Heights. thus vacated, would be decided TO
the District of Columbia, in fee simple, for
highway purposes.
The right Of way is &c feet wide and Ii
miles long. 1t traverses territory soreIy
in need of more direct highway connection
with the city. The right of way is already
at grade, and with comparatively small
expenditure for placing a proper roadway
surface upon 1t. it would furnish very
valuable and highly desirable avenue
through this section of the District.
The present Metropolitan branch would
he abandoned south of the north line of
New York avenue This would clear New
York avenue and LIST street east of tracks
thus aboishing all grade crossings along
the line of road in the city limits west OF
Delaware avenue.
The New Routes.
The new routes proposed by the bill are
shown by req lines on the accompanying
blue print. From this 1t viii be seen that,
beginning at the south end. the road COM
mences in Delaware avenue just north of
G street at the station. thence runs north
erly on Delaware avenue to Florida ave-
rue, the Metropolitan branch continuing in
direct line until II joins the present right
of way near street, and the Washington
branch bearing of TO the east, paraieiink
New York avenue extended, about 300 feet
to the north thereof, until II connects with
the existing main line in the vicinity OF
Winthrop Heights.
The two branches will be connected by
means OF Y Just north of r street be-
tween 9Th and eth streets.
glance az the map Will at once NANTES,
the magnitude of the improvement which
would be accomplished by the proposed
change. The number Of street crossings or
the line of the road within the city limits
would be reduced from twenty-four &c
nine. and these nine would pass under the
viaduct instead of crossing tracks at grade
thus being entirely free from the danger