The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-11
LOCAL GRADE CROSSINGS
Bill AboEishing Those on the B. &
P. Road to Be Reported.
Hearings Before the senate District
Cemmfttee-oaciaIs of he PENN
syIvanIa Company and Engineer
Commissioners Reach Give Their
views on proposed LeGisIntIen.

Engineer Commissioner Beach. Gen.
John Cassel, and S. C. Neale, representing
the Pennsylvania Railroad, appeared be-
fore the House District Committee this
morning. to be heard on the Senate bill
to abolish grade crossings on the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad in the Dis
trict of Columbia Attorney Hamilton
appeared for the Southern Railroad.
which IS included in the bill. The bill
WAS read by sections for amendment
When the paragraph was reached au-
thorizing the railroad company to tempo
rarity use the streets pending the i'm
provemsnts, Chairman Babcock suggest-
ed to Commissioner Beach that it was not
intended that the railroad company
should permanently occupy the streets
or avenues
Commissioner Beach said he understood
the occupancy OF the streets was to be
Only temporary and that the railroad
company would restore the streets to
their normal condition
IN answer to a question, Commissioner
Beach said the proposition to close F, d
aad Streets was put in the bill at the
suggestion of the Commissioners on ae-
count Of the angle created by the i'm
provement
Representative Mudd called attention
to the provision authorizing the change Of
any lines OF grades of any street OF ave
nue. to meet the improvements. He want
ed TO know who was to pay the dana ges.
Commissioner Beach said the railroad
company was to bear the expense of paw
ing under the arches OF the bridges over
the streets
At the suggestion OF Nj. Mudd the Ian
81 t,. rN,lT IL
United States and the District of Column
bia should pay half the cost of construct
ing the approaches to the bridge.
When the section relating to the con-
demnation OF land was reached. the fol-
lowing amendment was offered by Attor-
ney Hamilton and adopted:
Provided That in every case in which
an assessment Of damages or an award
shall have been returned by the apprais-
ers, the company upon paying into the
court the amount SO assessed CT award
ed, may enter upon and take possession
of the lands and property covered thereby
irrespective OF whether exceptions TO said
assessment or award shall be filed or not.
and the subsequent proceedings shall not
interfere with or affect such possession,
but shall only affect the amount of com
pensation 10 be paid"
In reply to a question from Mr. Mudd.
Commissioner Beach said two bridges had
been recommended instead of one because
enc bridge Of the size sufficient TO meet
all requirements would offer considerable
obstruction 10 navigation, and make il
difficult to construct a draw. There would
be less obstruction to navigation to have
Two bridges
There was some discussion as to she
right of the electric line to 20 over the
new bridge which is to take the place OF
the Long Bridge the language N the bill
On this point being somewhat obscure It
was finally amended so tat the electric
line should have the same right as it now
possesses.
Commissioner Beach submitted the fol-
loving amendment which was adopted:
20 dynamo furnishing power to this por-
tion of the road shall be in any manner
connected with the ground.
the reading OF the bill was then con-
cl,ied and on motion OF Mr.. Mudd the bill
and amendments were ordered favorabIy
reported &c the House.
Next Thursday the committee viii take
up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cross
ing bill.