The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-27


tion of the Potomac River at any hour o
the day or night and shall give otael
railroad companies the right to pass owe
said bridge upon such reasonable term:
as may be agreed upon between the CON-
panies or prescribed by Congress.
The Secretary of War is authorized to
enter into contract with the Baltimore
ard Potomac Railroad Company to con-
etruct within two years after the passage
! of this act, at point not less than SOC
feet above the site of the present Long
Bridge, new and substantial bridge for
highway travel, of iron or STEEL resting
upon masonry piers and provided with
suitable approaches. and with sufficient
draw, all in accordance with plans and spe-
cifications TO be approved by the Secreta-
| ry of War; and there is to be appropriated
| (one-half out of the revenues of the Dis
| trict of Columbia and one-half out of any
| money in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated) the sum of $56S, 900, or SO
much thereof as may be necessary, to be
| paid from time to time. as the construc-
ton of the said bridge progresses, by the
Secretary of War, under such regulations
as he shall prescribe. All street railroads
chartered or that may hereafter be char
tered by Congress shall have the right to
cross said bridge on such reasonable terms
| as may be agreed upon between the compa-
mics or prescribed by Congress: Provided.
That the street railroad now using the
Long Bridge shall be permitted to change
its location SO as to cross the highway
bridge herein provided for.
The ID. 4 o. Bill.
The Baltimore and Ohio bill provides that
the railroad company is to remove its pres
ent station and build commodious depot
across Delaware Avenue, 200 feet north of
Street north. This will open North Capt.
tol Street TO travel. and thus put into COM
plete use one of the great thoroughfares of
the city. For its station and grounds the
company will occupy the squares east and
west of Delaware Avenue and north of C
Street thus obtaining sufficient space for
the transaction of its business with the
public. Alphabetically. the station build
ing is to be a structure fit to occupy a
prominent position within plain sight Of the
Capitol.
From the station the road will run north
easterly on Delaware Avenue to Florida
Avenue, the tracks being carried on az ele-
waited masonry structure, underneath which
the main thoroughfares are to be carried.
From a point north of Florida Avenue the
road will be carried on an embankment.
The line of road that now DIVORCES at G
Street will be abandoned. thus doing away
with eleven grade crossings and leaving
those streets entirely free from railroad
tracks. The great property of the United
States now occupied by the Columbia In
stitution for the Deaf and Dumb, instead
of being hemmed in between two lines of
railroads crossing streets at grade, will be
relieved altogether of one set OF tracks,
and from the west the approach will be
underneath slightly structure. Moreover,
the occupation OF Delaware Avenue Will be
only to such an extent as Will leave an
ample driveway on each side of the ele-
waited tracks.
So systematically has the plan been
worked out that no land damages are an
ticipated. There are, however, certain ex-
penses that must be shared between the
District and the railroad il these desira-
Bile changes are to be brought about. In
making these adjustments the District
Commissioners have followed what is now
the well-settled policy in such cases-a
division of those expenses directly conse-
quent on abolishing grade crossings.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany, under an existing agreement be-
tween said company and the municipal au-
thorities authorized by Congress. has the
right to maintain its present tracks with
in the District of Columbia until 1910.
right to exercise the power of eminent
domain with regard thereto.
To elevate these tracks within the city
and to confine the same to one line in
stead of two lines now existing. it is nee
essary to change both of the existing
lines materially in part of the District
lying outside Of the city limits. and to
unite them beyond the boundary of the
city to bring them down Delaware Avenue,
ba hon
donment for more than mile and half
of the right of way on the Washington
branch and of some right Of way on the
Metropolitan branch, and the purchase of
new right Of way from Monticello to Eek
ington, the abandonment roundhouse, |
turntable, water tank shops, buildings, |
and trestles at Trinidad, on the Washing |
ton branch, and the construction of the |
same at or near lexington. as proposed; |
it requires the construction of a new "Y''
or device for the joining Of two lines out
side of the District. These costs are a
part OF the costs made necessary by the |
elevation, and their estimated sum was
placed for the purpose Of agreement be-
tween the company and the District Com ,
missioners. at low figure. Under the
general rule established in other locali-
ties, and recognized by this committee,
one-half of these costs should be borne by
Inc PUBIC Denenteu.
Objects of the Bill.
The main objects of the bill are:
To eliminate grade crossings by abandon
ing certain portions of the railway routes;
by consolidating the Metropolitan and
branches. bringing them into
The city on a single viaduct along the line
Of Delaware Avenue the viaduct being
carried over street crossing; by closing
certain streets.
To provide modern passenger station
IN the north of c Street northeast, between
First and North Capitol Streets, ard also a
station for fast and perishable freight on
he east of North Capitol Street, between
D and F Streets.
To provide railroad yards and station for
leavy freight in the territory bounded by
Florida Avenue, S Street, the Metropolitan
Branch and the Brentwood Road.
The bill also proposes to authorize the
formation of terminal company IL de-
sired 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
The new routes proposed by the bill are: |
Beginning at the south end, the road COM
mences in Delaware Avenue. Just north of
Street at the station, thence runs north
erly on Delaware Avenue TO Florida Ave- |
hue, the Metropolitan branch continuing in |
4 direct line until IL joins the present |
light of way near Street and the Wash
pgton branch bearing off to the east |
,araIleling New York Avenue extended |
lbout 200 feet to the north thereof, until
I connects with the existing main line In |