Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-06
Under and Along Virginia Avenue,

by taking the road off X and Canal
streets southeast, and placing it in a tunnel
along the line of Virginia avenue it is be-
lieved that a great improvement will be
accomplished. This would not only practi-
cally abolish grade crossings, but would re-
move the railroad from view in the south
eastern section of the city. The road would
be invisible between New Jersey avenue
and 18th street southeast; X and Canal
streets would be relieved of railroad tracks
east Of New Jersey avenue and entirely
restored to the use of the public; an aWk-
ward elbow would be taken out of the line
and the distance would be shortened From
an engineering standpoint the proposed
route is incomparably better than the exist
ing one.
Serious objection has been raised to this
proposition, however, because, it has been
stated, it will destroy Garfield Park The
area of the park is 23.9S acres; $50 acres
would be taken by the railroad under the
provisions of the bill, leaving 1913 acres
still available for park purposes. The park
would not be destroyed by any means: by
far the best and larger portion of it would
be preserved. and owing to the removal of
the tracks from grade it would be so pro-
tected that children could play in it with
out danger. At present, as before stated,
the tracks lie along the south edge of the
park and at the same grade, constituting
an exceedingly dangerous condition If chill
dren are permitted to play there without
supervision.
"While a portion of the park would be
taken, the advantages to the public of the
proposed change are SO many and great
that they are believed to far Outweigh the
disadvantages and sufficient to warrant an
approval of this portion of the bill.
The Proposed Passenger station.
THE bill proposes 10 grant the company
a strip of the mall 100 feet wide in addi-
ton and to thezwest of it's present hold
ings. This would kfvt the company a strIp
of the mall $40 feet wide. lying Immediately
west Of 9th street and between B street
south and B street north. Sixth street
would be entirely cleared of railway tracks,
provided with q modern pavement at the
expense of the company and fully restored
| to the use of the public. b street between
9Th and s7th streets would be widened on
the south to a width of IT'S feet, and 1th
width of 100 feet. On the square fronting
this broad plaza an imposing station would
be erected. within easy reach of the street
railway lines on which passengers may
reach almost any portion of the District
of Columbia for. the payment of a single
fare The tracks would enter the station
from the south on IAN elevated: structure.
This viaduct would be much less obstruc-
tive than the surface tracks now existing.
and instead of. the narrow bridge with
steep approaches now crossing the tracks
! In the mall West Capitol street so-called.
would be carried under. at grade through
substantial arch fifty feet wide provided
with paved roadway and Sidewalks.
1.-THE need of new passenger station is
SO apparent that argument on the subject
is believed to be Unnecessary. The man
question, therefore, "a Shall the station. be
enlarged at the present locality, .or shall a,
new one be built elsewhere? :
1.-THE only reason for moving the station
is the clearance of the mall TO clear the
mall the present station and all tracks
i leading to It must be removed entirely. and
a new terminal established somewhere in
South Washington. The new. location mnSt
Continued on Ninth Page.)