The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-11
The Grade Crossings.

method OF eliminating grade crossings
along this line"
The Grade Crossings.
The committee has no hesitation in say
ing that in so far as the elimination OF
grade crossings is concerned, no better
plan viii ever be proposed Continuing, the
report says:
AFTER much discussion of the proposition
to straighten the lines OF the railroad by
allowing the occupation Of a small portion
Of Garfield Park the committee is Of the
opinion that such occupation is imperative
in order 10 prevent the continued loss of
life at The so-called peadmen's Curve at
the western end Of The tunnel under X
Street southwest The improvements con
tcmplated will protect the lives OF persons
using the park while the additions TO the
park spaces already made and in contem-
rIation viii allow the proposed diminujion
OF Garfield Park to be made without any
real curtailing Of the parks in a section
that must If necessity be given over large
ly TO business purposes.
The continued and enlarged occupation
Of the Mall is also a subject which has re
ceiyed much attention As the District
Commissioners poin; out the location Of
the railroad within iho Mall was made bv
the board Of aldermen and the common
council Of he city OF Washington on March
20. 1871, which location was confirmed by
act Of Congress approved May 81 1872 The
city has adjusted itself TO these conditions
and to disturb them now would be not only
ii practical impossihil;ty. but also would
be In the opinion OF the committee. highly
undesirable BY virtue Of the proposed
% ham ID .rF
improved 20 far as sghtliness is concern
ed. and 90 q result the visitor to the Ma
tionsl Capital will not only be landed near
the heart Of the city. but also his first
implt ssions of ne city will be Of the
pieasautesr possible character
1t is proposed 10 remove the tracks Of
the railroad from Sixth Street and TO or5n
that thoroughfare 90 public travel. and in
order "a accommodate both the road and
the public. to widen Is Street in front of
the present station so as 20 make there
broad plaza. Then q new and commcd-
ious passenger station is 10 be constructed
I'm such q manner as To- make the BUILDING
one Of the architectural features OF the
Capital. This station building vii! cost
the company about a million and a half of
dollars. From the station the tracks are
to run ON az elevated structure In q south
erIy direction TO join the main lines OF the
company ON Virginia and Maryland Ayen-
uas and provision has been made for carry
ing The proposed new avenue una erneath
The tracks by arches having a combined
width OF 200 feet an architectural feature
that Cali be- uade 10 add beauty TO the new
thor0uehlare Indeed. SO far as sighuuCss
is concerned Oh. proposed change will add
greatly 20 the beauty of that portion Of
the Mall
The engineer officers Of the Govern
ment recommend that there shall be but
one bridge across the main or Virginia,
channel Of the Potomac and the railroad
people prefer two bridges So strong is
this preference on the part of the rail-
road company thar IL is willing 10 build
the second, or highway. bridge for The
sum that the District and the Government
would be required 10 pay as their proper
Tomato sum for single hridFe-that is
to say the railroad company would pay
the difference in the cost between one and
two bridges.
The question as 10 whether there should
be two bridges across the Potomac in
place OF the present Long Bridge is one
which should be determined upon the ba-
sis Of the relative value Of the commerce
passing up and down the river and that
passing across il at the point in question.
The railroad desires TO have wagon traffic
removed from the railroad bridge on the
ground that in spite Of all precautions
runaways and similar accidents are Ger
tain to occur due to proximity Of trains.
Mr. Brown, the engineer of the road,
states that at least seven people already
have been killed on the Long Bridge by
such accidents.
The officer in charge Of the river and |
harbor improvements OF this District |
claims that the interests OF navigation |
would be best served by one bridge; that |
one draw would form less obstruction than 1
two and also that there would be less /
liability Of an ice gorge forming with |
one bridge. The only records which have |
been kept concerning the number OF times