Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-16
REPORT ON B. AND O. BILL
RESPOND TO COM
MUNICATION on GRADE CROSSINGS.
Citizens Association Sub
NIT Certain Changes to Senate Conn
mittee-Nr. Hunts Comment.

Inc biSliitl COMMISSIONERS tohoy sun
mitted to Senator Mcmillan. chairman of
the Senate District committee a report
upon a communication from the North
Capitol and lexington Citizens Association
relative to the bill providing for the elm
nation by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
of grade crossings, etc. This communfca-
ton. which was published in The Star, was
addressed to Senator Mcmillan. and sug-
gested certain changes in the bill In their
report the Commissioners say:
THE project submitted by the association
involves to such extent the comparison
of the disadvantages of definite plan with
the advantages of an indefinite plan that
it ia almost impossible to treat the matter
in a satisfactory manner" They submit
ted. however. a report upon the subject by
the computing engineer of the District, Mr..
c. r. Hunt, which they believe practically
covers the circumstances of the case.
In his report Mr.. Hunt states that the
general features of the plan proposed in
the bill for the portions of the tracks, &c,
north of Florida avenue embrace three pro-
visions: First, the junction Of the Metro
poiitan and Washington branches so as to
require but a single route south OF Florida
avenue. Second, the construction of W
to enable such a single entrance to be
operated. And third, the location at
practicable point for operation of yard,
with round house. &c. The plan submitted
by the association accomplishes the first
by definite proposition; indicates that the
w may be placed wherever seems best,
and locates the yard about mile further in
the country than provided in the bill.
Estimate of Cost.
The association prepared a table of the
estima ted cost of it's plan and that proposed
in the bill. and referring to this comparison
Mr.. Hunt says it is valueless since the cost
under the associations plan of the ~" and
of the yard are omitted. and it is certain
that they would be large, however located.
Were they located. he states. with due re
gard for considerations Of economy OF their
construction, their cost would exceed by at
least $4,000 and possibly 100000 the cost
of the same construction as proposed by
| the bill, and he explains that no account is
taken in these estimates of the cost of new
| right of way. 1t is certain that this would
be very large, he thinks. and could not be
recouped save in a small part by the sale
| of the right of way proposed to be aban-
| doned.
Cuts and Slopes.
Mr.. Hunt says the cuts to be made ap-
| proximate fifty feet in depth as a maxi
| mum, and that the slopes to such cuts
would largely increase the expenditure Tor
| right of way. He states that the associa-
| ton estimates the cost of filling the '4'
as proposed in the bill at s13i,7o0. without
| consideration of the fact that such filling
| will really cost the railroad nothing. since
| the heavy cuts necessarily to be made in
| building the new Washington branch from
| Florida avenue to Winthrop Heights Will
furnish a surplus of material, which viii
fill this ~ without aSsignabie cost, since
| such material must be disposed of some
| where in the vicinity. He declares that on
| the sole basis of cost of construction the
| associations plan is considerably more than
| S2UOGDo more costly than that in the bill.
| while the acquisition of the necessary r1ght
| of way might easily double these figures
| as representing the net financial COMPARE
| of the two plans.
Referring 10 the suggested advantage Of
| the asSuciato plan as to the rates Of
| grade on the Metropolitan branch of the
| railroad, Mr., Hunt asserts that it is not
| a fact, since both plans surmount the
| same total elevation between Florida and
| Rhode Island avenues-the association s plan
| by n nearly uniform rate of grade and the
| bills plan by practically level grade for
| the first half OF the distance and by the
! existing grade on the present tracks for
| the second half The level portion of the
| bills profile, he says. is distinct and de-
| cided advantage and safeguard as there
! used. On II train can acquire, Ire be-
| lieves, that Roadway which is essential
| to the surrounding of a long steep grade,
| while the existing one per cent rate on
| the Metropolitan tracks is not confined to
| the portion south of Rhode Island avenue
but continues far beyond that point. 1t
| is thus the ruling grade. and the substi-
| tuition of lighter grade for a portion of
| its length without changing the total ele-
| Walton surrounded is of no advantage,
|
| GRAFTON of the level track proposed by the
bill for part of the distance, is a distinct
| ly inferior profile.
| Only Make 1t EauaI
Speaking Of the associations claim that its
| profile may be modified by increasing the
| rate just north of Florida avenue with ad-
| vantages of economy, Mr.. Hunt says this
cannot do more than make it the equal,
from an operative standpoint, of the profile
in the BILL however arranged. The second
| advantage claimed by the association he
points out. is the slight curvature of the
alignment Of its Metropolitan branch. Why
| this is claimed as an advantage is not clean
| t" him. since the curvature, he states is
greater both in the amount and in the de-
gree than that of the route fixed by the bill
The third advantage claimed by the as
ISOLATION, states Mr. Hunt, for its plan is
that the shops, yards. &c, should be re-
moved from the locality named in the bill
| He says the association does not make a
new location, but suggests possible one
which corresponds closely with the one
heretofore suggested by the association
and fully reported upon by the Commits
sioners the nth Of last February. No al
| tentative location appears possible to Mr
| Hunt which would not offer the same OIL
| greater objections.
Extends Over Large Area.
| This last plan, declares Mr.. Hunt, extends
| over "A vastly greater area of the suburbs
|
to which this new territory is not now
| subject as is the territory embraced in the
bills location of the "Y." A "Y" and 6
yard in combination are hardly. he thinks
more Objectionable in neighborhood thar
each woIld be separately and it is chic
merit of the plan proposed in the bill tina
| the sum total of possible objection to thei
! construction is reduced to minimum b,
their consolidation and reduction to thu
smallest practicable dimensions
, | Such consolidation by any other pla,
than the bill proposes is not practicable
says Mr.. Hunt. although many efforts hav
been made tn secure 1t. When this tn
nearness of the yard to the city and it
citizens who will use it; its accessibility b.
f way Of thoroushfares established an,
? paved, and the fact that no new territor
is suggested for railroad occupation in it
construction are all considered there CA
be no hesitation, he believes, in affirming
3 that the associations plan is greatly i
| error.
Much stress is laid by the association OF
| the number of streets closed in Eckingtor
| The fact should be carefully noted, MI
| Hunt says, that only one of the streets S
closed is open in both directions from tn