The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-07
A REMEDY FOR The Evil
The Commissioners Plan to Abolish
Grade Crossings.
Methods 10 Regulate the Existing
Conditions Set Forth i'm a Report
ON The Pennsylvania Railroad Bill
-Ninduct. and Tunnels 10 BE Com
structed-Cost OF the improvements

sent to Senator Mcmillan. Chairman of the
Senate Committee on the District of
Columbia, their report on what is known
as the Pennsylvania Railroad bill. regard
ing the Improvements in the matter of
grade crossings and stations of the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company
operating in the District. The report out
lines the manner in which the railroad en-
tiers the city. speaks Of its system of
trackage and its freight and passenger sta
tions. and of the room for vast improve
ments in all these things. When the act
Of Congress of Nay u, 1872, was passed.
the system then in vogue was adequate
for the traffic in freight and passengers,
but there has been a tremendous increase
in both these lines during the interval OF
years, and the plans at that time adopted
will no longer suffice for the conditions OF
the present.
One OF the bad features named in the
report is the fact that a railroad yard ex-
lists adjoining Garfield Park, place where
children are wont TO gather in large num-
bers. With few unimportant exceptions
every street crossing along the line of the
road within the city limits is at grade
subject to the delays. inconvenience, and
class of crossing. The exceptions referred
TO are the crossings from Seventh to Flew
enth Streets southeast. under which the
road passes through tunnel, and the
driveway over The road just northeast of
the Fish Commission building. which is
highly Objectionable on account of its
steep approaches and narrowness.
The freight and passenger terminals Of
the company are pronounced very unsat-
freight are entirely insufficient. fact
which has a direct bearing upon The price
of every commodity coming into the city
by freight. The passenger terminal is too
small even for the ordinary volume Of
business, and is utterly inadequate when
important events attract unusual crowds
10 the city.
II is said that Washington is Stunned as
a convention city on account OF The in
ability OF the railroads TO handle the crowds
that are attracted by the gatherings. 1t
is this fact which has caused Congress 10
make provision for additional tracks during
the rush time attending inaugurations. The
present condition of the terminals
is said TO be the cause of the frequent
freight COMPOSITIONS
1t is also the purpose OF the bill to per-
nit the company to acquire an additional
strip of land on the west of the present
passenger station of 100 feet in width and
on the total OF $40 feet new passenger
station will be built.
The bill proposes 10 close the following
10 street traffic: Z and F streets
southwest. at Virginia Avenue; Street
southwest between Four-and-ahalf and
Sixth and Severth Streets.
These crossings stlilie the railroad dag
onally at an awkward angle. and it is in
tended to provide convenient crossings
within square or less OF each of ne
points named An examination Of the map
will show what great length OF tunnel
would be necessary TO carry these streets
under the railroad yiGduct. owing 10 ire
angle at which they intersect On account
of the position OF adjacent streets praeti
cally no interruption Of street travel viii !
result from closing the crossings.
II is proposed TO yacate 10 the company
portions of the following streets and ave-
nues, to-wit: Canal street. g and II
Streets, Virginia Avenue, Maryland Ave
nue. on the south side. between Ninth aud |
Tenth Streets and all of The avenue be- |
tween Twelfth and Fourteenth Streets: 1
Thirteen hat Street and Thirteenth |
Street. between d and Water. and z Street |
Twelfth and Water. These streets |
are practically closed to traffic at present, |
and the change would make no special diff |
ference.
The streets that will be carried over the |
railroad are: Second. Third. Fourth, Fifth. |
and Sixth Streets southeast. and New Jer- |
sey Avenue. Ninth. Tenth. Eleventh. and |
Twelfth Streets southwest. Those that |
will be carried under the tracks Of the /
railroad will be: South Capitol Street, !
Delaware Avenue. First, Second, Third, |
Four and -a-half Sixth. and Seventh |
Streets. Maryland Avenue, b, West Capt. |
tol. and Water Streets. all southwest.
According TO the bill the United States |
and the District of Columbia are to pay, in |
equal proportion the following: The cost |
Of approaches where streets are carried un- |
der or over the right of way OF the COM
pany. and all damages resulting from
change OF grade. The United States is to |
pay for removing the Fish Commission 1
TO make room for the new sta 4
ton. 1t is estimated that the amount of /
damages will not exceed $4,000. The es-
timated cost of building the approaches TO
the eompany's right Of way is 5000. 600. The
amount of damages is estimated TO be $50
300 The amount of land taken in Garfield |
Park is 270.0 900 square feet, valued at so
,ents per square foot s162. 900 The amount
IF land taken in the Mall, in excess Of that
II present occupied, is 3Gi 600 square feet
mot including street spaces), valued at
per square foot $4,000. Making the
otal cost to the Government. excluding |
he bridge over the Potomac and the re-
noval of the Fish Commission building
y jos. 600.
or this sum there is repayable the sum
If 81 e72. 600 for land transferred to the
company. leaving deficit OF s250.000. pay