The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

! decide on which side of the controversy
the public interests are greater"
AS to the exPense involved. the report
says:
THE estimated cost of the works con-
! templated in the bill is s.. 900 600. 1t is
| proposed that the United States and the
District of Columbia shah pay in equal
proportion the cost of approaches to rail
road crossings which is estimated to be
| $4,000: the United States and the District
of Columbia are to pay in equal proportion
| on account OF the betterments contem-
plated the sum Of 81 goo; making the
| total cost to the public s1,5i5,000
From this should be deducted the value
| OF the abandoned right of way of the COM
| pany, outside Of street limits, between
| Winthrop Heights and Delaware Avenue,
which land is to be decided to the District
| in fee simple, being l2.1 acres, valued at
| $4,000 per acre, or s36, 300, and 1.6 acres
| valued at $s,125 per acre, or $4,000, aggre-
eating $4,000, leaving a balance of 81 49,,
| 700.
Division of Expense.
With reference to the proposition of
the Government paying a million and
half dollars toward the project in question,
the company states that this amount is
half the estimated cost of so much of the
of grade crossings: that is, the change OF
route and elevation of tracks, and they re-
quest the Government to pay this proper
ton of the proposed work. To this very
necessary work they state that they are
adding s2,000,000 more in betterments,
which will all be to the benefit of the pub
lie, and from the estimates submitted TO
them the Commissioners have reason to
believe that the amounts have not been
overstatec.
Objection has been raised by a few
parties in the District to this payment on
the ground that the company needs new
terminal facilities, which T. must obtain
for the transaction OF its business. But
the company states. and the Commission
ers have reason to believe, that it now
owns sufficient ground to give it all the
terminal facilities it would need for fifty
years to come with tracks on grade, at an
expenditure of not more than half Il mil
lion dollars, and that the four or five mil
lions required TO do the work called for by
the bill IS mainly for the Improvement
and advantage of the District and city.
THE company claims that under con-
tracts and agreements made by said COM
pany and the municipal authorities. author
lied by acts Of Congress under the terms
of which the depot was removed from its
original site to the site now occupied by
II.
of the city east of New Jersey Avenue and
north of Street. the right to occupy its
present site and tracks was authorized and
confirmed until 1910. The contract refer
red to is dated June 10, 1850, and the
ordinances authorizing and confir- ling it
are dated respectively, May 81, 1850, and
January II, 1867.
The Commissioners believe, after ex-
animation and consultation, that there is
merit in the claim of the company, and
that should 1t not be willing 10 abandon
the present routes and elevate its road il
could not be compelled TO do so even by
Congress prior to 1910 The company
states quite frankly that under the cir
cumstances they expect assistance in
carrying out SO much OF the plan as re,
lates directly to changing their routes,
elevating their tracks. and removing them
from grade for the purpose OF improving
the city and ar the convenience OF street
traffic.
Considering the advantages which will
be derived by said city and public general
". and the vastly greater expense proposed
to be incurred by the company than what
could be required II 1t stood upon its
strictly legal rights under the terms OF the
contract above referred to, and consider
ing also that railways in other cities of
the country have been aided by the city or
State or both. in the work OF a5olishng
grade crossings. the Commissioners feel
that the request of the company is equit-
able and not immoderate.
THE manner in which payments are to
be made is considered very reasonable. a
sinking fund is to be established, and the
million and a half dollars is to be paid only
upon presentation Of a certificate from the
Commissioners that the work required by
he bill has heen satisfactorily executed.
IT is believed that the value of the ben
efts and improvements resulting from the