The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-15
REPORTED IN THE SENATE
The Bill for Abolishing the B. so.
Grade Crossings.
Provide That the COM
pnny liz TO Remove Its Present Stn-
pot Across Delaware Avenue
Changes to He Made in Trncknge.

Mr.. Mcmillan, from the Committee on
the District of Columbia, yesterday favor
ably reported in the Senate, with amend
ments, the bill to abolish grade crossings
on the lines of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad in the District Of Columbia. The
changes and amendments as provided in
the bill are as follows:
THE Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany is to remove its present station and
build commcdious depot across Delaware
Avenue, 200 feet north OF c Street north.
This will open North Capitol Street to
travel and thus put into complete use one
of the great thoroughfares of the city.
For its station and grounds the company
will occupy the squares east and west OF
Delaware Avenue and north OF G Street,
thus obtaining sufficient space for the
transaction of its business with the public.
Alphabetically the station building is to
be a structure fit to occupy a prominent
position within plain sight OF the Capitol.
From the station the road will run
northeasterly on Delaware Avenue to
Florida Avenue, the tracks being carried
on an elevated masonry structure. under
meath which the main thoroughfares are
to be carried. From point north of Flor
ida Avenue the road will be carried on an
embankment. The line of road that now
DIVORCES at G Street will be abandoned,
thus doing away with eleven grade cross
ings and leaving these streets entirely
free from railroad tracks.
srTI Eslx- T-.-:s N-xA
now occupied by the Columbia Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb, instead Of being
hemmed in between two lines of railroads
crossing streets at grade. will be relieved
altogether of one set of tracks, and from
the west the approach will be underneath
a slightly structure. Moreover the occu-
patton Of Delaware Avenue will be only to
such an extent as will leave an ample
driveway on each side of the elevated
tracks.
$50 Systematically has the plan been
worked out that no land damages are an
ticipated. There are, however, certain
expenses that must be shared between the
District and the railroad If these desirable
changes are to be brought about. In inak-
ing these adjustments, the District Com
missioners have followed what is now the
well-settled policy in such cases-a divis
ion Of those expenses directly consequent
on abolishing grade crossings.
ITO elevate these tracks within the city
and to cOnfine the same to one line in
stead of two lines now existing. it is nee
essary to change both of the existing lines
materially in part of the District lying
outside of the city limits, and to unite
them beyond the boundary of the city to
bring them down Delaware Avenue, as pro-
posed.
This necessitates the abandonment for
more than mile and a half of the right
of way Of the Washington branch and of
some right of way on the Metropolitan
branch, and the purchase of a new right OF
way from MontelIo to lexington. the
of roundhouse, turntabe. wa
ter tank, shops, buildings. and trestles at
Trinidad on the Washington branch, and
the construction of the same at or near
as proposed: it requires the
of a new "Y" or device for
the joining of two lines outside of the Dis
trict
''These. costs are a part Of the costs |
made necessary by the elevation. and their |
estimated sum was placed. for the pur-
pose of agreement between the company and |
the District Commissioners, at low figure |
Under the general rule established In |
other localities, and recognized by this
committee. cne-half of these costs should |
be borne by the public benefited.
Moreover 1t must be borne in mind |
that the company voluntarily reliuqushes
its right under the contract referred to-
which would give 1t ten years more of |
existence under present conditions. and |
that it transfers to the public without
cost. the right OF way abandoned on the
branch. Also. the company,
n bringing its line from Monticello to Eek
ngton. adopted the line suggested by the
(even though less ex-
oensive one might have been adopted. in
,rdcr to enable the future streets of Wash
ngton. when extended into the part OF the
District traversed by the proposed line. to
De extended without crossings at grade"