Evening star., 1900-01-20

| 14th street. There is no public need that
| this track would subserve while many
most serious objections exist to its estab-
| lishment.
| Your committee recommends that a
reasonable time limit-not to exceed one
| year from the passage of the bill-be fixed
| within which the railroad should begin con-
| demnation proceedings in cases where pro-
| vision is made for the acquisition Of prop
| erty by this method. This would be only
simple justice to the present owners of the
| property.
| The committee also recommends that
| the bill be amended by clause providing
| for the taxation of the real and personal
| property of the railroad within the Dis
| trict and the public land dncuding streets
| and avenues) the use of which is granted
| to the railroad.
Your committee on bridges will doubt
l less fully consider this bill so far as it
provides for the removal of the present
| Long bridge and for the erection of new
structures.
There remains only the question of the
equitable division of the expense involved
| in this work and of the compensation to
| be required for the large additional use
granted of pubic parks and streets.
The basis proposed in the bill is that
the railroad company should bear all con-
struction expenses included in its right of
way and that the national government and
the District of Columbia should bear the
expense of the changes of grade and of
the approaches outside of the right of way
and should assume claims for damages due
to the changes of grade etc
Committees Opinion.
Under ordinary circumstances and with
conditions similar to. those prevailing in
other cities such division of cost would
probably be equitable but the committee
is decidedly of the opinion that the prop
erty and rights asked by the railroad COM
pany-conservatively estimated at S2,OOO.-
C1-larGely exceed in value the possible
- a Of of -i,nl, oh. n,,I
damages. The committee is. therefore, op-
posed to any such proposition that which
would bind the District and general gov
ernments for the payment of costs and
damages.
Provision should be made in the meas
ure for trackage and bridge rights to be
secured by other railroad companies under
reasonable conditions.
1T should also be provided that switch
es may be run from authorized tracks
upon application of any property owner
subject TO such regulations as may be pre-
scr1bed by the District Commissioners: pro-
vfded that there shall be no use of streets
or parks nor obstruction to pedestrian and
vehicuiar traffic.
In closing our review of this measure
we also recommend to the serious con-
sideration of the railroad authorities, the
Commissioners and of Congress, the de-
STABILITY of requiring the railroad COM
pany to acquire by condemnation or other
wise the square of ground between 9th and
lth streets and Pennsylvania avenue and
street northwest. and to convert this
land into plaza, providing ample accom-
modation for access to the splendid new
station which, we informed, 1t is the
purpose of the railroad company to erect
If favorable action is taken this bill.
10th 9Th and 7th streets are now danger
ouSly cOngested and the proposed WIDEN
ing of B street will in no way improve
this condition."
Garfield Park and ArmOry Square.
The president stated he had number of
communications from citizens living in the
southeastern and southwestern sections of
the city especially in regard to the occupa-
t!on of Garfield Park and Armory Square.
In respect to the former a protest was en-
tered. and to the latter it was recon-
mended that the entire space be given up
to the of the railroad.
Mr.. c. b. Hunt Of the engineer depart
ment of the District, who had blue prints
of the proposed route of the railroad, dis
played the same on the wall in the rear Of
the platform, then by invitation addressed
the board explaining, by means of the
plans the changes that the Pennsylvania
railroad proposed to make. Beginning at
the eastern end, he stated that it was pro-
posed to extend the tunnel from 7th street
east to ID street east. He said about six
acres of Garfield Park would be taken for
railroad yards and portions of the streets
now occupied by tracks would be freed
from those membranes. The tracks, he
said would be carried over New Jersey
avenue, ana ABOVE the streets the balance
of the way to 9th street.
When asked what compensation would be
paid for the land taken from Garfield Park
Mr.. Hunt said there was no specific sum
mentioned, it was included in the gen
erai amount.
The western end of the tracks will be
overhead, from 9th street to 9th street. and
it Will be necessary to depreSs 9TH street.
At 9th street change Is made from the
viaduct to the depressed track, which con-
tinues to the bridge. An Objectionable fea-
tire from an engineering standpoint he
added, is the high bridge at 9th street.
This could not be helped. however, ne
added, and the bridge viii not have an un-
due height.
He was asked by DR.. Pardon if estimates
lad been made by the engineer department
of the cost of the change of street grades
and he replied that an approximate esti-
mate had been made, which showed that
the cost would not be over 100000.
Piled With Questions.
Mr.. Hunt was piled with questions by
the members of the board. In reply to one
of those inquiries he said the elevation of
the bridge at 9th street would be about
twenty feet He also said he did not see
low the mouth of 1.-THE tunnel could be ex-
tended far west as the intersection Of
Virginia and Maryland avenues on account
of the grade
The letters referred to as coming from cil-
zens of the southwestern and southea stern
sections, in regard to the bin were read by
the secretary. One letter protested against
the occupation of the parks of the city for
railroad purposes, and especially of a por-
ton of Garfield Park. This letter was
signed by Leonard A. Merritt Another
letter to the same effect was read from
Adelaide Salberg
A further communication, which was
from Ben c. McQuade, called attention to
the bad effect on property on the north side
OF Maryland avenue between 9th and llth
streets, in case the grade of the proposed
depressed tracks at this point is very low.
and suggesting that provision be made for
the assessment of damages.
Attention was also drawn in another let
ter to the justice of requiring the rail-
read company to acquire all of square 462.
between 9th and 7th streets and street
and Maryland avenue.
President Edison stated that as this last
communication raised a question that had
not been considered by the committee on
railroads, it would be well to refer It to the
committee for consideration. This action
was taken. 1t being explained that it would
not interfere with action on the report
resolution was offered by Mr.. R. B.
Tenney protesting against the occupation of
any OF the parks of the city for railroad
purposes but it was pointed out that the
report OF the committee made the same
declaration and reaffirmed the position of