Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-17
Matters to Be Discussed by the
Board of Trade.
REPORT OF THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE
Provisions of the Bill to Abolish
Grade Crossings
PROBAB
ACTION
L | f

| 1t is probable the meeting of the board of
| trade at National Rifles Hall Friday even
| ing will be one of the most important in
| the history of thai organization. According
| to the notices sent to the members the spe-
| Cial purpose will be to discuss the report of
| the railroad committee on the bill to elim1-
| rate the grade crossings of the Pennsylva-
| mia railroad in this city. Since these notices
| We're sent out a request has been received
| from the District Commissioners that the
| bill recently introduced in Congress to do
| away with the grade crossings of the Bal
| timore and Ohio railroad in this city be con-
| sidered at the coming meeting of the board.
| 1t is the intention of the committee on
| railroads, therefore, to also submit report
| on the Baltimore and Ohio proposition so
| that the entire scheme proposed by the two
steam railroad companies controlling the
entrances into this city for the substitution
OF modern terminals in place of the present
grade crossings will be before the board
| for consideration. 1t is understood the
committee regards with favor the plan of
| the Baltimore and Ohio, except the pro-
vision which requires the payment by the
city of one million and a half of dollars to-
ward defraying the cost of the work of
making the change in the terminal, as pro-
posed by the railroad company.
The Pennsylvania Plan.
mia company, however. it is said the COM
mittee objects to several of the provisions.
In the first place, as to the proposition of
the railroad people to have authority to
use for railroad purposes Garfield Park
and Armory Park. or, at least, considerable
portions of those reservations. the COM
mittee. it is understood, reaffirmS the po-
sition of the board of trade of opposition
to the use of the public parks for railroad
purposes. But the committee is of the
opinion that if the general government sees
fit to grant this land to the railroad, then
the board has, of course. nothing further
to say in the matter. except to the
engineering features, which are highly
commended.
The report, it is said, is emphatic in op-
posing the feature of the plan which pro-
poses to grant for railroad purposes a por-
ton of Potomac Park, adjoining the cause
way of the Long bridge. Further. the
committee is opposed to the proposed track
on Water street from 9TH street TO 14th
street.
Costs and Damages.
Among other details of the plan touched
upon by the report is the question of the
District and the national government pay
ing the costs and damages. TO this the
committee strongly objects, a. 1t is be-
Heved the property and rights asked by the
railroad company largely exceed in value
such expenditures.
The belief is expressed by the committee
that provision should be made to secure
trackage and bridge rights for other rail-
road companies, and for the building of
switches upon the application Of property
owners. 1t is further recommended by the
committee that the railroad company be
required to acquire by condemnation or
otherwise the square between 9TH and 7th
streets, Pennsylvania avenue and b street,
50 that the space can be used d plaza
in front of the railroad station to relieve
the present congested condition of 9TH and
9TH streets.