Evening star., 1900-01-20
GRADE CROSSINGS
Question Considered at Meeting of
Board of Trade.
RAILWAY BILL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
Memorial Bridge Discussed by
Members Of the Organization.
MISCELLANEOUS BCSIN ESS

~ > IN
The plan Of the Pennsylvania railroad for
eliminating grade crossings within the city
limits was discussed at a meeting of the
board Of trade. which was held last even
ing in National Rifles Hall. The report of
the committee on railroads was the special
matter to consider which the meeting
called. and the result represen-
tative gathering of the members of the
board. and. in addition. a number of citi-
zens specially interested. II was the first
meeting OF the board held since the cleo
ton of Mr.. John JOY Edison as president.
and il was an aUspicipus opening of his ad-
ministrali"n-
In addition to the railroad matter the
committee ON bridges submitted a report
relative 10 the phases of the bridge ques-
tion affected by the plans of the railroad
company. The discussion on the report of
the railroad committee went over the
ground very thoroughly. and, In addition,
Mr.. Hunt of the District engineer depart
ment was present and. by means of plans.
explained the proposed changes. Some of
the features of the report included the reit-
Grafton of the views ef the board in en-
phatic protest against the occupancy of the
public parks for railroad purposes The re-
port also opposed The use uf Potomac Park
the use Of Water street. and recOmme nded
that provision be made for the taxation of
the real and personal property of the rail-
road company.
The committee was of the opinion that
the property and rights asked for by the
company exceeds in value the cost Of the
charges and damages. and therefore was
opposed To having these charges placed on
the general government and the District
lp0n the conclusion of the discussion the
report was adopted without one dissenting
Voice.
After President Edison raped for order,
the minutes of the last meeting were read
by the secretary. Mr.. George II. Harries
and approved.
Chairman Perry'S Comments.
A special report from the committee on
bridges was read by Mr.. r. Ross Perry.
the report by saying:
after years of persistent work, after
conferences with the Commissioners and
railroad officials and citizens generally
after succession of hopes and doubts and
fears. the committee on railroads at length
comes before this board with a definite
proposition upon which the committee is
unanimous 1t is unnecessary to here re-
hearse the efforts of this committee and
of the board of trade in behalf of local
railroad betterments. Most of you are
familiar with the many features of the
long struggle and all of you, / imagine,
will be pleased 10 know that there is at
length some semblance of an agreement as
10 what may be done.
For a long while we framed plans and
endeav"red to secure their adoption; then
the District Commissioners did the PLAN
ming. but both of US failed to bring about
the desired end
The most successful method has been
to arrange consultations between the rail-
road authorities. the District Commission
ers and the members of this committee.
Out OF these conferences has come Senate
bill! No 1922 which provides for the abol-
iShing Of the local grade crossings of the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad, and for
other changes in the present status of
that railroad within the District of Column
Ma- 1t would be too much to expect this
measure at this stage 10 be entirely salts
factory 10 the people of Washington.
Framed by the railroad company il natur-
ally claims everything in sight and NAV
perhaps have worked itself some injury
by claiming too much. The commissioners
have not yet reported upon it, and cour-
tepHSIy- Will not make 4 report until the
opinion Of the board of trade has been
pronounced as 10 the merits Of the proposed
legislation.
Realizing how serious a matter this is
We have dealt with the subject carefully
and deliberately and have-after full con-
sultation and after hearingS-evulved a re-
port II would b. improper of me to dis
cusS mat document before it is laid be
fore YOU II is, therefore. submitted with
the assurance TO you that it is the con-
crete eXpre sSion of the unanimous commit
tee membership.
report OIL the committee.
The report was as follows,
ITO the Washington Board of Trade:
The prnd"ncy OF Senate bill No. 1929
providing for the abolishing of the local
grade crossings Of the Baltimore and Poto-
rsac railroad. and for other changes IA
The pr sent status Of that railroad in The
DIstric; Of Columbia. seems of such public
inp"rttnce that the committee on bridges
OF your board EGvc given special attention
rs.rF "a -
t!Gu Of proposed bridge or bridges across
III. Potomac river Al or near the site of Inc
Present Long bridge So much Of this bill
"a concerns the proposed changes of grade.
and construction IN the tracks and con-
Gems further the proposed occupation of a
substantial portion of the reclaimed Poto-
mae Ht;s. has received and Will doubtless
continue to receive the careful attention
of your committee on railroads and of yo11r
committee on public parks. Your commit
tee on bridges therefore limits its report
strictly 20 so much OF said measure as
comes within its functions
AT the outset it i a gratifying thing
that In this centennial year of the estab-
Hshment Of the District of Columbia as A
territory peculiarly national and Of the civ
OF w Na<hlngton as a national capital the
pc ople Of The United States in general and
cur own citizens in particular have every
reason I" expect the authorization and the
beginning of the construction of the memo
rial bridge.
The Patriotic Idea.
SO much has been said as to the patri-
otie idea which is to find its beautiful ma
terial expression in this structure, and the
country generally is so impressed with the
appropriateness and truth of this idea that
IL would be tedious perhaps to ieyelop il
here again But your committee must add
that II seems peculiarly appropriate that
the accomplishment of our ardent hopes in
TINS direction should come at this time
For more than a century the different seq
tlonS OF this country have never been so
completely united as now. and when this
magnificent and patriotic structure erected
by the living as solemn memorial 10 the
devotion and heroiSm Of our nations dead
shall have Joined together the north and
the south banks Of the Potomac there. will
be hitting material expression of a great
truth
The Long bridge received careful atren-
tion from your committee on bridges at a
very early period of the boards life AT a
special meeting Of the board held on rhe
I'D of February, 1Sg2. there was submit
ted and unanimously adopted by the board
4 careful and detailed report of the COM
mittee bridges. Of which our esteemed
eN-pr-Sile0f Mr. Theodore Moves ~.