Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-18
STEAM RAILWAY PLANS
SPECULATION REGARDING LOCAL
TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS.
What the Effect of Union of b. and O.
and Pennsylvania Interests
VIII Be.

dulged in among business men ana prop
erty holders as to the probable course that
will be pursued relative to carrying out the
plans authorized by Congress at the last
session for improving the steam railroad
terminals in this city. As the provisions
of the law are plain and the general scheme
meets with the approval Of the Pennsyf-
vania and Baltimore and Ohio companies,
there would be no question as to the policy
to be pursued were 1t not for the belief
that. owing to the purchase Of large blocks
of the securities of the Baltimore andOhio in
the interests of the Pennsylvania company
which has been going on for some time,
there is a prospect of the control of the
former road passing to the Pennsylvania
company. 1t is not known definitely what
the extent and character of the changes In
the relations of those two companies have
been or win be, but 1t has been conjectured
that if anything like an organic union Ia
to take place, even IL the connection Is
not to be quite so close, It Is possible the
authorized terminal plans may be modf-
fed. The local interest is, of course, main
ly in this phase of the subject.
In the absence of any definite informa-
ton there have been a variety of opinions
advanced. The assertion has even been
made that If the two roads practically be-
come one, In interest at least, the building
of one of the terminals will be abandoned.
1t has further been assumed that II such
d Is
likely to be given up will be that of the
Baltimore and Ohio. According to this
view the existing city entrances of neither
of the Baltimore and Ohio lines win be re-
tanned, but a junction of those lines will
be made with the tracks of the Pennsyl-
vania company outside the District and
then all the trains will come to a new de-
pot to be erected in the southern part of
the city. presumably on the site of the
present 9Th street depot of the Pennsyl-
yania cOmpaQy
1t can be readily understood that the
elimination of all the steam railroad tracks
from the northeastern section will be a
change OF great consequence to the ma
terial interests of the city. and hence the
local Importance Of this matter. It Is
recognized by all those who have given
this problem careful consideration that 1t
is by no means easy of solution, either
from the standpoint of the railroad inter-
ests or of those of the community.
Two Main Features.
Broadly speaking there are two main
features which lie, as it were, on the sur
face. The first of these Is Kidding an
important section Of the city of railroad
tracks and the concentration of the steam
lines in one part of the city instead of oc-
cupying two districts as at present. On
the other hand. from the railroad point OF
view, there would be required in the event
of a consolidation of terminals only an
OF something more IMAM OfiS-
half of the total cost of building the two
terminals as proposed. 1t is estimated
that the carrying out of the plans for hoth
terminals authorized by Congress will cost
between eight and nine millions Of dollars,
so that it can be readily seen the financial
phase Is not an insignificant one.
These may be called general considera-
lions, but, going more into detail there
are several which are by no means unim-
portant. For example. on the railroad side,
IL the Pennsylvania terminal is made the
only one In this city. the individuality of
the Baltimore and Ohio would De destroyed
and it would practically become merely
one of the lines in the PENNSYLVANIA sys-
TEN. Financiers point out that, in such an
event, the merging of the two companies
could not be partial or merely harmon1-
Gus relation, but would in effect be or
galic. --H
II Is a. Question In financial circles wheth-
er. in view of possible developments in the
future, the practical destruction of the Bal
tiuore and Ohio as an independent system
would be wise. From the point of view OF
the cQriIpunitys IL Is also argued that CEN
tering all the railroad lines at one point in
the city Is of doubtful public advantage.
The influence of a great union passenger
station in other cities, it is claimed, is to
make them not a stopping place, but
merely point through line.
A large number of people who. If obliged
to go from one depot to another in max
ing connections, might be inclined to stop
Tor .Ciufe De10re reSumlng their journey
would not linger if they had merely to
step from one train into another. There
would be a falling off. it is urged, In the
tide of transient visitors. Then, again.
there is the congestion that would, 1t is
thought, inevitably occur if such throng
as came here for the inauguration were
obliged to use one railroad station, al
though a large one.
There are, of course, many other details
involved. as. for example, the expenditure
that would be needed in order to enlarge
the navy yard tunnel to accommodate prac-
tically what would be duplication of the
present tracks. 1t Is estimated that addi-
tional street space would be occupied by
the enlarged trackage that must be pro-
vided, leading up to the proposed union sta
ton. These and other considerations are
suggested when this subject Is discussed.
II Is understood that it has been the pur-
pose of the railroad companies to have the
detailed drawings for the proposed ter
minais ready for the inspection of con-
tractors some time in July next. AS far
as known here no change has been ordered
in this particular and if such plans are
completed by both the companies it may
furnish a reasonable ground for belief. if
there is no other, that the scheme of ter
minals authorized by Congress will be
carried out.