Evening star., 1901-07-26
A Union Station.

Within few days the experts serving
the Senate District committee in the draft
ing of a scheme for the development Of the
capitals parks will have returned from Eu-
rope, where they have been studying the
principal features Of park and public build
ing arrangements, and will begin work on
the actual planning of the project. 1t is
thus in order for the consideration anew
of of the most important items in the
whole park proposition, that of the rela-
ton between the Pennsylvania railroad
lines and the Mall, which is regarded by
the commission IS the central feature of
the city's parking plan. Were the situa-
ton with regard to the railroads terminal
plans precisely the same as when the blllS
were passed last session there would be
reason to expect the commission 70 ap-
proach the subject, only obviously. in the
faint hope of persuading the corporation
out of public spiritedness to yield it's oc-
cupation in the interest of capital develop
ment But since the bills were passed
new element has entered into the case, the
consolidation of the Baltimore and Ohio
and the Pennsylvania roads, which are to-
day for all practical business purposes one
organization, and the possible impulse of
public spirit on the part of the railroad IS
reinforced by business considerations to the
same end
This consolidation makes possible union
station, which was previously considered
as beyond reach. ewing to the Jealousy or
the two lines. 1t will be remembered that
some years ago the Baltimore and Ohio
was anxious to join terminals, but was
prevented from executing it's costly scheme
to tunnel Capitol Hill through the deter
mined opposition of it's rival. The reasons
for such opposition are now removed. II
the dominant interest which controls the
two roads so desires union station can
be provided for by law and in fact without
the least difficulty.
There are emphatic business reasons
why the stations should be united. The
saving of construction expense to the COM
panies will be considerable The cost of
maintaining one station will be materially
less than that of two. The consolidation of
the terminals will permit more systematic
handling of the traffic and will perhaps
lead to heavy cuts in the road expense.
On the public side of the account the
benefits to be derived from a union of the
terminals are unmistakable Aside from
the convenience of having all the lines con-
centrated at a single point, thus avoiding
transfers and confusion. the financial ar
guments are weghty. If the present Sixth
street site We're chosen the public should
be relieved of the cnerous and unjust bur-
den of a million and a half bonus TO the
Baltimore and Ohio, which Congress i'm
posed upon the government and the Dis
trict. The city would likewise be relieved
of the present railroad occupation of the
northeastern section. If on the other hand
the Baltimore and Ohio site were chosen
1f,
gain the use Of many acres of park land In
the southern section Of the city.
For the park commissions purposes the
union of the stations could be made to
solve the present awkward problem Of how
to save the Mall from spoliation. The Sc
lection for this purpose of the Baltimore
and Ohio site would entirely clear the
tracks from the region of the great reser-
yation If the other site were chosen 1t
would be easy to devise some plan where
by the roads could erect a station south
OF the Mall which would reflect credit upon
the railroads and would prove an ornament
to the park.
Now that the reasons against a union
station have been removed by the consoli-
dation, 1t is in order to ask the dominant
corporation to consider the welfare of the
national capital well as it's own inter
ests and to avoid duplication which will
not only cost both sides heavily but will
perhaps forever prevent the proper treat
ment Of one of the most striking features
OF Washington's park system. From
mere money point OF view this new adjust
ment could be easily arranged to suit both
sides From the esthetic point of view tho
demand for union station one line or
the other, with the park in any freed
from the railroad incumbrance, is today
more imperative than ever.