Evening star., 1901-10-08
PROPOSED UNION STATION
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS GIVE
PLAN THEIR APPROVAL.
Verbal Assurance That They Will
Urge Necessary LeKis1at1On Upon
Attention of Congress.

The publication in The Star of the plans
for the proposed union depot on the site OF
the present Baltimore and Ohio station and
adjoining properties has brought out the
fact that the District Commissioners have
been semi-officially consulted on the sub
ject by the authorities of both the Balti-
more and Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads
The Commissioners have verbally given
their sanction to the project, and 1t is I'M
derstood they will urge the adoption of
the necessary legislation early In the next
session of Congress, provided the new
consolidated plans are in readiness by that
time.
The Commissioners believe that the best
interests of the District will be served by
the union station idea, which has been so
zealously fought for by the citizens and
representative bodies of the residents for
years past The Commissioners were ap-
preached in confidence by the railroad Of
ficials, it is stated and for that reason
will give out no interviews or statements
on the subject. The publication Of the
scheme in The Star came to them In the
nature of a big surprise
During last June the District Commits
sioners finally approved the plans of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company for its
new terminal arrangements in the city ana
the elevation of it's tracks from the navy
yard tunnel to the 9th street station. The
plans contemplated the erection of mod
ern passenger station on the site OF the
present structure at 9th and B streets, the
trains to enter and depart from level
of the second story. 1t is known that at
the time these plans were officially ap-
proved the Commissioners were not aware
of any contemplated change in the general
scheme, such as is now in course of prepar-
alton. The whole project of the union
station has been decided upon since that
time, the railroads at last coming to the
conclusion that economy at least prescribsS
-fot hot hn oil flll i
ing is that the Eall should be cleared of
tracks and the Baltimore and Ohio site
utilized
The Plans as Approved.
AS the legislation now stands the Penn
sylvania railroad is bound by the provi-.
sions of the bill recently passed by Con-
gress. and In accordance with which the
plans were approved last June. The sign
ing of those plans by the Commissioners
was in line with the steps taken by the
company at that time to carry out the law
1t was commented upon quite freely that
the Baltimore and Ohio company had not
filed its plans for track elevation and the
new terminal facilities.
1t will be an easy matter, the Commits
sioners are understood to believe, to have
the old PENNSYLVANIA and Baltimore and
Ohio bills repealed when the new legisla-
tion, embodying the union depot, is sub
mitted to the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives. Backed by the Commissioners
and the citizens generally, Congress will
gladly and quickly pass the laws, it Is as
sumed.
The construction of the union depot will
mean the building of large tunnel under
LIST street east from the station site to the
southeastern edge of the Capitol grounds,
where a turn in the underground right of
way will be made toward the west. The
tunnel will lead out on to the present tracks
Of the Pennsylvania company and will be
utilized in carrying trains from the north
and south through the city. The tracks
of the Pennsylvania company leading to the
north will be connected with those of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad at point near
Bladensburg, and all trains from Balti-
more, Philadelphia and New York will
come in via Delaware avenue. The Penn
sylvania tracks from Bladensburg into the
city will be used for freight purposes. They
will be elevated along Virginia avenue
southwest