Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-16

Of grade crossings in this city. The Com
missloners reported on this bill March -
last.
This report has been delayed they
state. "on account of not receiving from
the railroad companies a statement of the
cost of the proposed work and of the value
OF some of the land owned by the Balti-
more and Ohio Company, which 1t will be
necessary to acquire under the bill and
which the president of the company stated
would be sold to the District for street
purposes at cost price.
Cost to the Companies.
The estimated cost Of the work to the
companies under this bill has been stated
by them to be as follows:
The parts of the structure TO be used by
the roads in common are estimated to be
equally shared. while the parts used solely
by one railroad are separated
The cost to the Baltimore and Potomac
under the present bill is estimated at s. 764-
sou. In addition, they will be required to
spend In accordance with existing legisla-
ton, S1,46a, I33. This makes a total of ST.
a59,113, an additional expenditure of s, 5S4,-
$50 over what, under existing legislation,
the railroad would be required to expend.
me present bill requires the Baltimore
and Ohio 10 make an estimated expend-
iture Of s., ,SS3 $50 Existing legislation re-
JH9+tS. leaving an excess under the pres
ent bill of S2S4 14o
In the reports Of the Commissioners on
the acts abOlishing grade crossings pass
ed in 1901. in the discussion as to the cost
a dlSuncttOn was made as to what was
considered in the light of betterments and
the work due TO the abolition of grade
crossings. The former was suppoSed to he
paid entirely by the railroad companies
and the other to be shared with the Dts
trlct OF Columbia and the United States.
IN that way the sum 10 be paid the Balti-
more and Ohio Isl ,JO00OO was approximate
ed 1t is difficult, # not impossible, under
the present bill to make these distinctions
as the line between betterments and neces-
sary changes IS hard to determine and in
constructions used by both companies 1t
might seem betternents to one and changes
necessary 10 the abolition of grade cross
ings TO the other. Moreover, the railroads
CIaim that the present bill gives them no
betterments. In the case of the Baltimore
and Ohio the claim Is made that the great
er part Of their business is freight and that
the proposed location of their freight depot
IS greatly TO their disadvantage. They of
course. obtain the advantage Of southern
connection. for which. however, they pay
half the cost Of the tunnel.
Analysis of Cost.
The most practical way to discuss the
division of cost would seem to be to take
the total cost TO the railroads of the work
which they have 10 do and the total cost to
the District and the United States conse-
quent upon these changes
The details Of the figures submitted by
tle companies are on file in the office of
the Commissioners. These estimates are
liberal and higher than those made for
similar work In 1901. The reasons given
Tor the change are increased cost of doing
the Work, due to advance in prices, and un-
certainty Of the character OF the excava-
tions, which Will have 10 be carried to
greater depths.
In h.a re r.
tomao the extra estimated cost ia nearly
100000, and the bin provides that the
company is TO receive from the United
States 100000 for vacatng the MALL
IN the case Of the Baltimore and Ohio
the total estimated cost IS $3.50 900 or $780,
90 greater than that of last year This is
Que TO sharing the cost of the tunnel estl-
mated at SS24 SO. Outside of the tunnel
the cost IS less, on account of the lessened
length Of viaduct and because part of the
expense is 10 be shared by the Baltimore
and Potomac.
The cost to the United States and the
District OF Columbia is estimated as fol-
lows: To be paid by the United States to
the Baltimore and Potomac for Vacating the
Mall, $l.5yl.O"o; to be shared by the United
states and the District. TO be paid the Bal
umore and Ohio under existing legislation
SlIp.pp; cost of grading and paving
S@op"D: cost of real estate to be purchased
OF grade, $GUDOep
The last item Is. OF course very uncer-
tain, as II IS very difficult 10 estiynat. aC
curateiy what damages will be given by the
courts In addition to the above existing
legislation requires an expenditure In Soutb
w Washington, estimated in previous renorts
as Sl2o"9, for grading and paving and for
damages to property. $In.Otb; total Sf5O Oo1
This is $4,000 less than what is esti
mated in this section under existing legis-
iat!on as work in connection with the main
id'hs leading into the Mall Will not be
necessary.
Total Cost of Changes.
The total cost of the changes is esti-
mated as follows:
Work done by the railroad COM
pdnleS Observation-Disclosures. Si3 fY73 1o3
Work done by the District. with '''
damages to the property y......... sl,TT0, 600
Making total SLASH, 1o,
This would be apportioned as follows:
Kalroad companies. $40 o73 IQ3
United States and District of CO.
lum61a .:..........,....... s4.77o, 600
While the figures presented by the rail-
road companies are liberal ii is considered
that they will spend at least the amounts
named, as the estimate is 100000 for a
union station and foundations. and II ts
probable that the actual cost will exceed
this.
In the discussion OF the public space In
the way OF closed streets granted the rail-
roads, IL IS difficult to make a distinction
between that allowed the Baltimore and
Ohio and that allowed the Baltimore and
Potomac. they Will occupy so much Of
IL In common. In general, 1t may be said
that the Baltimore and Ohio receives less
public land In the way Of streets closed
under the present bill than 1t does under
existing legislation, while the Baltimore
and Potomac receives probably more Ieav-
ing out the evacuation OF the Mall. which
Is separately considered.
Amount of Streets Closed.
THE total amount of streets closed is
somewhat greater under the bill than un-
der existing legislation. This Increased oc-
cupation IS, however. mostly in the way
OF further closing Of streets already
closed, and. as in all cases the abutting
property the closed streets will have
to be bought by the railroad. and as free
communication is TO be maintained, there
will be little damage to the public and the
expense OF keeping up the streets will be
2ayedA Many pS the streets 10 bs kYacu-