Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-05
The Union Station Bill.

The prompt action of the House District
committee on the union station bill is an
assurance of early consideration of that
measure by the House. Inasmuch as the
bill has already passed the Senate there is
every reason, therefore. to expect concur
renee and final enactment this session, If
indeed that result is not achieved before
the holiday adjournment The final passage
of this bill, which means so much TO the
District as long step ahead toward the
goal of capital perfection, would be one of
the happiest Christmas presents Congress
could possibly make to Washington and the
nation.
The House committee recedes from the
position it took last spring In favor of the
c. street site for the station. This adds to
the probability of an early agreement, and
in view of the emphatic declarations of a
representative of the Pennsylvania road
yesterday before the committee. it is also
doubtless a factor Of certainty of final
action. 1t is. unnecessary to pause now to
discuss the attitude on the part of the rail-
road company inasmuch as the committee
has preciuded all chance Of an issue on the
point of the site. Had that issue been
raised it would have been necessary to con-
slider the reasonableness of a peremptory
chose TO stipulate.
The Washington public, apart from the
comparatively few individuals who have
property interests at stake, prefers the
Massachusetts avenue site to the other af-
ter all considerations are weighed. Briefly
stated. the street site is better because
1t involves no filling in of lands. and hence
less money cost to the public and perhaps
hG rail Rot ka OIL aud
the Massachusetts avenue site will permit
grander contribution to the capitals ar
chtecturaI attractions and will reduce the
railroad obstruction between the city's sec
tions to a minimum. The street site
would involve practically no interference
with II street. but would cover Massachu-
sets avenue with a wide viaduct, while the
Massachusetts avenue site will clear that
beautiful thoroughfare of all Instructions
but will compel some disturbance of the H
street level. The more northerly site will
involve only one tunnelled street, while the
street site would involve two.
Balancing these objections the Massach
sets avenue site is unquestionably more
desirable and the issue appears to concen-
trate on the question Of relative cost. The
House committee has minimized the finan-
cia1 disadvantages of the Massachusetts,
avenue site by reducing the bonus to be
paid to the railroads by half a million doll
lars each. In the case of the Baltimore
and Ohio the law has already provided for
this bonus. The grant to the Pennsylvania
Ia carried by the pending bill The million
thus taken off the aggregate money gift to
the roads may therefore be regarded either
as the contribution the corporations will
be required to pay for the grant of the site
which they so emphatically prefer, or as
compensation to the public in consideration
of the cost of preparing that site which it
must bear.
The public feels that there was no foun-
dation in law or equity or custom for the
statute which is already enacted giving
million and a half 10 the Baltimore and
Ohio. a donation 10 be borne in equal pro-
portions by the nation and the capital.
The schedule of railroad expenses connect
ed with the elimination OF Baltimore and
Ohio grade crossings with a terminal at the
G street site, which served as the basis of
the million and half donation, shows
when examined, very large saving to the
Baltimore and Ohio IL its terminal is at
Massa chusetts avenue instead of the c.
street site. On its own showing the Balti-
more and Ohio could afford to reduce large
ly the amount OF its donation IL it were not
required to build south of Massachusetts,
avenue. The amount to be paid by the ma
ton to the Pennsylva MIA road for the re-
linquishment OF the mall park, the title to
which has always been in the nation, is
matter to be settled by the parties imme-
diately interested. without interference by
he District. which has sufficient financial
troubles of its own 20 occupy it's entire at
tentiou.
The House measure will, if enacted, result
in a saving to the government of $3.50, 900
and TO the District of S250,O0O. It is for the
engineers to say what part of the cost of
preparing the ssachusetts avenue site
for the union station this million will form.
Col. Biddle throws light on that question in
the news columns of todays Star. 1t
will remain for later calculation to as
certain just how the District will fare rela-
lively in this readjustment of the financial
burden. AS the case now stands the bill,
thus framed, will yield a monumental union
station. Will eliminate the grade crossings,
will free the city's most important park of
tracks and structures and will vastly in
crease the facilities of the railroads for the
transaction of their rapidly growing bust
ness. II is the best solution of the local
railroad problem, having a reasonable
prospect of favorable action and speedy en-
actment, which has thus far been offered
Some of the New York aldermen who are