Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04
UNION STATION BILL
Mass. Ave. Site Accepted
by House Committee.
MEETING HELD TODAY
RAILWAY OFFICIALS OF BOTH
ROADS HEARD.
Neither Would Accept the c Street
Location-Amount to Be Paid
Cut Down 81, 100000.
MEETING HELD TODAY

The Massachusetts avenue site for the
proposed union station has been inspected
by the House committee on the District OF
Columbia. and una animous report has been
ordered to be made on the Senate bill. The
committee, however. amended the bill by
cutting down the amount 90 be paid by the
District and the general government for
the Improvement by 100000, and also aP-
pointed a subcommittee to perfect section
II of the bill so as to maize it absolutely
certain that other roads coming into the
District can have the use of the union sta
ton.
We would not accept the c street site
If the bill was passed. Vice President
Samuel Ray of the Pennsylvania railroad
before the House committee on the District
of Columbia this morning.
IF union depot is in contemplation,
then the only practical location for ii Is
the Massachusetts avenue site."-Presdent
Loree of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
1.-The committee has by unanimous vote
ordered the Senate union station bill favor
ably reported to the House, the Massachu-
sets avenue site being accepted. The bill
has been amended, however, by reducing
the amount to he paid by the District and
the general government by $l.on.no. =
Chairman Babcock OF the House District
committee at the conclusion of a long eH-
ecutive session of that body this afternoon
The first two expressions of railroad opin-
ion are what the House committee on the
District of Columbia obtained at the outset
of its consideration of the union station biI
which was begun this morning. previous
to hearing the views of the railroad o1i-
Gals the members of the committee went
to the location of both the G street site
and then to the Massachusetts avenue site.
When they got back to the committee room
the railroad officials and Colonel Blddie.
Engineer Commissioner of the District
were waiting Tor tne1n ana tHe nearing "
gan at once.
The Committees Feeling.
The discussion INDUCED in by members
during their investigation of the two sites
seemed to Indicate that they were Of the
same mind as at the last session when their
first action with reference to the bill was
to change the site from Massachusetts ave-
nue. as proposed by the Senate TO the Z
street location, which was then advocated
strongly from an economical standpoint by
the engineers of the District.
Incidentally Chairman Babcock remarked
to his colieagu that the Massachusetts
avenue site would cost the District and gov
ernment at least 81 100000, this cost beng
incident to the changing of grade OF streets
in the end amount to much larger sum
than that now estimated. The cost to the
CITY of the c street site would lie pFac-
tically nothing unless the plan TO condemn
and mark the two blocks between North
Capitol ard First streets northeast and Z
street and the Capitol grounds should pe
acquired for park in front of the station.
in which event the cost to the District ana
general government would amount to pc
tween eight and nine hundred Thousand dol
| lars There would be no property to pay
,l+l, aitrflf he
necessary to make street htty ieet "idef
In front of the station.
| When the hearing began there was spread
on one of the tables map showing the
Massachusetts avenue site and another AT
the other end showing the street SITE
The railroad officials. however. paid no at
tention to this map. 1t was evident ihey
knew exactly what they intended 10 say
in advance and but little time was COLI
sumed in saying it.
President I.oree represented the Baltimore
and Ohio road while the Pennsylvania was
represented by Mr.. Samuel Ray. one of the
vice presidents, and Mr.. George w. Boyd,
general passenger agent
President Loree's View.
| Mr.. I.oree was called on first by Chair
man Babcock when the hearing was begun.
Mr. Babcock stated that 1t was the desire
of the committee to obtain the opinion of
the railroad officials both as to the de-
STABILITY of the two sites from their stand
i'point and also as to their preference In the
matter
Mr.. Loree stated, as a preliminary to CIV
ing the opinion expressed above. that he
had come to the Baltimore and Ohio road
a short time after the passage OF the act OF
February 1j, 1901, which authorized the ele-
walton Of the racks of the road and the
construction of a depot little above the
Ioca ton of the present station on Z street
His company had proceeded under that act
to the extent of acquiring the necessary
land for the depot The union station plan
was then suggested by the late Senator Nc
MILAN and the matter thoroughly can
vassed so that it was finally agreed, on
the assurances of Senator Mcmillan that
legislation would be had last year, tnat the
Baltimore and Ohio road would not go for
ward with any operations. but wait the
su!,seouenta Legislation for the union sta
lion at the Massachusetts avenue site,
which possessed advantages from an OPP
Grating standpoint over the street site.
The Baltimore and Ohio road invested about
81 OGO 0eD IN real estate for the purpose of
that development and is now in the position
of having some land acquired for the g
street site and a large amount for the Mas
sachusetts avenue site. and of having
stopped our work pending a nnal dlsposi-
tion
'It union depot is in contemplation.
then | am of the opinion that the only
practical location is the Massachu-
setts avenue site. 1t single station
for the Baltimore and Ohio IS contemplated
I'm the act of February. 1901, then the
factorv to that company 81 think that
states the view"
MIR aBabcock here asked Mr.. Loree If It
would not be practicable to raise the grade
at the Massachusetts avenue site at least
ten feet in addition to the thfrty-four-foot
raise now planned, TO obviate depressing
the streets which will go under the sta
ton ten to fifteen feet, as now proposed.
Mr. I.oree was unable to answer off-hand.
Colonel Biddle, however, interjected the
opinion that the increased raise could be
made but in his opinion # would cost
much more than the thirty-four-foot raise
and the depression of the streets.
Vice President Rays Opinion.
Mr. Ray Of the Pennsylvania was then
given the floor He reviewed briefly the
long agitation OF the grade crossing ques-
tion, which had proceeded for years prior
to the first agreement of any kind which
WAS ennhndIed in the LEGISLATION Of lQll nm