The Washington times., 1902-12-09
COMMITTEE TO REF
UNION STATION BILL
Expected That Measure Will
Reach House Monday
BUT LITTLE OPPOSITION
Massachusetts, Avenue Site Appears to
Give Satisfaction to Parties
Most Concerned.

The action Of the House Committee or.
the District in voting to report the
union station bill, passed by the Senate
last session. iayorably and with but
slight amendment. it is believed has
removed every obstacle to the proposed
Improvement.
It is expected that the measure viii
be reported in the House next Monday,
District day. by Chairman Baboock. In
that event. and unless opposition from
an entirely unexpected quarter should
develop. the bill viii probably be passed
before the holiday adjournment.
While many members Of the House
are known to be opposed to the Massa-
ehusetts Avenue site. which the bill
stipulates shall be used. preferriug the
one on c Street. the fact that the rail-
road companies have practically rejected
the latter because Of its alleged en-
cheering difficulties and the concurrence
Of Colonel Biddle. the District Engineer
Commissioner. has had much influence.
Tersely put il is a case Of a union
station on Massachusetts, Avenue or
separate buildings on the sites OF the
present Baltimore and Ohio and Penn
sylvania terminals
Massachusetts Avenue Site.
The officials Of both railroad COM
panies informed the members OF the
House District Committee at the recent
hearing that unless they could have The
Massachusetts, Avenue site they would
make use OF the act Of Congress OF 1901
and proceed with the plans for avoiding
grade crossings and generally imDroy-
ing their respective lines into this city
and give up the union station project
entirely This virtually left the COM
mittee with a question Of union station
on the site desired by the railroad com
panies or none at all. The view OF
the railroad companies was also
strengthened by the recommendation
made by the committee appointed for the
/ 5eautlfcation Of Washington. whose
plans call for the use Of the site on
+ Massachusetts Avenue.
Mr. Rays Objections.
/ The objection by Vice President Ray
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad against
the use OF the c Street site, that the
grade was such as to compel the en-
gines to keep up steaming in entering
the station from the south through the
tunnel. and thus fouling the air was
another factor which largely Influenced
the members OF the House committee in
making their decision. The serious ac-
Cident which occurred only a few months
agO in the tunnel OF the New York Cen
tral in New York city. in which many
were killed and injured, and which in
vestigation showed was due largely to
poor ventilation. gave strength TO Mr..
Rays assertion.
While it is not admitted generally.
there is still another reason for the use
Of the Massachusetts, Avenue site. and
one in which the members OF tho beau
tincatiCn commission are particularly
interested This is that the Baltimore
and Ohio freight yards viii have to be
removed farther out OF the city The
yards are now located near the Balti-
more and Ohio station. and TO tie north
and east of the new Government Print
ing Office building on North Capitol
Street. The yards are regarded as an
oyCsore by the Commission and others
engaged In the work Of beautifyiug the
city and the adoption Of the Massachu-
setJs Avenue site means their removal
TO the vicinity CT lexington.