Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-30
UNION STATION PLANS
CONFERENCE OVER PROPOSED
CHANGE IN GRADE.
Col. Bidd1e, Engineer Commissioners Of
the District, Objects to Reduction
ton Of Less Than go Feet.

Col. John Biddle, the Engineer Commits
sioner Of the District, returned today from
Philadelphia, where he went yesterday to
confer with the officials of the Pennsyl-
vania and Baltimore and Ohio railroads re-
garding a proposed change In the grade OF
the new union station in this city. There
were present at the conference in addition
to Col Biddle, Messrs. Cassatt and Loree,
presidents. respectively. Of the Pennsyl-
vania and the Baltimore and Ohio roads:
Chief Engineer Brown Of the Pennsylvania
system, and Chief Engineer Graham of the
Baltimore and Ohio.
The proposition had been made by the
railroads to lower the grade of the tracks
entering the city, and therefore to lower
the level Of the station and the plaza on
Massachusetts avenue. 1t is understood
that the Pennsylvania company was partic-
ularly anxious to have the change In grade
made. 1t was argued that the lowering Of
the grade would reduce the cost OF impreV-
Ing the plaza, which will have to be borne
by the District and the United States
Jointly.
When this proposition was formally made
at the conference yesterday Col Biddie
stated to the railroad officials that he coulc
not consent to reduction in grade unless
the reduction should be at least twenty
feet. AS the grades stand at present 1t Is
the plan to carry H street under the via
duct. It will be necessary even now TO
make a slight cut IN H street at the east
end of the viaduct to bring 1t comfortably
under the tracks.
Col. Biddle said that II the grade were re-
duced twenty feet, then H street could
easily be carried over the tracks. Any in
termediate reductions, he declared, would
too greatly compiicate matters.
After hearing Col. Biddle the railroad OIL
Gals decided that it would perhaps be bet
ter to let the grade remain as 1t Is now
fixed.
They say the tracks could not be lowered
twenty feet, for then the grade would be
made too steep for the Baltimore and Ohio
trains. On the present level these trains
have quite Serious pull getting out Of the
city. Consequently il the tracks were low
cred sufficiently to carry H street over
them the grade would be too steep for prac-
teal purposes.
Objections to Tunnel Plan.
There has been some objection on the part
Of citizens to the tunnel plan Of carrying
H street under the tracks. The Commits
sioners believe, however, that this solution
Of the problem Is better than carrying the
street over the tracks. The bridge would
necessarily closely adjoin the station and
there would not be time that putting and
pulling engines would not be present.
Horses would be more easily frightened
on the bridge, 1t is believed, than they
would be under the tracks. The railroad
officials agreed with Col Biddle that the
present plans are perhaps pest, anu So tHe
matter was allowed to rest.
Informally there is talk among the rail-
road officials of reducing the width Of the
union station front from 760 feet to about
$40 feet
Col. Biddle said this matter was not
touched upon at the conference yesterday.
although it was stated that there had been
an indefinite discussion Of the subject If
the width were reduced 1t is said the height
would be reduced accordingly so as to make
he or Nf,1ro mil nrr and m 1
every detail. The 100 feet width would give
the city of Washington the largest depot
in the world.
Col Biddle said there would be no espe-
-cial meaning in such boast, whereas there
would be much in the statement that Wash
ington has one Of the finest and most orna-
mental and commodious Of stations. He
to such a reduction in the width of the sta
ton. There Is no present reason, however,
to believe that such step will be taken.