Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-13
RAILWAY TERMINALS
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION DIS
CUSSES UNION DEPOT BILL.
Belief Expressed That Wabash System
Will Want to Enter District
Committee Reports.

L
OF the Northeast Washington Citizens AS
ISOLATION at the regular monthly meeting of
the association, which was held last night
| at Northeast Temple. President Tucker
| representing the committee on legislation,
| said the association had accomplished
| great deal in procuring increased appropria-
tons for the northeast section He re-
| ferred with pleasure to the matter of open
| ing the Congressional Library on Sundays.
| This question was agitated by the North
| east Washington Citizens Association sew
! eral years ago, and until this year the
| measure was always defeated. Now, he
| said the bin has been passed and signed,
| and he felt that the association should be
| congratulated upon its successful efforts in
| the matter
Mr. FrizZell, chairman of the railroad
| committee, spoke of what has been done in
| the matter of the union depot The action
| OF the Colorado senators on the bill, he sa d,
| was not that they actually wanted the
| Chesapeake Beach road to enter. These
senators, he said had something more
gigantic in mind. He referred to the sale
| of the Western Maryland railroad to the
| Wabash system, which completes the sys-
| TEN from Los Angeles to Baltimore, passing
| through the state of Colorado. This line
| will want to enter the District. In con-
clusion Mr.. Frizzell said he thought the
| bill was in a fair way to pass.
MI READ report OF the raur0au
committee of the Board of Trade on Senate
bill 4S25, which provides for a union rail-
road station in this city. The report says
in part: The measure proposes that the
railroads be given Sc, 1872 21 for making the
alterations in their terminals, of which
amount the District of Columbia is to pay
S2,SOO,O00, follows: One million six hun
dred thousand dollars for the plaza in front
of the depot, $4,000 for changes in South
Washington: paving and damage to prop
erty, $lJ0.o00: bonus to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, $50, 900. and S2S4.-
600 as its half of the cost of the highway
bridge.
Boston Plan Approved.
"Your committee has investigated the
method pursued by Boston in improving
the railroad system, and believes that If
similar course were pursued here it would
result in a great saving to the community.
The subways there have been built by the
city and rented to the railroads such
terms that the sinking fund created by the
rentals will pay off the bonds issued in
about thirty years. The railroads, not the
taxpayer, at the end of that period, will
have paid for the subways, but the tax
payer, not the railroad, will own them"
The report recited briefly the history of
the Western Maryland railroad and
cluded with recommendation as follows:
That the Board of Trade committee be-
leves that in the construction of the rail-
road terminals for the District of Columbia
the financial plan adopted by Boston in
the construction of her subway should be
adopted here and railroad commission for
the District of Columbia appointed to do
the work and determine the location of
the terminals desired by the railroads is
best for the various interests of the Dis
trict of Columbia
Mr.. Willard asked that the report read
be adopted and his motion was seconded by
DR.. Walter. Mr.. Willard argued the mat
ter at length, advocating the construction
of the railroad terminals by the District.
Joseph Bradfieid arose to speak upon the
question, but Mr.. Frizzell objected for the
reason that Mr.. Bradfeid was not mem
Der of the association. The chair sustained
the objection and Mr.. Bradfieid retired,
| remarking: "In be heard through the
newspapers
Mr.. Sowerbutts and Mr. Frizzell OBJ
jected to the adoption of the report pre-
scented by Mr. Willard while DR. Walter
spoke in its favor.
Mr.. Willard, seeing his resolution was
about to be defeated by a vote of ) to 2
withdrew it.
Consolidation of Gas Companies
Mr.. Sowerbutts said he was In the House
of Representatives vest erday during an in
teresting and heated discussion concerning
the consolidation of the gas companies Re-
ferring to some features of the debate and
the disclosures regarding the amount to
which the gas franchise was to be in
creased. Mr.. Sowerbutts moved that the
association place itself on record as being
opposed to the proposed action.
President Tucker said he would object to
a wholesale watering of the stock. He be-
lieved in the consolidation of the compa-
MES, for he could see no reason why the
people of Georgetown should pay 81 % while
those in Washington, pay but ST. At the
suggestion of President Tucker the reso-
luton was amended as to read: Re
solved. that this association wishes to enter
its solemn protest against the proposed in
crease Of the capital stock of the Washing
ton Gas Light Company to over s13, 600, 900,
as proposed by the bill before Congress
but We are not opposed to a reasonable in
crease for the betterment and extension of
their works.
The resolution as amended was adopted
and the meeting adjourned subject to the
call of the president.
ArDHA nErTA DIR mr. rSr nrc