Evening star., 1902-04-19
OF PLANS
Commissioners Comment on
Railroad Project.
BENEFITS ANDDAMAGES
CONCESSIONS ASKED BY CITIZENS
OF LEXINGTON.
Preliminary Report Made to District
Committee March 27-An In
teresting Discussion.
BENEFITS ANDDAMAGES

OH MarCn ~ the D1Strlct commission
ers made report to the Senate committee
On the District Of Columbia on pending
bills relating to steam railways In the Dis
trict Of Columbia in which they stated they
could not submit full report as to the
cost Of work to be done by the railroads
and Of land owned by the railroads because
they had not secured full information. They
had considered all the main engineering
features. On the 10th instant they SUBJ
mitted supplemental report which includ-
ed the questions not treated in their first
report and in a general way covered the
entire subject. The supplementary report
has been published in The Star.
In their preliminary report the Commits
sioners state the general objects of the bill
to provide for union railway station and
say:
The general provisions Of the bill are:
First. The REIMBURSEMENT by the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company Of
the public space occupied, In accordance
with existing legislation on the mall, on
the streets north of Maryland avenue west
of Sth street, and north of Virginia avenue
east of Sth street
Second. The construction of a union pas-
senger station on the axis of Delaware ave-
nue. and near the north edge of Massachu-
setts avenue.
Third. The construction of a double
Baltimore and Potomac railroad at Vir-
ginia avenue and I'd street southwest, pass
ing under Capitol Hill by means of q tun-
mel to the new station.
Fourth. The REIMBURSEMENT of the pro-
posed Baltimore and Ohio passenger sta
tion and freight stations as authorized un-
der existing law.
Fifth. The establishment Of Baltimore
New York avenue and lexington place, and
a second station at NJ, and I'd streets
northeast.
Sixth. The construction OF a new line for
the Baltimore and Potomac railroad from
the new station to Magruder Junction, none
put passenger trains coming south of Flori-
da avenue.
Seventh. To increase and construct new
Safds at Eckington place and eastward.
Description Of Changes.
Taking up the changes in detail they are
as follows:
In South Washington the main line of the
Baltimore and Potomac is generally not al
tered. The tracks are to be removed that
oranch out from the main line to the pres
ent passenger station on the mall, except
tnat at 9th street freight station. with
overhead crossing over that street between
virginia avenue and street, will be built.
Al a point near the crossing of I'd street
southwest branch line Of two tracks
leaves the main tracks. crossing Virginia
street and Delaware avenue with a clear
ance OF sixteen feet, and South Capitol
street With not less than fourteen feet.
thence entering tunnel just before reach
ing new Jersey avenue, keeping In tunnel
under 1st street until station Is reached at
Massachusetts avenue. This tunnel pre-
sents no difficulties. 1t is not known lust
what the material is through which 1t will
pass, though probably it is clay, or clay
mixed with sand. as the indications from
sewers and old wells are of that nature
Whether it Is earth or rock. there should
o.. De no dlmcuity In driving and protecting
the tunnel. 1t Will pass with the rails
about hfty-five feet below surface at Capt.
toi Hill and under the west side of 1st street
east; There can be no danger anticipated
to the Congressional Library. nor to anv
private buildings. At the south edge of the
plaza in front Of the station the double
track branches into Six tracks entering the
station The west end of Ivy street is
closed and the street diverted into Canal
street. A'-
The station is built on the axis Of Della
ware avenue at the north edge of Massa-
cnuseus avenue. In front will be an eilipti-
cal plaza about 800 feet in width along the
axis OF Delaware avenue and ahont coo
reet at right angles thereto From this
plaza the existing streets and avenues. as
Wen as certain projected ones. radiate in a
symmetrical manner, making the fronta pe
OF this terminal a focus for the thorough
fares leading from all pats of the city.
Inc terminal structure, which has 'front.'
age OF 76o feet on the plaza, has length Of
1,50O feet without a reduction of width I'M
TO point between H and I streets: It then
begins to narrow until at the south side of
l. street, which Is the end of the terminal
STRUCTURE proper, 1t has width Of 160 feet
From that point viaduct extends to Flor
IDA avenue, where the tracks divide into
three branches. the first connecting with
the Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore
second connecting with the washington
branch OF the Baltimore and Ohio near
Montello station, and the third connecting
with the main line of the Baltimore and
Potomac near Magruder station.
F street and G street will be closed IT "a
not important In the former case, as Massa-
chusets avenue is 30 near, and in the latter
case 1t is impossible to keep the street open.
ID street Will be Kept open under the rail-
road. l street is closed. X street will be
kept open under the railroad, and similarly
and N streets. street is already closed
under existing legislation. Florida avenue
will be kept open under the tracks, and New
York avenue 1t Is planned to carry over the
railroad.
The Washington branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Baltimore and Potomac
then run north of New York avenue extend
end to Montana avenue.
NINTH 18th and 18th streets will be car
underneath.
From Montello station the Baltimore and
Ohio continues on its present line. The Bal
timore and Potomac continues between q
grounds near the District line. The project
ed streets that are to be kept open are
22d. oath. Goth. 2sth, 31st, 3sd and 35th
The plan of street extension will be so al
tered as to accommodate itself to the
changed conditions. which can be done
without difficulty, as the streets have not
yet been opened.
Changes Of Street Grade.
The main changes Of grade according to
this bill. will be at the terminal station
At that point there will be a maximum fill
Of thirty-five feet. with changes Of grade
rs far east as I'd street and as far west as
New Jersey avenue. with about twenty
three feet fill at North Capitol street and a
maximum grade Of per cent on Massachu-
setts avenue. The exact figures are shown
on the map transmitted herewith. o
At H street there will be q tunnel 800
feet in length and q cut of nine feet at the
east end, and no change of street grade at
the west end, with grade Of approach Of
4 per cent. 1t Is proposed to have open
ings for air and light. and further, to re-
quire any street car company using this
street to light the tunnel At street the
tunnel will be 430 feet long. with a cut at