The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-14

Mr. W. J Frizzell. chairman Of the
committee on railroads. presented a re
port to the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association last night against the pro-
posed union station. Il said in part:
The bin introduced in The Senate on
the Sth instant while providing for a
magnificent depot building, fronting SOC
feet on Massachusetts Avenue and ex-
tending about see feet on either side Of
Delaware Avenue. at a cost Of S3,OOOO 0O,
provides for an elevation of grades in
front thereof so as 10 permit a tunnel
under First Street east that will emerge
on or about the present grade. This
change Of grades. as far as we can un-
derstsnd, would extend from near Second
Street east westward beyond North
Capitol Street, so as to make an easy rise
on North Capitol Street southwark from
Street.
The project includes the formation OF
a circle OF enipse in front Of the pro
posed station that would cover sn area
of eiKht OF ten acres. thereby forming
a plaza sufficient TO accommodate the
Capitalization Of all the street ears and
other vehicles necessary for the use,
comfort and convenience Of the travelling
public
Is Expensive Proposition.
while the. contamination Of this pro-
ject would be Of a monumental and mag
niAeent character, it would necessarily
be very expensive. particularly 50 as it
involves the laying out Of the circle or
plaza al the intersection OF Massachusetts
and Delaware Avenues. the opening OF
streets leading thereto and the changing
OF existing grades OF streets and avenues
as shown on the plan filed in the ONCE Of
the Engineer Commissioner.
We deem il worthy Of emphasized re
mark that no provision is made IN the bill
as 10 who shall pay the cost. and we deem
II a fair assumption that the railroad
companies viii claim that such area be
ing entirely outside Of their jurisdiction
the Government should not only pay for
an the contemplated work. but should also
keep it in repair for all time
object to Closing II street.
What we regard as the most alarming
part OF the bill is the provision for va
eating and closing II Street northeast for
a distance OF 500 feet or either side Of
Delaware Avenue.
II Street being the principal thorough
fare for our people. and the one on which
all the business houses OF our section are
located, with perhaps frontage Of 81. 00O, p
600 worth Of business property. besides
the street car line which affords rapid
transit 70 our PEOPLE in reaching their
Offices and places OF business. we cannot
for moment consider any such PROPOSE
tion We are unwilling to put ourselves
on record as believing that the engineer
ing talent Of the officers Of the Corps Of
Engineers of the United States Army
supplemented by the able and skiIIfuI en-
gineers Of the railroad companies. cannot
devise a plan to~COnfne the limits Of the
passenger terminal to the area south o.
II Street even thong, e be necessary 10
extend farther eastward and westward
than the bin proposes.
Contributions OF $1,000. 900.
Though Of comparatively small mo-
men. we call your attention TO the fact
that a bonus Of 81 SOC. 900 is proposed 10
be given TO the Pennsylvania road for
abandoning its tracks on the Mall and
that the 81 .5C0.O0C contribution to the
Baltimore and Ohio Company under the
present law is not repealed
This latter contribution rs an iudem-
nifty 10 the Baltimore and Ohio Company
for removing all Of its tracks northerIy
froEz its present station and the building
OF a viaduct a mile or more in length.
To be brief We recommend that this
association use its influence 10 every di-
rectiOn 10 prevent the closing OF any
part Of II Street, and that we call upon
all the people OF the Northeastern por-
tiOn of the District and all of our friends
elsewhere to aid rs 10 preventing even the
considers ton of such a proposition"
Taxation OF Corporations.
The Columbia Heights Citizens Asso-
citation has forwarded 10 the District
Comm ssiOners copy Of the resolution
adopted al a recent meeting relative 10
the taxation OF certain corporations hay
ing large properties 10 the District The
resolution calls for an assessment at
something near the actual selling price
Of the stock Of the companies referred TO