Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-11
REPORT ON RAILROADS
Municipal Ownership Of Union
Station Considered
BY BOARD OF TRADE
OF GRADE CROSS
INGs FEATURE OF DEBATE.
After an Animated Discussion the
Board Adjourns Without Taking
Final Action.

bOaT0 AQ1OurnS WITHOUT
Final Action.
| The Board of Trade met In the small hall
| of Masonic Temple last evening and for
| three hours discussed the proposition OF Its
| committee on railroads favoring the build
| ing of union railway station in this city
| by the municipality instead Of by the rail-
| road companies themselves. the station to
| be owned by the District of Columbia and
leased to the railroad companies using it.
| The meeting at times was extremely ami
| mated. The project was vigorously adyocat-
| ed and as vigorously opposed, and as the
| hours wore on absence Of a quorum was
| called to the attention OF the presiding Of
| fcer. A count showed that thirty-three
| members were present. three more than a
| quorum. A vote was then taken on the
| proposition for municipal ownership which
| showed fourteen in favor and twelve
| against it. From the time a quorum had
| been announced until the count Of the vote
had been completed, there had been an ex-
| odus Of number Of members from the hail.
| Upon being informed that but twenty-six
| members had voted, the presiding officer
| announced that there was no quorum pres
| journed without having taken final action
on the report of its railroad committee.
| Mr.. Thomas w. Smith. the president,
| called the board to order shortly after 4
o'clock Mr.. w H. Schuster. assistant sec
rotary, read the minutes OF the last meet
ing.
Expressing Appreciation.
Mr.. Smith then announced that the bust
ness before the board was the report of
ito ,y,oIf afn ho,
was taken up Mr.. B. H. Warner offered a
resolution thanking Representative Mercer
of Nebraska for his work in securing for
the District of Columbia its long-needed
municipal building. The resolution author
| lied the committee on public buildings and
| grounds to procure suitable token and ar
| range for It's presentation to Mr.. Mercer in
appreciation of his efforts In behalf of the
| District in securing the municipal building.
| This resolution was unanimously adopted
and was to the effect That the thanks not
| only of the people of Washington, but of
| ali who take a Just interest and pride in
the capital Of the nation, are due to Mr..
David H. Mercer, representative in Con-
gress from Nebraska for his untiring and
continuous efforts for some years past,
which have recently resulted in securing
provision for a municipal building for this
city, with which 1t has never been provided
and OF which II stood sadly in need, where
its business may be transacted with some
regard for convenience and dignity.
That the committee on public buildings
and grounds of the Board Of Trade is here
by authorized to procure some gift or token
! which shall be substantial evidence of the
high appreciation in which the services of
Mr.. Mercer are held, and to arrange for it's
presentation to him in appropriate terms
and manner
Committees Report Read.
The assistant secretary of the board then
| read the report of the railroad committee
as follows:
Your committee on railroads having
considered Senate bill 1925. to provide for
union railroad station in the District of
Columbia. reports as follows:
That with the purpose of the bill 1t
heartily concurs. and believes that the ma
tional capital should have monumental
union passenger depot, and that the rail-
roads should relieve the city of grade
crossings. but that the bill. while the best
so far proposed for the relief Of the pres
ent railroad situation, can be improved in
certain particulars
The measure proposes a railroad monop-
oily and should be amended to permit the
use Of the proposed terminals by any rail-
road entering the District of Columbia,
and thereby provide an open door to the
national capital.
1T also proposes that the railroads be
given S., 1872. 81 for making the alterations
in their terminals, of which amount the
District of Columbia is to pay 81 S04, 900,
as follows:
"One million six hundred thousand dol
lars for the plaza in front of the depot.
$4,000 for changes in South Washington,
paving and damage to property; $3.50, 900
bonus to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company and $2S4, 900 as its half of the
cost of the highway bridge. The 81. 454, OO0
given in real estate Is largely in streets
closed. which belong to the United States,
but are a loss to the citizens of the Dis
trict rather than the United States The
right of way for the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad through the reform school grounds
Is loss to a District institution unesti-
mated in any Of the reports, and the dam
age to property abutting on streets closed
by the bill is entirely unprovided for and
must fall on the owners. citizens of the
District. The cost Of the highway bridge,
If properly constructed. Is estimated by
the War Department to be $500 900 instead
of the S56S,O)0 already appropriated, so
that the estimated cost to the District is
too little In this instance and may be too
small in other particulars. 1t Is probable
that the District contribution to the rail-
road improvements will not be less than
100000
''At time when needed improvements
such as the filtration plant. the Memorial
bridge the extension Of 10th street and the
park commission and street extension plans
have to wait for want Of funds 1t Is a Sc
rious matter for the District to, have to
give $4,OOO,OOO.
Experience in Other Cities.
your committee has investigated the
method pursued by Boston in improving its
railroad system, and believes that If sim
liar course was pursued here, it would re-
suit in a great saving to the community.
The subways there have been built by the
city and rented to the railroads on such
terms that the sinking fund created by the
rentals will pay of the bonds issued in
about thirty years. The railroads. not the
taxpayer. at the end of what period will
:.:"o pa.l foT the suoways, but the tax
payer. not the railroad. will own them.
1.-THE present experience Of Baltimore
with It's investment in the Western Mary
land railway Is also worthy Of your care
full consideration at this time. In assisting