Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04

Ray. and that is nearing completion at
the present time The work on the sta
ton was suspended at the earnest solicita-
ton of the late Senator Mcmillan and 9TH
ers interested in the Identification of the
city of Washington. which led to the re-
consideration of the plan, with the union
station in view. The question of a union
station had been previously considered, the
site to he the present site of the PennsEi-
vania station. but it was such an inconVe-
nent site for the Baltimore and ONO tnat
they could not their way to adopt IL,
and therefore. they proceeded to get legis-
lation authorizing their independent sta
ton.
'sThe matter was taken under careful
consideration. as stated. by Mr.. Cassatt.
We went to the G. street site and thought
hat the best. However, after the matter
had been very carefully studied II was
found that the site on MasSa chusetts ave
nIIe would be superior in. every way. one
of the objections to the G street site was
the crossing under the station of Massachu-
setts avenue In Sst-foot tunnel, when
was not very desirable from the view point
of the city. Aside from that, the grades
are much more favorable from an operat-
ing standpoint in the Massachusetts avenue
site than the street site.
I'VE are favorable to the Massa ehusetts
avenue site and are willing to join on that
proposition
"if we cannot secure a union station on
that site then should he permitted to
go on and furnish the city with proper
our present site.
Would Not Accept C Street Site.
Representative Smith-"Do | understand
that You would not accept the c street site
at all?''
Mr. Ray-.sNo sir; we would not accept 1t
if the bill passed.
Mr.. Mudd-'It was your opinion once that
the street site was preferable
Mr.. Ray-"Yes, sir: but we were con-
WINGED by Senator Mcmillan and the engi-
ueers that the Massa chusetts avenue site
was more practical"
Mr. Mudd-''They did that from the
standpoint of identifying the city.
Mr.. Ray-'Yes. sir: bat also from an en-
cheering standpoint.
Mr.. Wadsworth wanted to know II the
railroad officials were convinced that
union station was desirable, and the answer
was that they were. both from the stand
point of convenience to the city and for
the roads but more for the City's advan-
tage than for the roads.
Mr.. Morreil-"Are you absolutely opposed
to the street site?'
Mr. Ray-"We. would not accept that for
a union station
Mr. Mudd-.Is II not fact that If the
Baltimore and Ohio station were construct
ed IL would be built on the c street site?
Mr. Loree-'fes. but ii would be used
only in one direction Not from the
SOUTH
Asked his opinion of the advantages of
a union station. Mr.. Loree said he agreed
with Mr.. Ray that 1t would be an advan-
tage from the standpoint of the city. But
l think the Baltimore and Ohio stands to
lose In the transaction. he added
Mr. Morrell-"Are your engineers also op-
posed to the c street Site?
Mr.. Loree-"Yes, sir"
The Two Sites Discussed.
Mr. Babcock-''The report of both the
Baltimore and Ohio and the Pennsylvania
or rather the engineers of The roads stated
to the committee some time since that
from all engineering points of view the c
street site the ideal site. | row I'M
derstand you to say that you now think
that is an error and that the Massach
sets avenue site is an ideal site from an
engineering standpoint
Mr.. Lorec-''Yes, sir. The view of my
chief engineer expressed to me this week
Ia a thorough discussion of the matter is
in favor of the Massachusetts, avenue site.
Mr.. Boyd Of the Pennsylvania-"Dfd I'M
derstand that the railroad engineers have
made such report?
Mr. Rabcock-"I did not say that
Mr. Mercer-"From financial stand
point. which site Is better for the Baltimore
and Ohio?
Mr. Ioree-'I do not think there Is much
difference In the cost of the two. speaking
for the unioc station.
Mr. I.atirier-.I would like to have that
question answered from the standpoint of
the Pennsylvania road and for the govern
ment.''
Mr. Ray-'So far as the Pennsylvania
road is concerned the cost for union sta
ton Is little greater" Mr.. Ray. explained
that the grade of the tunnel approa ching
the union station through the Capitol
grounds would be level in the MasSachu-
sets avenue site and would have 10 be on
al. up grade to reach the street site The
question of the ventilation of the tunnel
was large one and in approaching the c
street site the engines would have TO be
making steam all the time and thus
choking the tunnel with smoke, whereas
this would not be the case regarding the
Massachusetts avenue site. This was the
principal advantage of the latter site from
operating standpoint.
o. Col. Bidltie was then heard by the com
mittee in executive session. Al the hear
Ing besides the railroad officials were Mr..
+. H. Tucker and Mr. w. j. Frizzell, rep
resenting the Northeast Washington Citi
zens Association. MIR. Babcock, however,
did not give an opportunity for a hearing
Of these gentlemen.
First Action on the Bill.
1t was nearly o'clock when the COM
mittee finished its consideration OF the bill.
Colonel Biddie had been questioned for
nearly an hour by members of the commit
tee and had discussed without prejudice
the advantages and disadvantages of both
sites He stated frankly that his prefer
ence was for the Massachusetts avenue
site
The first action on the bill was q mo-
tlon to recede from the amendments agreed
upon by the committee at the last session
OF Congress. the most important of which
was the change of site to c street. Mr..
Cowherd amended this motion by cutting
down the amount to be paid to the roads
by the District and gene, al government to
SCDo!OD to each road instead of 81 $50 900.
This proposed amendment occasioned con-
siderable discussion. and was finally with
drawn. but was later taken up and agreed
to.
Mr.. Mudd made motion TO increase the
grade at the Massachusetts avenue site ten
feet above the proposed thirty-four-foot
raise. so as TO bring the whole on level
with street. This motion was carried at
first, but was afterward reconsidered and
rejected. subcommittee, consisting OF
Messrs. MuGd, Pearre and Cowherd was
appointed to perfect section IL of the bill
SO as TO leave no doubt about other roads
getting the use of the union station. The
final action on the bill was then taken with
the result that every member present voted
for its favorable report TO the House. Fiji
teen members out of the seventeen MEM
bers of the committee attended the meeting
the absent members being Blacgburn and
Meyer.
After the session the railroad officials who
had been In waiting in another room ex-
pressed themselves grafifed witt