The Washington times., 1902-06-25
RELATIVE MERITS
OF STATION SITES

pense. at least to the extent involved
in this case. should not be allowed TO
weigh, unless other considerations fail
to indicate a pronounced superiority for
one of the sites. 1t will place the
matter in truer perspective to think of
the situation as 1t will appear say twen-
ty-five years from now.
Comparative Merits.
"Omitting the consideration of cost,
including the vexatious question of dam
ages and the difficulties attending the
execution of the work at the Massa-
chusetts Avenue site, the relative mer-
its of the two sites may be briefly
summarized as follows:
THE c Street site is nearer Penn
sylvania Avenue, which is the principal
thoroughfare of the city. 1t is directly
on the line of the principal street rail-
ways. which would have to make more
or less inconvenient detours to reach
the other site.
THE closer proximity to the Capt.
tol may appeal to some as desirable in
view of the monumental character of
the proposed station building, and on
account of the greater impression to be
thus made on the countless visitors who
enter the city through this gateway
while to others it may appear objec-
tionable as introducing an element not
worthy of being placed in such near
relation to the National Capitol
THE plaza feature may be introduced
here by the purchase OF the two squares
lying between B and C Streets, North
Capitol and First Streets, at an es-
timated cost of about $S50.OO0.
In this case the station buildine
would add to the magnificent setting
furnished to the Capitol grounds by the
Library of Congress and the projected
building for the Department of Justice
II would stand on ground about fifteen
feet lower and somewhat retired from
the front of the other buildings. There
would be no bar to the construction oi
! fine buildings in the vicinity of this site
such as would be found in the heavy fill:
around the Massachusetts Avenue site
THE greater elevation of the viaduc
allows the use of masonry arches in.
| stead of steel bridges over the inter.
secting streets.
Turning to the Massachusetts, Ave
nue. site we find that the location oi
the station here would leave this impor
tant avenue entirely unobstructed by tht
railroads, whereas If the station wer,
|
nue. would have TO be carried under th,
carshed and terminal embankment in :
tunnel about 800 feet long.
This great advantage may DE partly
offset by the following considerations
Massachusetts Avenue changes direc
tion at New Jersey Avenue, so that tn
view along II is necessarily inter
rupted here and a somewhat similar re
suit is produced going eastward by tn
forty feet difference of elevation be
| tween Delaware Avenue and Secon'
Street east; the relief of Massachusett
Avenue is gained at the expense OF /
Street, with its street car line an
much heavier traffic. though H Stree
must, in any case, pass under the via
duct
THE Massachusetts, Avenue site af
fords more ample room at the station
front and easier approaches for handling
large crowds. II is somewhat more cor
venient of access, except by street cars
for practically the whole northeast an
northwest sections. AS stated before
the greater distance from the Capito
is considered an advantage by some"