Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-13
The Union Station Site.

| commissioner BlQOle 8 VI
the Massachusetts, avenue site for the pro-
| posed union railroad station follows the
lines laid down when that project was first
| preached. Its chief basis is the desire to
clear Massachusetts, avenue Of the railroad
| structure, which now defaces 1t, and which
under the pending plans, with the station
| south of the avenue, would interpose great
| wall pierced by long tunnel Furthermore
| the Massachusetts, avenue site will permit
| the establishment OF plaza in front of the
building, enhancing it's umertal chaTac-
| ter and greatly facilitating the artistic de-
| velopment of Washington's park system.
Against these advantages are ranged GER
| tain disadvantages, which are to be weighed
| by the House at its next session. The Mas
sachusetts avenue site will require the
tunnelling of Capitol Hill at such level
that the track approach to the station viii
cross H street in manner to materially
affect that important thoroughfare. TO
bring the incoming southern trains to the
station level they must be run back at
least to H street on an incline. In order to
avoid lowering the level Of H street this
grade will be steep almost to the point of
prohibition. 1t is assumed that II street
cannot be closed or carried over, and to
sink it materially below it's present level
"ouit iiiSSl ouJdSeHt Pi tllu SCilie-
what interfere with the street railway
traffic
In order to correct this fault 1t is pro-
posed to fill in the Massachusetts avenue
space to considerable depth 50 as to bring
the station building on a higher grade and
to lessen the upward pull Of the southern
traffic. This fill will cost a very large sum,
not only for the work itself, but for the
damages which will be caused 10 surround
ing property. Even with a heavy fill Mas
sachusetts avenue plaza cannot be brought
high enough to avoid some disturbance of
the H street conditions
This. therefore, is the issue before the
House, whether to establish such levels as
will compromise the difficulty as to H street
and incidentally to involve a heavy charge
upon the District and the government, in
order to secure a site which commends it
self as superior from many points OF view
or to sacrifice some artistic considerations
for the sake of economy and the relief OF
H street from serious change of grade
The c street site has it's advocates, who
point to it's proximity 70 the Capitol as de-
sirable for architectural reasons, and It's
opponents, who cite precisely the same
ground Of objection. The Massachusetts
avenue site is favored by some on the score
OIL dCCeSSlDIIlly the general PUBIC, ana
opposed by others for the same reason
While the Massachusetts, avenue site will
involve the construction Of new car lines
those are easily provided and 1t is believed
that there will be better opportunity for
their convenient arrangement in the prof.
ected plaza than in any space which could
economically be provided for them in front
of the c street site.
These issues are not impossible Of adjust
ment. Both are good sites, and both prac-
ticable. The people of Washington want a
| union station and are willing to pay their
| just share Of the cost of properly placing it
| to conform and contribute to the developing
| beauties of the city. They are less concern
| ed in questions of sites, apart from the few
| individually interested, than in the far
| graver question of getting the legislation
| through. There is nothing in the situation
| 10 warrant any further delay, and having
| granted them far more time already than
| they are entitled to in the elimination Of
| the grade crossings Congress should next
| winter make it's own equitable terms in ac-
| cepting the union station proposal, select
| the site which offers the most advantages
| and the fewest objections and fix an irrevo-
! cable date for beginning and ending the
| work