Evening star., 1902-02-25
THE UNION STATION
Revised Bill Sent to the Com
missioners.
MANY CHANGES MADE
n STREET TO BE KEPT OPEN THE
MOST IMPORTANT.
Character Of the Bridges Made Clear,
Also the Station to Be Constructed
Land Outside the City.

union depot bill, has been revised and re-
printed for the use Of the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia. 1t now con-
tains certain amendments that have been
suggested by the committee from time to
time The most important OF the amend
ments probably Is that which provides for
the opening of H street. In the original
bill 1t was provided that II street should
be closed. and the residents of the District
affected by the proposed cutting of this i'm
portant artery were quite alarmed over the
propect A second amendment of fmpor-
tance is that which gives the proposed
terminal company authority to hold lands
outside the city limits and the same
for roundhouses. workshops. etc. Thess
appurtenances Of railroad terminals were
not specifically mentioned In any part Of
the original bill The roundhouse and
workshop locations, it is provided, must
have the approval Of the District Commits
Sioners.
The Commissioners have received copies
of the bill including the amendments as
arranged by the committee. The Commits
sioners refrain from making any comment
in regard to the same at this time. except
that they are naturally glad to know that
II street is to be kept open. The Engineer
Commissioner. Colonel Biddle is busy going
over the details of the plans for the termt-
nails as presented by the railroad company
and expects to draw up preliminary re-
port for the consideration of the other Com
misSionerS within a very short while now.
Regarding the Bridge.
One Of the first amendments in the bill is
to the effect that the bridge by which the
tracks are to be carried over Florida avenue
northeast shall be three-span plate-girder
bridge, Of masonry arches, instead of a
two-span bridge Instead of a two-span
IL a
ment provides for a four-span bridge, sup
ported by steel columns within the curb
lines, and ION the center of said avenue.
The amended bill then provides that the
tracks shall continue in a general north
easterly direction to point Ito the west
ward" of the present Washington Branch
railroad on the north line Of Montana ave-
nue.. instead of street, as in the original
draft.
Another amendment regarding the lOca-
tion of tracks provides for a right of way
through the reform school grounds, as fol-
lows:
"And right of way 100 feet in width for
said line OF railroad as 1t shall be located
through and upon lands belonging to the
United States reform school. is hereby
granted to and vested in said Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad Company, it's success
sors and assigns, provided. however, that
the portion Of said line of railroad lying
south of Florida avenue, within the limits
of the city Of Washington, shall be used
for passenger trains only, except In cases
of temporary emergency, and then for
period not exceeding twenty-fOur hours. un-
less with the consent of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia.
The revised bill makes the same provis-
ions as does the original regarding the site
OF the union station beginning on the north
side of Massachusetts avenue at a distance
300 feet northwest from the west side of
Delaware avenue measured at right angles
thereto; thence by line parallel with Del
aware avenue and 800 feet iherefrom,
Of | street northeast; thence by a straight
lire northeastwardly to point in the inter-
section of the west line of Delaware avenue
with the south line of l. street northeast;
thence eastwardly along the south line Of
l. street northeast, to point in the inter-
section with the west line of ID street
northeast: thence south along the west line
of 2i street northeast to a point about 50
feet north of the north line of III street
northeast; thence by a line parallel with
and distant 800 feet measured at right
angles thereto saStwardly from the east
line Of Delaware avenue, southwestwardly
to a point DO feet south from the south
line of + street northeast thence by a line
at right angles to Delaware avenue and
crossing the same northwestwardly to the
point of beginning"
The Terminal Station.
The language of the next paragraph In
regard to the station is changed somewhat.
II the original it read: THE station build
ing to be erected under the provisions Of
this act etc. In the revised copy of the
bill the language is follows: THE ter
minal station contemplated by this act''
shall cost not less than S3,00D,0O0 and shall
be monumental in character.
II is in section :; of the bin that provision
is made for keeping street opsn, the stc-
ton. revised. reading in part follows:
That the viaduct leading northwardiy
from the passenger station and terminal
between the south side OF |. street and the
north side of NJ street may occupy much
of the bed of Delaware avenue as lies west
Of line drawn parallel with the east
building line of said avenue ana forty feet
westwarGly therefrom: Provided. however,
That said viaduct shall be 50 constructed
as to permit II, X, l. and NJ streets. Flo--
ida avenue and New York avenue, project
ed to be passed and continued under tia
same through openings or spaces of sufli-
client clearance to permit the use of said
streets and avenues in the form and man.
ner and of the dime nsionS shown and indi-
Gated on the plan and proiiles agreed upon
between the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, the Terminal Company and The
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
and the Commissioners of the District II
Columbia. and filed in the office OF the En-
gneer Commissioner.
1t is also in section 3 that the para
graph relating 10 round houses and work
shops has been added as follows:
Said terminal company is also express
ly authorized and empOwerf to ACQUIRE
ana become possessed OF Such lands in tho
District of Columbia outside the city linn
it's. as may be from time to time needed for
the purpose, and thereon TO Construct MAIN
tam, own and operate yard tracks. switch
es, round houses shops and other struc-
lures, to adequately accommodate the
shifting, housing, storing, clean
ing and repairing of the locomotives and
ears of such companies as shall be entitled
to use the said passenger station and ter
miral; and also to establish. maintain ana
operate the necessary tracks connecting the
same with the tracks on Delaware avenue:
provided. that said roundhouses and shcpS
shall be located as designated on plans 10
be approved by the Commissioners OIL mo
District of Columbia and ffled In the omc0
of the Engineer Commissioner.
4 Connecting Track.
Tn section 10, which provides for the con-
strrction of connecting track from tho
branch. or on Montana avenue,
to the Baltimore and Potomac railroad sta-zs
Ion at Magruder. Nd. the following amends
ment has been added:
a etr hi~h vurfe1<