Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-05
DISTRICT SAVES MONEY
Effect of the Decision Re-
garding Union Station.
COL. BIDDLE PLEASED
THE ENGINEER CoMMIssIoNEK
HAS FAVORED SITE SELECTED.
United States and Local Governments
Benefited Financially-Grad-
ing and Paving.
COL. BIDDLE PLEASED

Colonel John Bidd1e, the Engineer Com
missioner of the District of Columbia, who
has acted for the District In all matters
pertaining to the proposed new union sta
ton, is much pleased with the action taken
by the House District committee yesterday
in agreeing to the Massachusetts, avenue
site. Colonel Biddle has been in favor Of
this site throughout the negotiations in
augurated at the last sitting OF Congress-
He believes that materially, as well as
aesthetically, the location of the station on
Massachusetts, avenue is the best.
Colonel Biddle today said that while there
has been much talk as to the amount OF
money the District and the United States
would save by the adoption Of the proposed
site at C and North Capitol streets, he did
not believe the amount would have proved
as large as the figures that have been mem
toned.
cred on the same scale with the Massa-
chusetts avenue location, and consequently
the total expenditures that would be neces-
sary at c street have never been estimated.
To place the project at street on the
same elaborate plans as those proposed for
Massachusetts avenue, Col. Biddle believes,
would have necesstated a number of
changes in grades and other features that
would have materially rolled up an expense
account
Money Saved by Committees Decision.
In view of the decision of the House COM
n.ittee to cut down the amounts to be paid
over TO the Baltimore and Potomac penn
sylvania) and Baltimore and Ohio railroads
by 81 GOO 900, the changes in the cost of the
union station project to the United States
ard the District are interesting. The United
States saves S750,00O by the cut and the
l.
lowed the Baltimore and Potomac company
for vacating the Mall was reduced from ST.
500 600 to 81 ,000000 AS the United States
was to pay the whole cost for this vacation
the treasury saves $500, 600 by the cut. The
amount to be allowed the Baltimore and
Ohio under existing legislation is likewise
cut down from 81 ,500.O 900 to 81 oO0600. AS
the District was to share in this payment
it saves by the half-million reduction the
sum of S25000O and the United States saves
the same amount, making the total saving
to the United States $780, 900, as stated, and
the District S250,000
1t is not believed that the committee con-
sidered the respective shares of the United
States and the District in this reduc-
ton. 1t was thought that perhaps the
committees action in reducing the allow
ances would result in saving to the Dis
trict an amount almost equal to the sum to
be expended in making Improvements about
the Massachusetts, avenue site. This is
hardly the case, however, and it is pre-
purpose of removing any suggestion of max
ing too large an allowance to the railroad
corporations.
Cost of Grading and Paving.
It Is estimated by the Comm issioners that
the cost of grading and paving about the
new union station will be $500 900, and that
the cost of real estate that it will be neces-
sary for the District to purchase will also
be 100000. Damages to property due to
change of grade are estimated at 5000 900.
This makes total expenditure about the
new station of 81 100000 in addition to the
bonuses. The District and the United States
Will share this cost on the half-and- half
principle. In addition to the expenses
about the station proper 1t is estimated that
under existing railroad legislation it will be
necessary to spend in South Washington
the sum Of $4,000. and for grading and
paving $4,000, total of $4,000. Under
the former scheme the total cost to the Dis
trct was estimated at 81 .635, COO. With the
S23G,O00 reduction from the amount to be
paid by the District on the Baltimore and
Ohio bonus, the Districts share in the cost
of the new station is brought down to
Sl,3S5,O0 divided as follows:
One-half of bonus to be paid the
Baltimore and Ohio. $500 900
One-half cost of grading and paw
ing Observation-Disclosures. $50 0O1
One-half cost of real estate to be
purchased ....................... 10000
One-half Of damages. s............ 100000
One-half Of expenditures in South
WashtnEtoi ..................... So ,00C
. LOG