Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-01
The Union Station Project.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star
There are some features of the union sta
ton bill that are objectionable There is
really no need for such fill or elevation
OF the grade of Massa chusetts avenue as
that proposed If the level of all the
tracks in the union station were made five
feet lower than the tracks in the present
Baltimore and Ohio station, it would only
require an elevation of eighteen feet to
carry Massachusetts avenue over all the
tracks, which could then be made to pass
through the station, instead of being stub
tracks, as proposed. The tracks passing
south from the station would all converge
in the two tracks through the tunnel UNI
der Capitol Hill. Such an arrangement
would be somewhat similar to the proposed
Pennsylvania terminal for New York city.
And, again, why should the tunnel lie
along the line of LIST street? Why not from
the northeast corner Of the Capitol grounds
curve gently west, so as to make the south
portal on Delaware avenue southwest. a
Y there would connect with the tracks
from the tunnel on street southeast and
the tracks leading to the Long broidge.
This change in the course of the tunnel
would save Garfield Park to the people.
1t seems the railroad interests have not
proposed what is best for them and the
people in their scheme of approach to the
station from the north. Would it not be
better to start a grade in the union sta
ton five feet lower than the present grade
VI lile ana ONO station, ana
ing north with six tracks keep such a
grade as to pass fifteen feet lower than the
present grade at the intersection of Della
ware and Florida avenues? Florida ave-
hue at that point might have to be raised
eight or ten feet and similar elevation
of II street at Delaware avenue would be
unobJectionable to the interests Of the
northeast. All lettered streets from H to
n should be carried over the semi-deDressed
railroad tracks.
The natural depressions In lexington from
Florida avenue north to T street suggest
that 1t would be best to have the yard for
local freight to conform to a lower set
Of elevations than now adopted, New York
avenue, X, s and Thomas streets should
be carried over the tracks on viaducts
Fifth street should be extended north to
> street. Quincy street should be extended
east to Sd street. Then, from lexington
place along Florida avenue east to Della
ware avenue most convenient local
freight yard would extend, giving easy ac-
cess to any track. There would be less
annoyance from tracks depressed than
from similar tracks at a higher elevation
From T street in lexington between 9Th
and 9th streets the six main tracks should,
going north, curve to the right with a ra-
dius OF about 1000 feet; passing under the
Brentwood road at point about 800 feet
south OF the entrance to Harmony cemc-
terry. The Brentwood road may have to
be raised there, say, from five to ten feet
Whlch Is not more than the natural de-
preston in that stretch Of the road The
ground from the Brentwood road over to
Ivy City lies well for a switching yard,
and will doubtless be so utilized From
Ivy City to Magruder station on the Penn
sylvania road difficulties exist to pre-
vent the construction of a -double-track
connection with easy grades and curves.
The good common sense of the Pennsyl-
vania officials will never run trains to and
from the north via the Navy Yard tunnel
when this line through lexington shortens
the distance over mile.
If the railroad interests will modify their
plans to conform to these suggestions they
Will come as near satisfying the people Of
Washington as they can ever hope to do
ENGINEER