Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-15
THE UNION DEPOT BILL
Animated Discussion of a Re-
port Approving It.
NORTHEAST CITIZENS
EFFORT OF SEVERAL MEMBERS
TO RECoMMIT DEFEATED.
The Report Finally Adopted by Ma
jority Vote - Recommendations
Submitted and Approved.

Mr.. Evan H. Tucker, president of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
ton, in calling together the members of the
association at the regular monthly meeting
held last night. discussed the question Of
the location of the proposed union depot.
He referred to the work of the association
covering a number of years, and said he
realized 1t was useless to attempt legislation
which the railroad companies oppose. Every
man, he said, has his own idea Of what
should be done, and each one naturally IA
vors what is beneficial to his interests.
As chairman of the committee on legisla-
ton, Mr.. Tucker presented report of the
committee made on Senate bill 1875. After
reciting that the committee had given the
railroad subject careful consideration, he
read the report, in part as follows:
1.-The most objectionable proposition con-
tanned in the above mentioned bill was that
authorizing the absolute closing of H street
for distance of 300 feet on either side of
Delaware avenue. Your committee took up
this proposition and was unanimously sup
ported in opposition thereto by the resi-
dents Of Northeast Washington and by
many persons who hold mortgages on north
east property. Each of the District Com
miSSfcners gave us most cordial and at
tentive interviews, and with their assistance
we succeeded in having the new BILL which
was presented to the Senate March 81. pro-
vide that H street shall be kept open, the
railroad tracks to cross the street at a
proper elevation, with as little interfer-
ence as possible with the traffic. The sug-
gestion in the report of your committee on
steam railroads that no provision was made
for the payment of property taken for the
plaza and for damages caused by changes
of grades was also taken up, and a clause
Is inserted in the pending bill covering these
subjects more or less satisfactorily.
Regarded as Acceptable.
1.-The pending bill is about as accepta BILE
as can be expected. with due regard to the
commercial interests of the city and the
convenience of the travelling public, If not
quite satisfactory to persons whose prop
erty will be taken or damaged. While we
all hold that the removal of all steam rail-
way tracks and their appurtenances would
be great relief to our section Of the city
we must concur in sthe general opinion that
such structures cannot be placed anywhere
In any city without affecting the property
and other interests of many persons.
The proposition to change the grades of
the streets to accommodate them to the
tunnel and proposed union station seems TO
us now to be the paramount question affect
ing the situation. Such changes of grades
and the acquisition of the large area neces-
sary for the proposed plaza and the streets
and avenues leading thereto together with
the large amount of money necessary to
pay for damages to the property affected,
is question which confronts every tax
payer In the District and to which the most
serious consideration of all our people
should be given. From the information
that We have been able to obtain the cost
OF all this is estimated at 100000. the
payment of which will be spread over a
number of years and will be borne by the
United States and the District governments
IN equal proportion of one-half by each. -,
District Revenues Appropriated.
I'm addition to this the 81, 800 900 to be
paid to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company provided for in the act of Febru-
airy IL 1901. remains in force one-half of
winch is to be paid out of the revenues of
the District Immediately upon the compile
ton OF the work required by said act Thus
it will be seen that about 81 800 600 of Dis
trlct revenues will be contributed to the
proposed Improvements. Your committee
has found very strong sentiment prevail
ing among many of our taxpayers against
such contributions on their part for the bet
terment or the steam railway conditions.
To meet this opposition we do not lose sight
OF the fact that by the proposed bill and
under existing law the railroads are re-
CURED to expend on their station buildings
and appurtenances about $14OOO.OC0 of
which amount about S12 900 900 will become
taxable in the same manner and to the
same extent as other property In the Dis
trlct, ana all tracks and sidings shall be
usual method of assessment, the District
revenues Will be increased about $50 600 a
year for many years to come AS to which
side Will suffer more under such conditions
we leave to the fair Judgment of orr fel,
of the District.
For Surrender of Rights.
Besides the above sums the bill provides
that the United States shall pay 81 800 600
to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company as consideration for it's surren
der of its right to use that portion of the
mail now occupied by it. While your COM
mittee believes that the location of the sta
ton as proposed in the bill may be detrj-
mental to the property in its immediate
vicinity, especially where the grades of the
streets Will be affected, it is our opinion
that the location of the proposed grand
structure In Northeast Wash
lngton. and the bringing of all the passen-
ger traffic of the city to this point. will
northeast as business section. and will
thus be to the advantage of the entire
eastern portion of the city; and inasmuch
as the main purpose of the bill is link in
the great chain of improvements to follow
In the near future. by which the mall will
be restored to it's original and legitimate
use. We believe that many of our good peo-
pie whose property will be taken and whose
homes Will be temporarily disturbed are
enough to bear such sacri-
f1ces for the general welfare.
Recommendations Submitted.
After the thorough consideration we
have given the subject your committee
feels justified in submitting the following
Recommendations:
First. That to so much of the bill as
provides for the humiliation Of grade
we give our unqualified approval
Second. That to so much of the bill as
affects the interests of other citizens as
sociations We give our passive acqui-
eSGonHa subject To CHI L.