Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-03

luton reached seems to the committee
ideal in every respect.
II Is proposed TO pay to the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company S1,J0O.OG0 for
the ground in the mall. this amount to be
expended by the company as a portion of
the cost of making the connection with the
new union station The tunnel under Cap
itol Hill alone will cost s1.64s.0OO. The
ground given up by the railroad becomes
available for two public buildings, as we'll
as for park purposes
1t is further proposed that the District
of Columbia shall make suitable approac hes
to the new station This is a municipal i'm
prOvement: Il will not increase the revenue
of the railroads. but it will Conduce to the
convenience of the people of the District
or government officials and of visitors to
the national capital. 1t is provided that
the railroads shall construct so much of
the plaza as lies between the building line
of Massachusetts avenue and the new sta
ton; and also that they shall provide for
streets on the east and west sides of the
station. The cost of these street improve
ments will be $4,000 for grading and paw
ing, sJl0OoO or less for land and $3.50 900 for
damages to property due to changes of
grade: in all. s1.67O,0ob. the payment of
which amount will be spread over a number
of years.
More Than Twelve Millions
1t is not proposed TO disturb the present
legislation in regard to the elimination of
grade crossings in the District of Columbia.
That legislation was the result of the agita-
ton carried on in Congress and in the Dis
trict for the past twenty years Aside from
the question of the occupation of the mall.
the present laws are well adapted to secure
all the results necessary to give to the Dis
trict of Columbia the best possible railroad
terminals The acquisition by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company of a controlling
interest in the Baltimore and Ohio makes
1t possible at this time to secure such a
modification of last years project as will,
when carried out, give a complete. adequate
and monumental treatment of the railroad
terminals in Washington.
The entire cost to the railroads of all the
changes that are to be made in the Dis
trict of Columbia for the elimination of
grade crossings and the construction of i'm
proved terminals amount to Sc, I61 .6o1 for
the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Com
pany. and the Baltimore and Ohio $500
40s. total of S12, 361 O59.
A Favorable Report
In addition to this amount the District
and the United States are to expend or
their own property in streets and avenues
S1.610.O0o. thus bringing the total of money
tc be spent in the District to more than
S1i O0o.0V0. OF this amount the United
States and the District of Columbia con-
tribute 81 800 900 to the Baltimore and Ohio,
as their share in the elimination of grade
crossings along that line: and the United
States pays 81 800, 900 for the lands in the
mall occupied by the Baltimore and Poto-
mac. There are various smaller items in
the account. such the gift of lands in
Garfield Park. and damages to property
along the line of the Baltimore and Poto-
rac. but these are comparatively small
items. and do not materially affect the
above statement
There is practical unanimity among the
people of the District of Columbia in favor
or a union depot On the Massachusetts, ave-
nue. site Indeed, the solution of the rail-
road problem is what the District of Co.
lLmbia has been striving for during the
past quarter OF a century