Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-04
WATER STREET ROUTE
Plan Proposed by South Wash
ington Citizens
NOW WITH MR.. BABCOCK
NEW WAY TO UNION STATION
FOR RAILROADS.
Benefits to the Railroads and Ad-
vantages to the City of Wash
ington Set Forth.


station for railroads entering the city by
Long bridge was today laid before Chair
man Babcock of the House District COM
mittee In detail by the railroad committee
Of the South Washington Citizens Assocta-
ton. What this route has to offer in The
way of advantages, both to the railroad
and to the city, is set forth In the document
filed today. Attention Is called to the mat
ter at this time the members of the
committee will make a personal inspection
of the route.
Eve submit herewith says the report,
the plan Of the South Washington Citi-
zens' Association, with the hope and re-
quest that you examine the route as pro-
posed under our plan, relieving as it will
Maryland and Virginia avenues and all that
section of the city north of Water and X
streets southwest from the ruinous effects
of railroad tracks and traffic, and further
for the following reasons:
The conditions heretofore existing as to
the title to the waterfront property having
been removed by the decision of the United
States Supreme Court, declaring and vest
ing title to all the ground south of Water
street In the United States government; the
contemplated removal of the station site
from the mall; the interference of the pres
ent occupancy of Maryland and Virginia
avenues by the railroad tracks with the
park COMMISSIONS plan; the great advan-
tage accr1ling to the city and the interests
of Its people; the giving to the railroad
company a route and a locality where they
Will be unhampered In handling and trans
acting their large and increasing business;
placing them on street where improve
ments are of little value and ground cheap.
thereby giving our merchants an opportuni-
ty to purchase ground for warehouse and
siding purposes in a section where they will
be free and undlsturhed in the handling Of
their business; the placing of the railroad
Urhs
badly never be disturbed; a location that
will afford the best and most satisfactory
solution Of the vexed railroad problem for
many years to come These are I few Of
the many reasons why the Water street
route should be selected.
Benefits to the Railroads.
"By the adoption Of the Water street
route the railroad will be benefited as fol-
lows:
First. the expense to the railroad will be
greatly reduced by using the present old
tunnel on K street southeast, thereby doing
away with the necessity Of building new
tunnel under Virginia avenue southeast as
the new line Of tracks will run directly
Into the old tunnel by way of K street
southeast and southwest. and will intersect
and connect with the new line of tracks on
Delaware avenue southwest which line will
connect with the new station site.
Second, 1T will not be necessary for the
railroad company to purchase additional
land for freight yard purposes as the prop
erty on both sides Of the proposed lines
from Delaware avenue southwest to the
Long bridge is available to our merchants
for warehouse and siding purposes, this
especially along the north and south side
OF Water street, where merchandise of all
kinds can be handled. and where the
wharves can be utilized for shipping coal,
! etc, to eastern ports. The north side of
| Water street Is peculiarly adapted for the
location of mills a number of which are
| low located in the vicinity of and south Of
pennsylvania avenue, and which, sooner or
| later, will be compelled to remove from
| their present location.
Third, by the removal to Water street the
| railroad company would be largely compen-
| stated by the sale of land owned by them
| on the present line of tracks. as the re-
| moval of the railroad traffic and tracks will
| cause rapid rise in land values on Mary
| land and Virginia avenues and streets ad-
! jacent thereto.
| Fourth. the expediency with which the
| new work could be commenced and COM
| pleted without disturbing the present tracks
| ana route, thereby saving the railroad COM
| pany large costs and preventing consider
! able annoyances and Inconvenience to citi-
| Zens and property owners in the southwest
section by reason of the laying and con-
| struction of temporary tracks and other
| d1sagreeable features connected with and
| incident to the change under the present
! bill f