The Washington times., 1902-01-03
THREATEN THE
=. . UNION DEPOT.
CauStic Comment by "Gath"
On Land Spectators.
CAMP FOLLOWERS OF CONGRESS-
Advancement of Persop.I Welfare
Sought at the Expense of the Cap
itnl of the Nation-Examples of
L'Enfant and Observation-Disclosures
the Massachusetts Avenue Site.

The report few days ago in The Times
of the purchase by spectators of the
property in the vicinity of the proposed
new union railroad station on Capitol Hill
has attracted new attention to the many
plans under consideration for years past
TO settle the question of local terminals.
One of the prominent residents who has
noted these efforts from year to year, and
has seen obstacles interDosed when the
road seemed clear to successful consum-
matien of plans, is George Alfred Town
send, the newspaper correspondent wide
ly known as Gath
Mr.. Townsend yesterday expressed the
greatest disapprobation of the tactics EN-
pioyed for selfish ends to obstruct an i'm
provement for the general public welfare.
Speaking of the union depot question in
all its phases he said:
senate Committees Interference.
THE first thought which occurs to the
mind is that if the Senate District Com
mittee had not interfered to propose a
site never before suggested the union de-
pot would be already located and the lot
gamblers composed.
After the Pennsylvania Railroad ac-
quired the Baltimore and Ohio one of the
first compensations was felt to be de-
pct site already secured along the north
side of c Street northwest between New
Jersey Avenue and First Street, the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad having quietly
purchased houses and lots at prices which
ensured the equitable surrender OF what
remained. This was known to the legis
lators, as plans had been filed for viaduct,
depot, and connections before the two
railroads came under one control.
"aIercenary Followers on LeGisla-
ton"
mo better site was discerned till big
union depot seemed probable. Then the
mercenary followers on legislation sprang
to activity. They filed in the low and
agulsh basin of Tiber Creek, almost des-
titute of inha habitancy. and the ground
there-only valuable for coal, lumber, and
lime yards, because upon the railroad
tracks-afforded remarkable openings to
buy cheap and sell dear.
Several entire blocks of this land were
bought by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road for nominal price. not for depot
purposes, but for switch and freight
yards, to be in the rear Of the proposed
depot. 1t occurred to nobody then to
throw the depot in the rear and leave the
slopes of Capitol Hill for freight yards.
What Shepherd and L'Enfant Did.
Il can remember when Alexander Shep-
herd tore up in one night the trackage
around the base of Capitol Square, where
freight trains to Maryland Avenue stopped
the members of Congress at the Pennsyl-
vania Avenue gate. Is it now proposed to
put under the eye OF Congress three
squares of freight yards in order to ruin
Massachusetts, Avenue with a street rail-
road TO a depot on that avenue, which
should be the carriage drive to the Capt.
tol from the West End? What for?
The short immediate conditions of
Washington should yield to the perma-
nent relations of a great union depot.
The Capitol was placed at the centre of
the city, irrelevant to the shopkeepers
and elite of Georgetown, Punkstown, and
Carrollsburg. Mr.. Carroll Immediately
built his house across the middle of New
Jersey Avenue under the impression that
he and the Capitol were synonymous
terms. The architect, L'Enfant, looked
TO the future, and did the Shepherd act
with Carroll's house-he tore il down.
AT the present day. while the engi
neers and staff of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road see the happy adaptability of the
Capitol plateau to pass their northern
trains underground 10 the south, there
are bear-sighted influences which would
pull depots and all general improvements
to the swamp centres, where trade was
early misled to go, where foundations
must be piled, and where the railroad Of
ficiais will get the chills.
Il predict that if this union depot is
removed to Massachusetts Avenue, to the
Long Bridge. or anywhere but on the old
historic site of fifty years, We will get
cheap station edifice instead OF a noble
and extensive one.
..Department of Transportation"
The union depot should become also
the department of transportation, as the
Pennsylvania Railroad, for our District
purposes, has become the sole railroad
here.
In Philadelphia its station is on the
square of the city hall. In New York it
is going to be one square from the Wal
dorf. Should it be in Washington
amongst the coal yards of Swampoodle or
up Oh the vision prospects of the Capitol?
''The greater part of the railroad travel
is to the Capitol, and hence the Congress
sional Limited trains, which leave for the
north near the hour of adjournment. Peo-
pie with business at Washington try to
avoid the hotels, and the whole public
business is concentrated in the commit
tees at the Capitol.
In time of disorder the road into the
city has been happily direct to the
Capitol. There the first soldiery i'm
mediately repaired in 1861. Time and
again the holy city of Rome has been
tumultuously held against the besieged
consistory in the Vatican.
THE heavy mail to the Capitol under
pending arrangements can get the last
minute for posting. Architecturally, the
new union depot can close up the north
ern vista of Capitol Hill in conformity,
or contrast, to the Library, courts. and
committee rooms, edihces now, or in
the near future, there.
Not one interest except the Govern
ment itself is as important here as trans
portation. Instead of being kenneled
end squatted somewhere, it should stand
lofty among the palaces, and its chief Of
ficials be at the right hand and within
the call of Congress.
crushing to BlackmniI.-
THAT property holders on Capitol Hill
have been kept back from improving by
tentative public structures which never
materialize is equally out of equity with
the real estate levies rushing to black
mail the liberal railroad.
"All the arguments used for depot on
Massachusetts Avenue would apply to
keep the Pennsylvania Avenue depot
where it is, but that gift site has been
failure, except as competitive station.
and has nearly ruined the Mall.
Last Spring and summer the Pennsyl-
vania' 6 staff had settled upon the B. & o.
site. 1t was known to a few who had
made enquiries at the Philadelphia Of
fees. Speculative and street opening in
terests and the camp followers of Con-