Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-29
AN EARLY BEGINNING
WORK ON RAILWAY TERMINAL
TO CoMMENCE JUNE 1.
Bids to Be Opened May II for Con-
struction Of Twin
Tunnel.

From present indications it seems that
work on the new railroad terminal ia
cilities and the union depot project will be-
gin by June l. Col. John Biddle, the En-
gineer Commissioner. this morning received
copy Of the call issued by Mr.. w. H.
Brown chief engineer of the Pennsylvania
company. for proposals for verious features
of the work. including the long tunnel under
Capitol HILL If the proposals received shall
prove to be satisfactory there is no reason
why the actual constructor work should not
be in progress within the three weeks fol-
lowing. All Pennsylvania railroad con-
tractors have a way of pushing their work
forward to early completion, and there is
no reason to expect an exception in the
proposed terminal work here.
AS was indicated to the Commissioners
several weeks ago by Chief Engineer Brown.
the first work to be undertaken by the rail-
roads is such as will require no expendi-
ture of District revenues. No definite ap-
preparation has been made by Congress in
connection with the railroad work and to
facilitate matters the companies go
District has no financial concern. The
Commissioners are pleased with this policy
OF progress and look to see the great
project completed well within the five-year
limit fixed by the act Of Congress.
The Pennsylvania company has called for
proposals by May II next. first for the twin
tunnel for the tracks on the present main
line of the Philadelphia Baltimore and
Washington railroad from 7th and Virginia
avenue southeast along Virginia avenue to
I'd street southeast. These tunnels for
the freight traffic of the Pennsylvania COM
pany. which will be confined to the south
ern portion Of the city. as heretofore.
Trains from the north will come through
Benning and through the navy yard tun-
mel to 18th street southeast. where the
tracks run out into the open. They will
enter the new tunnel at 7th street southeast
and continue underground to I'd street
southeast.
This new line is some distance north Of
the present line and skirts the southwest
ern corner of Garfield Park. Leaving the
new tunnel the tracks will rapidly ascend
to the overhead structure, on which they
will run through the southwestern section
to the new Long bridge.
Leading to Union Station.
The second series of proposals asked for
is the twin tunnel for two tracks on the
new line from the corner of D street south
east and New Jersey avenue through pri-
vate property and along the west side CT
LIST street southeast and northeast to the
north side Of Massa chusetts avenue north
east, where the union station Will be en-
tered. The specifications state that the por-
tons of the tunnel south Of c street south.
east and north of B street northeast can
be done by the "cut and cover process, or
digging from the surface down and filing
In again over the tunnel masonry The ro-
mainder Of the tunnel will be constructed
by tunneling entirely beneath the surface.
The third section Of the work to be under
taken under the contracts now called for
Is the laying of the tracks to connect the
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio
tracks in the northeastern section Of the
District to bring the trains from the
north into the city over the northeastern
superstructure or viaduct. The two tracks
are to be constructed by the Philadelphia.
Baltimore and Washington division Of the
Pennsylvania system from the intersection
Of New York avenue with Montana avenue,
near Montello station on the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, to a point near Magruder
station on the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington railroad. Separate bids are
asked for each section of the work.
Chief Engineer Brown directs all pros
pective contractors to apply to Mr.. ]. L.
Stuart, assistant engineer, at Chester. Pa,
for all further information 1t would seem
from this that Mr.. Stuart will play an i'm
portant part in the Pennsylvania company's
work around Washington. 1t is specified
that contractors must furnish materials
for their construction tracks at their own
expense No men or materials will be trans
ported free and the use of construction
trains main tracks will be prohibited.
No subcontract will be allowed except for
the delivery of materials. Contractors are
directed to examine the proposed work in
person before submitting bids