The Washington times., 1903-03-24
VIII Probably Come in Over
Tracks Of the Projected
Old Dominion and Great
Falls Railway.
Aque5uct Bridge Not to Be
Used, But Another Struc-
ture TO Span the Potomac
River.

~ - ~ - f'Ati AAAN ONCiAAA-
River
That the Wabash Railroad is coming
TO Washington IS q certainty This was
exclusively foretold In IRE Times a Few
days ago. Subsequent movements on the
part o. the Wabash management seem
10 Indicate that the proposed Old Do
minion and Great Falls Electric Line
is 20 be a part OF the line John p Nc
Lean. the chief figure In this proposed
construction. emphatically denies this.
But the runor is persistent thar he is
acting as an intermediary for the Wa
bash. and that the formal transfer OF
the electric line viii be made 10 the
Wabash at the request OF the trunk
line management. IN the meantime. the
work OF constructing the tracks for the
Great Falls line viii be pushed as rap
idly A. possible.
To Enter Washington.
This is taken TO prove that the Wa
bash viii enter Washington from the
Virginia side ara the route from the
main line. running from Cherry Run 10
Baltimore. viii be intersected az or near
Hagerstown. Nd. IN that event il is
thought the Wabash VIII build its line
from HagerstOwn or near there, 10 Har-
pers Ferry. ". Va. and then run along
the south side OF the Potomac River
10 Great Falls. where the right OF way
acquired by the Old Dominion ana
Great Falls line viii be utilized 10 reach
Washington.
The AqUeduct Bridge is not 70 be
used by The wabash in entering Wash
ington. according 10 this story. but an
other bridge across the river is 10 be
constructed and an entrance effected 20
the union station by that rouse- But II
Is apparently regarded as uncertzin
that the union station viii be used IN
any event A station is now contemplat-
ed for the exclusive use OF the new
line
Mr.. Mclean Makes Denial
When Mr. Mclean was asked this
morning by a reporter FOR The Times il
he were acting for the Wabash. he re-
piled.
NO. sir; ] have no connection with
the Wabash. and what / am doing for
nection with any plans the Wabash may
have What may be done in the future
remains 10 De seen"
Much secrecy has been maintained BY
the directors OF the Great Falls line as
TO this new road. Il is known how
ever that they have been unusually ac-
tive within the past two weeks. The
work OF construction is being arranged.
and the contracts Will be awarded as
soon as possible 1t is said that
heavy rail. such as is used on railroads.
Will be put down 10 provide for the
heavy cars TO be used The directors
decline TO discuss the kind Of cars. ex-
cept 10 state they will be heavy.
Most Advantageous Route.
The route as now indicated by the
Wabash Is thought to be the most ad-
vantageous that could be built. There
would be little grading to do. and by
coming to HarDer's Ferry big tunnel
project would be avoided. II the line
were charged to follow another course
from Hagerstown there would of neces-
sity be a detour 20 avoid the Allegheny
spur. which would carry the road far
into Pennsylvania as the Western
Maryland is nov operated The watar
gap at Harper's Ferry affords natural
outlet
BY using the south side of the Poto-
mac. the Wabash VIII parallel the BaIti-
more and Ohio. traverse a section OF
Virginia not now reached BY any rail-
road. and a direct line 10 Washington
would be obtained BY approaching
Washington from the south the extern
sion 10 Newport News would be made
possible At much less expense than By
any other route. The need for Increased
tidewater facilities is made the more
by the purchases OF the Gould
interests in the Far West A portion OF
the Oregon short Line. just sold through
the Hartman Clark deal gives the Wa
bash a continental line and makes the
tidewater facilities in Baltimore evil
IDENTIFY inadequate.
Not considering the coal business re-
Gently acquired by capitalists affiliated
with the Wabash the terminals in Bal
timore would in any event have more
business than they could accommodate.
With the great export coal business
from West Virginia and western Penn
sylvanla- which the Wabash VIII get ths
necessity OF two immense tidewater
terminals IL clearly indicated
Washington Terminal Indispensable.
II is now believed the management
wants the terminal at Washington to be
as soon after the entrance
into Baltimore rs possible. Through
passenger business without an entranre
into Washington would be more or less
useless. The great success OF the Bal
timore and Ohio and the Pennsylvania
lines is regarded as proving that.
Every bit or Western travel comes East
with the provision OF a stop-oyer In
Mashington.