The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-29
The First Street Tunnel.

The city will view with extreme
misgiving the approval by the Dis
trict Commissi0ners-WhOse minds
seem to be settled on the point-Of
the "Open-cut' method Of construct
ing the new railroad tunnel from B
Street southeast along First Street
east TO the site Of the new railroad
terminals.
All its citizens who read the news
papers viii recall that vastly longer
tunnels have been built in Paris and
London, under much these same con-
ditions, without a cut through TO the
surface except for stations, and that
neither city suffered either dishgure-
ment or discomfort. And their recol-
lection is still keen that New York,
where the new subway was construct
ed by this alternative method, has
suffered almost continuous disaster
the blockade OF important streets, the
ruin Of stable and conservative bust
ness men, half a dozen suicides by
bankrupts, and fatal accidents to a
score Of citizens.
But careful examination OF the
premises, as they are disclosed by our
news columns Of yesterday, cOmpels
the conclusion that the situation not
only differs in all essentials from
that in New York, Paris, and London,
but appears to justify the present at
titude Of the Commissioners as rea-
sonably safeguarding the interests of
the entire community.
Along the whole course Of this pro
posed construction there are but eight
houses. Along the whole course half
the street viii be undisturbed. Along
the whole course there are but two or
three trees of notable value which
stand in the line of the cut. Along
the whole course not a single f0unda-
ton is menaced or a single approach
either TO the Library of Congress or
10 the Capitol INSTRUCTED. These are
the conditions which destroy the par
allel with New KoFiz Bheeazfae sub
way ran for ten miles along impOr-
Cant streets, between rows Of houses
solidly built together.
The advantages Of the "open-cut"
method 10 the city-neither the Com
missiOners nor The Times need con
slider the advantages TO the railroad
company-are large The foremost is
the saving Of half a years time in the
completion of the terminals. OF this
the Engineer Commissioner seems en-
Urely assured. The second gain is
that First Street, when reconstructed,
can rest upon solid ground. Finally,
the best engineering methods are the
Capitals only safeguard against sub
sequent cuts for recurring repairs.
Much can be said and probably will
be said against the decision of the
Commissioners if it favors the open
cut" method. The experience of
Paris, London, and New York. as al
ready cited. is TOO well known to
Washington to be forgotten when ap-
parently the same problem presents
itself locally.
But the city should not make up its
mind in this matter without giving
fun weight To- these considerations:
That The custodian Of the Library
and the Architect Of the Capitol,
whose consent is a prerequisite TO the
-open-cut method, are by law respon-
sible for the care of those two build
ings and their grounds; that their
consent If it is given is 9 secure
guaranty that neither building viii
suffer- that the District Commission
ers are men of proven honor and
Judgment, and that their decision, if
IL favOrs the 'Open-cut" method. must
be mace for the benefit of ali the pe0-
pie of the District OF Columbia.