Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-08
WILL NOT Be CUT OFF
Commissioners Reassure Citi-
zens Of the Northeast.
THE TERMINAL WORK
PLANS SUGGESTED FOR HAND
LING STREET TRAFFIC.
Delegation Given Hearing at District
Building to Protest Against Clos
ing of Thoroughfares.

Apprehensive lest the citizens residing In
Northeast Washington NAV be cut or from
| convenient communication with the north
west section during the coming winter.
| Messrs Evan H. Tucker, W. j. Frizzell and
| Or. L. ID. Walter, committee representing
the Northeast Washington Citizens Asso-
! clat1on appeared before the District Com
| mlssloners this morning and on behalf or
! residents In the northeast section appeal
ed to the authorities to protect that section
| against possible temporary separation from
the main part of the capital city
The appeal, so it appeared during the
| hearing In the board room this morning,
was not In vain, as Commissioners West
| and Biddle gave the citizens assurances
that everything practicable would be done
| by tie authorities to protect the interests
and the convenience of the citizens during
| the progress of the work on the railroad
terminal project this winter. AS result
| or the appeal of the committee it is under
| stood that board sidewalks will be provided
Tor pedestrian traffic along K and II
| streets; policemen will be stationed at suit
able points along the union station work.
! and it is probable that a long wooden tres
tie for vehicular and pedestrian traffic Will
| be constructed along Massachusetts avenue
over the site of the union station plaza
The committee OF citizens left the DIS
trict building apparently much eaS1er in
| mind and with their fears of sebaration
from the northwest section of Ire city dis
PEELED to considerable degree.
Written Statemen& Filed.
The committee presented to the Commits
sioners a written statement in which it
was set forth that there are widespread
rumors to the effect that Massachusetts
avenue and H street in the vicinity of the
union station work will not only be in very
bad condition this winter--Aut that these
two thoroughfares Will be completely closed
or rendered practically impossible. The
commissioners were urged to issue orders
1orbIdd1ng any attempt on the part of the
railroad company to interfere with the use
of the two roadways mentioned, which. it
was stated. the union station act declares
shall not be closed. The closing of these
two thoroughfares for even a day the citi-
zens argued, would result in the loss OF
many thousands of dollars to the resi-
dents in the northeast section, besides
casioning great Inconvenience and placing
the section In a dangerous position from
possible fire and other disaster.
Both Commissioner West and Colonel Bid
die stated that they had not heard any
rumors that both Massachusetts avenue
and H street would be closed at the same
time. Colonel Bidde stated that it may
be found necessary to close II street for u
few days while the street railway tracks
are being removed.
The work on H street." Colonel Biodle
said Cannot be finished until the tracks
are moved the tracks cannot be removed
until the coal yard is moved, and the coal
yard cannot be moved until suitable loca-
tion elsewhere is found for it,
Both Streets Not to Be Closed.
The Engineer Commissioner stated that
yesterday he informed the railroad en-
gneers that the Commissioners positively
will not consent to the closing of both
Massachusetts avenue and H street at the
same time, and that H street may be closed
only for short space of time.
What if the railroad company tries to
close the streets without authorty?' asked
DIR. Walter.
"Oh, they won't try to do that" replied
Commissioners West and Biddle in unison
Mr.. West said ne would take steps at once
to have police officers stationed at the
points mentioned to see that the streets
are not improperly closed and to guard
the public against accidents and unneces-
Sary inconvenience.
DR.. Walter protested against the present
and prospective condition of H street and
Massachusetts avenue He declared that
the facilities for vehicular traffic are very
bad and that the conditions are worse with
respect to pedestrian traffic.
Col. Biddle explained that the work of
cutting down K street has been finished
and that cinders have been placed on the
roadway of that street. Both Commission
ers seemed favorably impressed with Mr..
fuckers suggestion that board sidewalks
be laid along both H and K streets during
the progress of the construction work on
those thoroughfares. The Commissioners
stated that they will in all probab bility have
such sidewalks laid.
- have been wondering" said Mr..
Tucker, what the people of Northeast
Washington would do if a big fire should
break out in that section. With all the
streets connecting the northeast with the
northwest part of the city closed or OBJ
structed by the work. 1t seems to me that
the fire department would have great difn-
Guilty in responding to alarms yin our sec
tion."
Precautions Against Fire
Colonel Biddle stated that Chief Belt Is
kept informed as to the condition OF the
streets and as to the general situation, and
that the chief is making arrangements to
take care of fires. Colonel Biddle also said
that the Commissioners have been some
what disappointed in what the railroad en-
gneers promised to do, and he indicated
that the work has not been progressing as
rapidly as had been desired. He mentioned,
however, that numerous circumstances
have interfered with the work, and that in
convenience is to be expected in the prose-
cutiOn of such AN immense engineering
project He stated again that II street ana
Massachusetts avenue Will not be closed at
the same time.
Mr.. Tucker suggested that large trestIe
be constructed over the plaza site on the
line of Massachusetts avenue, and Col.
Biddle stated that this proposition is being
considered by the authorities.
The Commissioners thanked the citizens
for their display of public-spirited interest.
and told the committee that the authorities
will be glad at all times to listen to infor-
nation as to the conditions of the terminal
work.
1t is understood that while H street is be-
ing cut down to the proper grade for the
subway that the wires for the electric cars
will be placed overhead 1t was definitely
stated that the Commissioners will not per-
nit H street to be closed to the public for
any considerable length of time, and the
expressed desire to be kept
of the situation from the stand
point of the public
Post Office Safe Blown and Robbed.
CATSKIII. N Y. Sentember S.-Tha