Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-01
TO WAIT FOR CONGRESS
PRESENT VIEW OF CAPITOL HILL
TUNNEL PROJECT.
Law Officers Said to Be Averse to De-
Gliding Question Of Open-Cut
Method at This Time.

The situation today with respect to pros
| poets for definite action on the proposition
| of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company TO
construct the Capitol Hill tunnel by the
open-cut plan seems to be about the same
as it was yesterday, the proceedings re-
naming at a standstill. From present in
dications it seems not improbable that the
| matter will be deferred until Congress is
given an opportunity to pass upon the
proposition.
In view of the various considerations in
volved, and since Congress will meet within
about nine weeks, it is understood the Off
| cials interested prefer that the national
| lawmakers should settle the question.
especially since the belief seems to prevail
that additional congressional authority Is
needed before the railroad company can be
given permission to change, even tempo
rarily, the landscape features of the Capt.
tol grounds.
Col John Biddle, District Engineer -. NJ
| missioner, left Washington late last night
for a few days visit with relatives in
Pennsylvania. Prior to leaving the city
he reiterated to Star reporter his for
mer opinion that the legal points in the
case ought to be first decided before the
District engineers are required to devote
their time and study to a settlement of
the matter from the standpoint of the
Districts interests
Col. Biddle believes it is not advisable
for the District officials to expend a
weeks time in studying the plans of the
proposed change in the face of the strong
doubt as to the authority of the superin-
tendent of the Capitol buildings and
grounds to permit the railroad company
to cut through the eastern boundary of
the grounds. Col Biddle is of the opinion
that the District Commissioners have the
authority under the law to approve of
any change in the methods of construc-
ton if the change is feasible and neces-
sary and is in accordance with the best
engineering practice.
The Legal Points Involved
1t is understood that the law officer of
the Interior Department to whom Supt.
Elliott Woods of the Capitol has referred
the question as to his authority to permit
the railroad company to cut through the
Capitol grounds, is averse to deciding the
legal points involved until the matter has
been formally and officially disposed of by
the Commissioners and the question is thus
squarely placed before the department for
settlement 1t is understood that the law
officer considers the case in it's present
status as a straw question" and that un-
I'll there seems necessity for a legal opin-
ion he holds that it is inadvisable to render
a decision on the matter. After the Com
mlssloners have approved the change in
plans, the law officer holds it will be the
proper time to decide the question of Mr..
Woods' authority to permit the digging of
an open trench through the Capitol
grounds.
In view of the seeming disinclinat ton on
the part of any of the officials interested to
take the initiative In dispesing of the propo-
sition, especially since the date for the con-
vening of Congress is SO near at hand, 1t
appears likely that the question will not be
definitely settled until after Congress
passes upon it In the event of that delay
In a decision 1t Is believed that the railroad
company viii proceed with the boring of
the tunnel by the method originally decided
upon, and after the work has progressed
for two months more 1t may be found that
1t is feasible to construct the tunnel by the
usual methods in tunnel building.
Citizens Anxious as to Streets.
Citizens of Washington residing east of
the lire of the railroad terminal work have
been striving to ascertain just what ia
cilities they will have during the coming
winter for communication with the north
west section of the city. A number of
streets have been closed by act of Congress
during the continuation of the work on the
railroad terminal project. and other con-
Meeting thoroughfares will be closed tenn
porar:ly by reason of the construction work
along the streets. The proposition to dig
the Capitol Hill tunnel by the open-cut
method, which plan would probably cause
Inconvenience in communication between
East ana west washington by means of the
streets south of East Capitol street. has in
creased the concern of the citizens living
east of the terminal limits
Col. John Biddle, Engineer Commissioner,
states that T street n lexington will re-
main open all winter Florida avenue is
| now closed temporarily, on account of work
on that street, but it IS expected that this
thoroughfare will be open for traffic not
4, ter than December 1. street is now
closed and will remain closed during the
winter. VI and K streets, are open and the
plan is to keep them open all winter
The roadway of X street, it is stated has
been covered with cinders, and it is thought
this street will be in satisfactory condition
for vehcular traffic. l. street is tempo
rarily closed, but it will be opened within a
few months and remain open during the
winter.
The authorities state that H street will
be open all winter, and it is now planned
that this important thoroughfare shall not
be closed even for single day during the
work on that street. G, F and E streets
have been closed by law, but Massa achu-
sets avenue, it is stated, will be kept open
and in good condition for travel all winter
The work on the union station plaza along
this street, it is stated. will not interfere
with the use of this street by the public
South of Massachusetts avenue it is
stated and streets northeast will re-
main open all winter. In the event the
Capitol Hill tunnel should be constructed
by the open-cut method traffic along B
street south would have to pass over a
bridge at 1St street.