Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
FOR SUBNAYS
Railway Engineers Tot Ready
to Submit Them.
The STREETS CLOSED
CITIZENS DISSATISFIED WITH
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
District officials Complete Study Of
Grades for Plaza-Architects
Called in Conference.


The engineers of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company have not as yet submit
ted to the District engineer department
their plans for the construction of the sub
ways to be built across H, K, L and M
streets and Florida avenue northeast, and
the residents in the vicinity of K and L
streets, 1t is learned, are not pleased with
the existing condition of the streets men,
toned. Thoroughfares have been closed and
the conditions in their immediate vicinity
are regarded as unsatisfactory, especially
in view of the fact that the work on the
subways has not been commenced, and will
not be until the plans for the construction
of these features of the terminal work have
been approved by the Commissioners.
There has been considerable discussion
within the past few months among the Off
Gals Of the District engineer department
and the engineers of the railroad company
with reference to the style of construction
to be employed in these subways. AS has
been previously stated various officials OF
the engineer department have made tours
of inspection of subway construction IN
different parts of the country. The reports
of the District officials with reference 70
this feature of railroad work, have been to
the effect that only In few instances has
the subway construction inspected been
satisfactory. The District officials desire
that in this feature Of the work the nights
of the public be fully protected, as the
will be built across public space
on streets used by the public.
Subway Construction Discussed.
At the last conference between the
engineers and the District officials, held
about three weeks ago, the proposed sub
-.--. uyoc discussed at con-
siderable length. The engineer depart
ment informed the railroad engineers
what the District would require in the
matter of subway construction, and at
the close of the conference the railroad
representatives stated that they Would
proceed with the preparation OF plans FOR
the tunnels and submit them as soon as
practicable. No plans for this work have
as yet been received by the District au-
thorities. The officials of the engineer
department decline to state just Whae
style of construction they will require of
the railroad company, but it is under
stood thai the questions which nave been
under discussion relate to the method or
lining and the covering of the subWays.
The engineers of the District have al
most completed their study of the grades
for the plaza in front of the union sta
ton building, and 1T is also understood
that the question as to the arrangement
of streets about the plaza has been prac-
tically settled. The plan for the arrange
ment of streets about the plaza suggested
by the District engineer department Will
be the one adopted. 1t Is understood.
These plans are somewhat different from
those originally submitted by the archi-
tects. The original plan suggested by the
contemplated the elimination
of California street and the changing OF
the direction of - street. This arrange
ment, it is stated, would have necessi-
tated the condemnation of a consider
able number of houses as well as a large
amount of land.
The plan proposed by the District officials,
it is learned, will be less expensive, in that
there will be less property to condemn in
order to carry out the project.
Architects Consulted.
Several weeks ago Colonel Biddle, Engi-
neer Commissioner, invited the architects
Of the station to confer with the District
officials with reference to the arrangement
Of streets about the plaza, with the idea
Of determining whether or not the plans of
the engineer department would interfere
with the beauty and symmetry of the union
station from an architectural point of view.
The architects, after discussing the subject
with the officials of the District engineer
department., were given copies of the pro-
posed plans of the department, and they
have since been studying the drawings.
They have made no formal report to the
engineer department, yet it is ascertained
tiiit SiS hoNS lSRiiiCo thdk llIC
arrangement of streets about the plaza as
proposed by the District officials is salts
factory, with several minor notifications.
The District is proceeding with the prelim-
mary work connected with the construction
of the plaza, such as the buying of land
and property and the ascertaining of values
of the property which 1t will be necessary
either to purchase or to condemn.
The plan for the streets, while 1t has been
practically determined, yet will be slightly
modified. 1t is expected that the drawings
showing the final arrangement of streets
will shortly be completed by the engineer
The specific manner of treating the space
within the plaza circle is still under con-
sideration. 1t is anticipated that the loca-
ton of the two fountains, one on either side
of the detached approach to the station
building proper, will be slightly changed.
The plans at present provide for the street
car tracks to run between the approach and
the building. 1t Is expected that the ap-
proach will be placed closer to the sta
ton building and that the car tracks will
then be laid on the south side Of the steps
and platform, which forms the detached ap-
proach mentioned.
First Street Tunnel.
The railroad company several days ago
submitted to the Commissioners the plans
for the LIST street tunnel, through which
the tracks Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company's southern outlet will be laid.
1t is likely that the grade of this tunnel
will be lowered about one foot, in order to
afford greater clearance under the plaza.
The fill and grading of the plaza. it Is es-
timated, will involve the handling of al
most one million cubic yards of earth. An
engineer in charge of the construction Of a
railroad In West Virginia stated the other
day that there will be more grading on the
plaza alone than will be, necessary in the
construction of the work on which he is en-
gaged-the building of a railroad 200 miles
long.