Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-21
TO CONTINUE TUNNEL WORK.
Legal Difficulties Removed and Rail-
road Officials Are Happy.

The contractor for the construction of the
1st street tunnel in connection with the
railroad terminal work has made arrange
ments with the District authorities whereby
he may proceed with the construction of
that portion Of the tunnel north of street
northeast. For several weeks the work on
this feature Of the terminal work has been
practically at standStill, and the contrac-
tor and railroad officials, it is stated, were
becoming anxious over the delay in the
prosecution of the work. The delay was
caused, it is stated, by reason of legal diff
culties connected with the transfer to the
District from the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company of certain property located
along the route Of the tunnel.
1t Is stated that there were some ques-
lions as to the title of the property which
had to be settled before the transfer of the
until this matter was settled the District
could not remove the houses on the land
and permit the contractor to dig the tunnel
at this point
In order to continue the work on the tun-
mel the contractor, it is stated, has agreed
to tear down the houses at his own ex-
pense and pile the material in some suitable
spot. The houses in question are located
on the west side OF LIST street between D
and E streets northeast.
A proposition is now under consideration
by the District officials and the officials of
the railroad company to limit the height of
the buildings to be erected fronting on the
union station plaza. The plan is to main
tain an uniform skyline, and Architect
Burnham of the union station building has
suggested that the height of the cornices
Of the buildings fronting on the plaza be
limited to seventy feet. The cornice of the
station building will be sixty-nine feet high.
but the top of the building will extend about
twenty-five or thirty feet above the cornice.
1t seems desirable that the buildings sur
rounding the plaza should not be higher
than the station building as 1t is consid
cred the effect would be disagreeable If the
skyline of the surrounding buildings were
uneven and extended above the roof of the
station.
All the property fronting on the plaza is
owned by three parties-the District of CO.
lunlbia, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company and the W'arder estate The Dis
trict and the railroad company have greed
to the proposition to limit the height of
buildings fronting on the plaza, and it is be-
lieved the trustees of the Warder estate
will also agree to the proposition and that
congressional action will not be necessary
to secure the end desired. In the event such
an agreement Is reached among the three
parties in interest it is stated that when
either of the parties dispose of property
fronting on the plaza the deeds will con-
tain clause restricting the height of the
buildings.
Another proposition in connection with
the buildings about the plaza has also been
suggested to the authorities 1t is proposed
that an uniform color scheme be adopted
for the structures about the plaza The sta
ton will be constructed of white granite
and it Is proposed that the buildings sur
rounding the station be of white or cream
color 1t is considered that the introduction
OF a red brick building in the plaza semi
circle would be entirely out Of harmony
with the appearance of the station and
PIAZZA and an effort will be made to secure
ch adoption of an uniform color scheme for
the buildings.