Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-30
No Decision Regarding Rail-
way Tunnel Project.
HELD IN ABEY nee
STATEMENT MADE TODAY BY COL.
RIDDLE.
District Officials and Superintendent
Woods Equally Averse to TAX
ing the Initiative.

the proposition of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company to construct the Capitol Hill
tunnel by the open-cut method are evidently
at standstill. The officials of the Dis
trict and the superintendent of the Capitol
buildings and grounds seem to be awaiting
the action of each other before deciding
the question from the standpoint of the
respective interests involved.
1t is stated that Superintendent Elliott
Woods of the Capitol has asked the assist
ant attorney general for the Interior De-
partment for an opinion to whether or
not the superintendent of Capitol buildings
and grounds has authority without further
action by Congress, to permit the railroad
company to dig an open trench through
the eastern boundary of the Capitol
grounds.
The officials at the Interior Department.
1t Is understood. hold to the opinion that
before the question of Mr. Woods author
Hy Is decided the District Commissioners
should announce their decision as to
whether OF not they will approve the open
cut method in constructing the tunnel, thus
formally and officially forwarding it for
any further action that may be needed.
Col John Biddle District Engineer Com
missioner. stated today that the Commits
sioners do not feel inclined to definitely
settle the question from the Districts
standpoint until after decision has been
rendered relative to the legal points in
volved.
Col. Biddle stated that the railroad COM
pany has not as yet submitted any definite
plans outlining the proposed change to
the open-cut method in the tunnel: The
matter has, however, been officially pre-
sented to the notice of the Commissioners
in conference. when the various phases of
the proposition were discussed. The Engi-
reer Commissioner said that in his opfn-
ion. the railroad engineers In the discussion
and exclamation of the Nhanpa in Dlau have
apparently made out good prima facie
case. and upon the showing he is inclined
to favor the proposition.
Will Further Consider It.
He said however, when the detailed
plans of the work are officially presented
to him he will examine them with the
greatest care. going over every detail OF
the work. This examination. he said, would
probably take large part of his time and
that Of the District engineers for four or
five days at the least. and he does not
think 1t is advisable to expend all that
time and study upon the question when 1t
may subsequently be determined that the
superintendent of the Capitol grounds or
the Interior Department have authority
u permit the open cut through the Capitol.
Col. Biddle indicated further that during
the examination of the plans something
might possibly develop to change his pres
ent attitude toward the proposition. A care
full inspection of the plans. he indicated.
might lead to the opinion that the change
was not advisable.
Col. Biddle had conference late this
afternoon with Col Farnham Of the rail-
way company. relative to the railroad COM
panyS proposition. 1t Is anticipated that
this conference will result in placing the
matter definitely before the authorities in
terested, so that definite action may be
taken on the proposition 1t Is understood
that the railroad company is DESTROYS that
prompt action be taken on the matter in
order that the change in plan of operations
may be made at once.
The opinion is advanced that in the event
the law officer of the Interior Department
should decide that additional congressional
authority is necessary before permission
can be granted the railroad company to dig
q trench through the Capitol grounds, the
proposition will have to be abandoned. and
the construction of the tunnel will proceed
according to the original plans by the tun-
neling or underground method.
Additional Protests.
The Commissioners have received num-
Der of additional protests from citizens in
the vicinity of the tunnel against the prop
osition of the railroad company to con-
struct the tunnel by the open cut plan.
II beg to protest most earnestly against
the change in construction of the tunnel
under 1st street between East Capitol and
streets northeast writes Irwin B. Lin
ton attorney for the estate of Mrs. Stephen
]. Field. He incloses a letter to him from
Theodore S. Sloat IF such permission is
granted says Mr.. SlOat, Il shall be
obliged to ask you to release me from my
contract by which l have leased the prem
Uses at % 1st street northeast, because such
excavation and Inconvenience as naturally
arise from such tearing up Of the streets
would thoroughly unfit the house for the
business for which l leased it.
In a letter received by the Commissioners
from Mr.. j. G. Kennedy, the writer dwells
or the annoyance and the injury to the
health of the community, and adds that the
boring method is not as impracticable as
the railroad engineers would have the Off
Gals believe. He points to the tunnel under
the North river in New York and the con-
struction of subway twenty miles long in
Chicago to prove his contention.
Mrs. James M. Holmes of OPT 1st street
northeast. writes to the Commissioners
urging them to stand firm in their decision
not to permit the destruction Of the row of
trees on the west side of 1st street between
L and streets northeast. Mrs. Holmes
says that all East Washington Is deeply
Interested in the proposition to build the
tunnel by the cut and cover method.
Think of the probable conditions up here
at the inauguration ceremonies on March