Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17
CHANGES OUTL INED
How Union Terminal Project
Affects Garfield Park.
LEGISLATION lNEEDED
NEW JERSEY AVENUE BRIDGE TO
BE ELIMINATED. 3.
10
The Avenue Within Reservation Closed
to PubIc-Railway Company Re-
leases Ground to District,
LEGISLATION NEEDED

Important and extensive changes in the
original plan Of improvements in Garfield
Park, southeast, In connection with the
new union terminal project, have Just been
agreed upon by the District officials and
the officials Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. In order to accomplish these
changes, however, 1t will be necessary to
obtain additional legislation from Congress,
and the work cannot, therefore, be exc
cuted until after congressional authority
has been obtained.
Practically all of Garfield Park, It is
stated, was granted by the government
years ago to the railroad company for use
as railroad yards, and the round house of
that company is located in this square.
The portion Of the reservation now used
by the railroad company is bounded by
South Capitol and I'd streets and by VIr-
ginia avenue and l street southeast
According to the original plan of railroad
and street improvement in this portion of
the park the main tracks of the railroad
were to cross South Capitol street on the
Hne OF Virginia avenue, over the roadway
and thence under the roadway of New
Jersey avenue and on into the tunnel, which
mas Its beginning at I'd street southeast
The law specified that New Jersey ave-
means OF a bridge over the tracks on
Virginia avenue. This bridge was to be
built by the railroad company, and there
after 1t was to be kept in repair. and n
occasion required, be rebuilt at the expense
of the District
Changes Provided For.
The changes in plan of operations in this
section contemplate the elimination alto
gether of the New Jersey avenue bridge
a nd fha oil cfo
within the lines of the reservation. In re-
turn for the Districts releasing the rail-
road company from constructing a long and
expensive bridge, which would be necessary
under the original plan, the railroad com
pany proposes to surrender to the District
for municipal purposes a large portion of
the reservation now occupied and used by
the company.
The proposed new plan, 1t is believed by
the authorities, Is advantageous both to
the railroad company and to the District
government and to the citizens of the Dis
trict well.
1t Is stated that the tracks Of the rail-
road company are laid all over the greater
part of the reservation, and that New Jer-
sey avenue through the park has been prac-
tically closed to the public for nearly two
years. This street, it is pointed out, is not
regular avenue within the lines of the
reservation, but only a narrow park road
way, and the closing of the road to the
public has occasioned no complaint.
Traffic along New Jersey avenue from the
southeast to the northwest can be diverted
at the boundary Of the park, either along
street to South Capitol street, or along
street to I'd street, and thence into i'm
proved thoroughfares to the business sec
sey avenue across the park and the build
ing of bridge over the tracks in the res
ervation, it Is pointed out would necessi-
tate steep grade at that point, and traffic
would naturally turn down street and into
South Capitol street. a Slight increase in
distance, rather than use the steep grade
occasioned by the bridge
Virginia Avenue Opened.
1t is also pointed out that Virginia avenue
is to be opened to the public between I'd and
South Capitol streets. In the event a bridge
were constructed on the line of New Jersey
avenue, it Is stated, that the grade OF
Virginia. avenue at the point where 1t Is
intersected by New Jersey avenue would
have to be raised equal to that of the inter-
secting street. By closing New Jersey ave-
nue. and eliminating the proposed bridge an
even and easy grade can be maintained on
Virginia avenue, and this thoroughfare will
be convenient for traffic from southeast
Washington to the business section.
1t Is believed that when the improve
ments in this section of the city are COM
pleted and the streets are placed In suit
able condition that Virginia avenue will be
largely used by vehicular traffic, from
southeast to northwest, as the steep grades
on Capitol Hill can then be avoided.
One of the principal advantages to the
District government in the event the
change in plans is authorized by Congress,
will be the surrender TO the District by the
railroad company of that portion of the
square lying between New Jersey avenue
and ID street southeast. Tracks are now
laid in this space, but if the change con-
templated are made the railroad company
will occupy only that part of the reserva-
ton lying between New Jersey avenue and
South Capitol street. The District officials
are very DESTROYS Of obtaining the space
east of New Jersey avenue, so that it may
be utilized as property yard for the Dis
trict engineer department.
Need Of Property Yard.
For many years the need of a property
yard on the line of the railroad has been
urged by the officials, but they have been
unsuccessful thus far in obtaining author
ity and funds for the purchase of site.
Should the new plans be carried out it is
believed the question of providing a prop
erty yard will he settled to the satisfaction
and advantage to the District
By the adoption of the new plans, the
railroad company will be relieved of the
expense of constructing a long bridge
the line of Virginia avenue, and the Dis
trict will benefit by the surrender of a
large tract of land to be used as property
yard. The citizens 1t is believed, will bene-
fit by improved street conditions and by the
elimination Of steep grades.