Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-21
PROTEST 0|f CITIZENS
Object to Street Arrangement
at Union Station.
THE POM T
PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE COM.
MIssroNERs TODAY.
District Engineer Department Ar
rangement Disagreed With
Views Presented.

A vigorous protest against the adoption of
the District engineer departments plan for
the arrangement Of streets about the union
station plaza was entered by representatives
OF the Northeast Washington Citizens As
ISOLATION and property owners near the
station at public hearing before the Dis
trict Commissioners this morning. The
citizens objected to the closing OF street
northeast at the terminal station and In
sisted that the thoroughfare mentioned be
deyiated so as to open upon the plaza.
The members of the association present at
the hearing were President Evan H. Tucker,
8. sowsrbu ts, w. q. Dang, Joseph Crandal.
D. D. Bowen, ]. A. Meyer J. Fleming, A. II.
F. Holstein, j. B. Burke. w. ]. Frizzell, DR..
Starr Parsons, Dr. L. D. Walter and Harry
Boeshe. Messrs. D. D. Thompson, Charles
r. Tolbert and Henry c. Stewart, property
owners in the vicinity OF the station, were
also present
The citizens presented for the consider
alton of the Commissioners plan 1or the
ARRANGEMENT of the streets about the
plaza. This plan differs from that pro-
nosed by the engineer department, with
respect to the arrangement OF the street
east of the station. As has been preVl-
ously stated in The Star, the engineer
department proposes to close street at
on the south. The District officials also
propose to continue E street in straight
line, as at present, but opening into Mas
sachusetts avenue just before IT reaches
the plaza.
The citizens association proposes to
eliminate California street altogether and
to extend F street from I'd street OBJ
liquely to the plaza, entering the semi
circle at the point where California street
now opens upon the proposed plaza.
Changes Suggested by Mr. Tucker.
Mr.. Tucker, the first speaker, said that
the association two years ago took up
the subject of the railroad terminal and
suggested a number OF changes in the
legislation on the project. With refer
ence to the plan OF the engineer depart
ment for the arrangement of streets on
the east Of the plaza, Mr. Tucker said
that the maintenance of Casffernia street
would be an eyesore and a blotch upon
the station and the vicinity. The ques-
ton is," he said, whether you Commis-
sioners decide the matter right now or
make a botch of the matter" He con-
tended that traffic from the northeast
section will be .congested along I'd street,
which. he said, is only thirty-one feet
clared that the proposition Of the en-
gineer department is unreasonable, and
that 1t will do the people residing on F
street great injustice.
i
the residents of the people of Washington
than will be perpetrated on the residents
Of street by the plan proposed by the
District engineer department., declared
that the departments plan will later in
volve the District in lHw suits. He said
that the members of his association are
not interested in the matter from finan-
cial standpoint, but that they are interested
solely for the public good.
Col. Biddle's Views.
At the close of Mr. fuckers argument
Colonel Biddle said:
Every architect in the country would
declare that the system proposed by your
association, Mr.. Tucker, would be abso-
lutely impossible for the most. beautiful
and artistic treatment sof the plaza and
station. We have worried over this matter
ourselves, and your plan has been dis
cussed with the architects.1
Colonel Biddle then pointed out to the
citizens the defects in their plan from the
standpoint of architectural fitness. showing
that the points left by; the arrangement
of the streets as proposed by the associa-
ton would interfere with symmetrical
treatment of the plaza. In addition to this
he mentioned that the plan proposed by
the association would cost from $4,000 to
$780, more than the plan proposed by
the department and approved by the archi-
tects.
Mr.. sowerbutts said that there il
unanimous sentiment among the residents
and property owners of the section affected
In favor OF keeping F street g. continuous
thoroughfare to the plaza. Other members
of the association also epoke OF the senti-
l1ent in favor of continuing street to
the plaza.
Confidence In Col. Biddle.
The members of the association spoke Of
their confidence in Coienel Biddle's ability
in connection with engineering projects and
of his desire to be fair and just to the citi-
zens and to all parties concerned.
Mr.. Thompson expressed the opinion that
the question of convenience ought to be
considered az carefully az The question OF
beauty and symmetry.
It was suggest I'd that the railroad COM
pany is making objections to the associa-
tion's plan for the arranSem6nt OF streets.
Colonel Biddla stated that the railroad
company has had nothina whatever toasay
about the matter, and that the objections
unanimously and empha$tcallE against the
plan proposed by the association.
Mr.. CrandaA presentAds to the Commits
sioners a petition signed by - owners OF
property in the northeast session, asking
that F street be deviated. so as to extend
continuously to the plaza.
Other gentlemen present spGke in favor
CT the associations proposition In line with
the remarks OF pfecedfn9 ap00kers, and at
the close OF the hearing the Commissioners
advised the members of the dAlegation that
they will give the matter carefaal considera-
sion as to the plan to b adopted for the
arrangement OF streets about~ the plaza.
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