Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-10

one proposed by the railroad company and
authorized by the act of Congress ap-
proved February %, 1908, providing for the
union station, 1t being understood that this
plan could be modified by the Commission
ers This arrangement was not satisfactory
to the engineers Office because 1t did not
provide sufficient communication to the
east and 1t was expensive on account of
the high-class of buildings which would
have to be condemned in order to carry it
out. The streets leading in from the west
and south were easily decided and did not
admit of much modification. The streets
to the east have been the subject of con-
siderable study
Col. Biddle then mentions the plan origi-
nally proposed by the architects and con-
tinues:
From the architectural point of view
there are three main points considered de-
sirable: First, that between streets there
should be sufficient building space to out
line the plaza with buildings and that all
sharp points should be avoided: second
that the streets should be directed so as
to approach the station in the most pleas
ing manner; third, that the plaza should be.
circular in FORM
Main Consideration.
'The main consideration must. however.
always be convenience of access. 1t is
thought that the main vehicle traffic east
of the plaza win go not to the station. but
to the business part of the city. and that
e street should rather turn to the south
than to the north. AS proposed, E street
is carried south so as to Join Massachu-
sets az enue, giving ready passage across
the plaza to the business section Of the
city, making the opening at the plaza the
width of Massachusetts, avenue. Califor-
mia street is kept open with q width of
ninety feet. Ills will allow fifty, or, IL
desired, sixty-foOt roadway. By an easy
Cfr ov,d rsyffh do
it joins F street
Travel from the northeast can come
down through F ore streets across the
plaza. Previously most of the through
travel has come down street. but there
is no reason why a large part could not
shift to e street, Any new line of street
cars could either go 3out California street.
or. If preferred. be carried down E street
to Sd street, or turn into street.
IF street west of I'd street will be
closed. The wall will not be over eighteen
feet high, and steps will be built up to the
street that runs along the west of the
station. If at any time it is desired to
carry F street to the plaza 1t can be done
without having an excessive grade F
street is now entirely residence street;
1t is wide and open, and it Is not thought
that it would be seriously damaged by
being closed at the west end. The grade
on I'd street remains -unchanged, as well
as the grade on f street.
Suggestions by Citizens.
Colonel Biddle mentions that there have
been several other propositions advanced
bv citizens of the District. With regard to
these plans he says:
Zone is to turn street to the south
from I'd street to the plaza, abandoning
California street. This has the disadvan-
tage Of increasing the grade of the plaza,
of entering the plaza at an inconvenient
angle. and of an increased cost of $4,000
Another proposition was to turn F street
south from Sd street. This would cost
600 more than the arrangement recon-
mended, and give a poor entrance to the
plaza.
1.-THE arrangement recommended is eco
nomical It Is thought that ample COM
to and through the plaza, and that the
architectural features are preserved as far
as convenience will permit.