Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-09
TRACKS NEARLY READY
RAILWAY BEING BUILT ACROSS
CAPITOL PLAZA.
Temporary Construction, Which Will
Be in Use Within About
Ten Days.

Within about ten days, If the present
plans of Contractor Stewart are carried
out, there will be full-fedged steam rail-
way in operation across the plaza In front
Of the Capitol.
"All aboard for the union station site,
the conductor will announce, and the little
"dinkie' engine will puff and pull. OF 1t
will go, drawing its trainload of dirt from
the site of the new building for the House
of Representatives at New Jersey avenue
and B street southeast, over the Capital
Traction Company's tracks on B street
northeast and out in front Of the big white
building.
Right in the shadow of the majestic dome
the impertinent little train will speed, and
when it reaches the driveway on the north
side it will turn down hill. With steam
turned off, it will coast through the Capitol
grounds to North Capitol street, into which
1t will turn and continue its downward
on c street northeast until it comes to the
Baltimore and Ohio railroads tracks. which
1t will cross on a steel bridge hundred
feet long and twenty-five feet high.
1t will then proceed to North Capitol and
street northeast. where it's load of earth
will be dumped from a treStle into the fill
for which it is intended.
In this way will the $4,000 cubic yards of
earth to be excavated for the office build
irg's foundation be removed and placed
where it is needed to build up portion OF
the new union station site.
The Tracks in Place.
The tracks are already laid in front Of
the Capitol. and as soon as the two street
railways complete the work of the cross
ings the remainder will be put down and
the running Of the trains begun.
n ,to chn &c RIM inD n
office building site at present dumping the
earth into wagons, which carry 1t over.
Soon another shovel may be in operation at
the same place, and together they Will dig
cars. each of which holds three cubic
yards, and the other will fill wagons:
When this time comes the wagons will
cease to haul the earth to the union station,
southwest instead. The little train alone
will supply the union station.
Three engines will be used on the railroad,
and it is estimated that 1,ODO feet a day will
be carried across in front of the Capitol. al
though there is considerable uncertainty as
to the exact quantity. because the con-
tractors cannot tell just what effect the
grades will have on the speed of the trains.
The time table will be every now and
then, from I am. until IL pm
Width of Right of Way.
Twelve feet is the width of the right of
way granted the builders LOT the lTdChS, diiu
this will be fenced in with four-foot fence
and provided with suitable crossings for pc
destrians and vehicles.
Only at the street railway crossings will
the asphalt be disturbed. At other places
the ties are laid on the paving and the
rails and fence posts spiked to them with
out harm to the asphalt. The gauge of the
track is thirty-six inches.
Complaints Filed.
1t is understood that a number of per-
sons living on North Capitol street between
the Capitol grounds and street have COM
riained against the building of the rail-
road in front of their homes. but the con-
tractor said this morning that the work
was authorized by the District Commits
sioners. who believed they were acting for
the best interests of the public. He said,
further that the trains. as they go over
North Capitol street loaded. will be on the
down grade with all steam turned on and
when they have the upward pull they will
be empty, so that the noise will be reduced
to minimum. This is the only residence
block affected by the railroad.
1t will be several months before the earth
Is entirely removed and the running of the
trains discontinued.