Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-01
STATION SITE CHOSEN
Route of W., A. and Mt.
Vernon Railway.
AGREEMENT REACHED
HEARING GIVEN TODAY TO
THOSE INTERESTED.
Depot Located on D Street Near 18th
Street-Makes Way for Mu-
nicipal Building.
AGREEMENT REACHED

The location Of the passenger station of
the Washington. Alexandria and Mt Yer
non Railroad Company and the route of
the railroad to and from the station. was
decided upon by the District Commissioners
today at a board session held following the
close of a hearing on the matter. The sta
ton will be located on D street near 18th
northwest The tracks of the company will
be laid north on 1871 street to D, thence
east on D street to the station; then south
on 18th street to c street and west on c
to 14th street, where the turn will be made
south toward Alexandria.
The location Of the station and the route
within its vicinity. it is stated. is salts
factory to all parties interested, including
the District authorities, the members of the
and Alexandria Commuters
Association. the Business Mems Association
of Alexandria, the authorities of the Emer-
gency Hospital and the officials of the rail-
DAD company.
At the hearing held before the Commits
sioners in the board room this morning, the
question as to the location of the station,
which has been considered as most difficult
of settling satisfactorily, was thoroughly
by Representative John F. Rixey
of Virginia; Col. Robert E: Lee. member
of the Virginia state legislature; Mayor
elect Frederick Paff of Alexandria, business
men OF that CITY, representatives OF the
association, representatives OF
the Emergency Hospital. officials Of the
railroad and others
Reach Conclusion.
When the hearing had been adjourned the
Commissioners concluded that they had
sufficient information on hand, and fully
understood the sentiments of the parties
interested relative to the matter, and that
the time had arrived for definite de-
cision. Colonel Biddle, in lieu OF making
recommendation to the location OF
the station and the proposed route. out
lined to his associates the various SITES
and routes submitted to the authorities
for consideration. Colonel Biddle also
mentioned the objections to the various
plans and discussed the points in their
favor.
The subject was considered in detail by
the Commissioners. and at the close Of
the session Commissioner Macfarland made
the recommendation that the station be
located on D street near 18th, and that
the tracks be laid along the route men
toned previously. To this the Commits
siOners aSsented.
1t is stated that the company antici-
pates purchasing, in the future a building
on Pennsylvania avenue. so that the station
on D street may be extended through the
point of the triangle to the avenue and
thus afford an entrance to the station
on that important thoroughfare.
The great public interest attaching to
the location of the station of the rail-
road was evidenced by the large gather
ing in attendance at the hearing. Repre-
sentative Rixey argued against locating
the station further south Of the avenue
than the present station Is situated The
people who come to Washington from Alex
andria, he said, desire ready access to the
business center of the city. The station
should be located near the avenue, he said,
as to be convenient to passengers for
Mount Vernon.
Suggestion by Commuters.
Attorney Leo P. Harlow and T. H. Meth
erland, on behalf Of the commuters asso-
citation, urged the location Of the station
near to the avenue. They spoke of the
Objectionable character of the neighbor
hood south of the avenue and requested
that the Commissioners give due consider
alton TO those conditions. Frank Hume. a
business man Of this city. and Mr.. M. B.
Harlow, formerly of Alexandria. also spoke
in line with the preceding speakers.
In reply to a question from Commissioner
Mcfarland, Col. Cassels. representing the
railroad company, stated that the company
stood ready to locate the station wherever
the Commissioners designated. The COM
pany, he said, had no objections to a loca-
ton on the avenue.
At this point in the hearing Col. Biddle
said THE gentlemen will please remem-
the District has to bear the expense Of re-
laying the tracks incident to the establish
ment of a new station. 1t will cost about
So 200 or $4,000 to put the tracks across
d street. behind the new District building.
connecting the present tracks on 1917 and
14th streets, To have the station at the
intersection of the avenue and 18th street
and let the tracks come up 18th. going up
d to 1917 street, then down that thorough
fare, would cost about $4,000.
Others Interested.
Mr.. Brockett from Alexandria,, expressed
the hope that the Commissioners would not
permit financial consideration to induce
them to locate the station in an undesira-
BILE neighborhood.
Attorney r. Ross Perry spoke briefly on
behalf Of the authorities Of the Emergency
Hospital, and asked that the tracks be not
laid along the streets in front Of the insti-
tuition. The Commissioners then went into
executive session with the result as previ-
ously stated