The Washington times., 1904-02-06
ENGINEERS CLASH
AT UNION STATION
Friction Between b. & 0.
and District Employees.
REGULATIONS IGNORED
Commissioners Determined That They
Must Be Complied With and Rail-
road Official Summoned Hither.

portion of the construction work on
the new Union Station and approaches
came near being brought TO an abrupt
stop yesterday afternoon by police in
terYention, Under orders from the Dis
triot Commissioners.
ALTHOUGH the news was jeaiously
guarded yesterday afternoon and this
morning by District authorities, The
Times learned that there has been con-
siderable friction between Engineer
Straus, in charge Of the construction
work for the Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany, and the engineers in the District
service. 1t is alleged that the company's
engineers have paid as little heed as
possible to the wishes of the Commis-
sioners. as expressed by the District en-
pIoyes.
IL is also said that Engineer Straus has
evidenced a desire 70 proceed with work
without Submitting the plans therefor
to the Commissioners. which is express
~ ordered by the act Of Congress au-
thorizing the terminal improvements
The Engineer Office admits the east
foundation wall OF the station. which
was built in the wrong place. was con-
strncted without the plans having been
submitted to the District Commissioners.
Cause of the Trouble.
The specific trouble which came neal
bringing things to halt relates to work
contemplated in L Street. The District
employees reported to the Engineer Com
missioner that the Baltimore and Ohio
Company contemplated certain construS-
ton work in L Street. actualfwork to
begin yesterday. AS no plans for this
work had been submitted TO the Engi-
neer Commissioner, he let the company
know that IL any attempt was made TO
do the work. everyone engaged in the
work would be placed under arrest by
the police.
Ii was also learned that the Engi-
neer Commissioner telegraphed either
the president or chie4 engineer Of the
Baltimore and Ohio company, request
itlg one Of those officers TO come to
Washington forthwith, that the
strained relations under which the
work is now proceeding may be obvi-
-ated in future. IL is understood such
officer will arrive in Washington this
afternoon.
In the meantime the company did not
do the work in L Street IL had con-
on reliable authority that Engineer
Straus had been communicated with,
and that he had expressed "a desire
10 comply with the regulations.
The Commissioners are determined
that the company shall do so, and
strict watch will be kept so that no
more work can be begun unless all
plans, in detail. have been submitted
to and approved by the Commissioners.
viaduct Plans Not Submerged.
The trouble is not confined to L
Street. nor to the east foundation wall.
A reporter for The Times who was in
the vicinity OF the Union Station site
was told that the II. Street viaduct is
about to be built; in fact. that the
masous are az this moment preparing
20 build the walls. but no plans for the
Viaduct IL is claimed. have reached the
Office of the District Commissioners.
The Commissioners are determined to
have the interior of the viaGuct finished
with glazed brick. but IL is said that
as the matter now stands the COmmfs-
siQpers do not know what the company
ccntemplates doing.
The conference which viii in all prob
ABILITY be held today between Col. Bid
d3e and the officials Of the Baltimore
and Ohio VIII no doubt result in an
anncable arrangement