Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-03
STREETS ABOUT PLAZA
PLANS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
UNION STATION.
Proposed Conference Necessarily Delay.
ed-The Arrangement Suggested
by the Architects.

1t was expected that Architect Pierce
Anderson. representing D. II. Burnham &
Co., would confer today with the officials
Of the District engineer department, rela-
tive to the arrangement of streets about
the plaza Of the new union railroad station
Commissioner Biddle, however, today re-
ceived communication from the railroad
company stating that Mr.. Anderson has
been called to Chico go, and that he will not
be able to confer with the District officials
for several days yet.
The architects of the union station pre-
pared plans for the arrangement of streets
about the plaza some time ago, but on &C
count of pressure of other matters the sub
ject has not been finally disposed of by the
engineer department of the District With
in the past ten days. however, the District
officials have been discussing the question
of the most suitable and economical ar
rangement of streets about the plaza, and
last week invited the architects of the
building to a conference for the purpose Of
discussing the plans for this feature of the
terminal work.
The plan of the architects in brief is to
cut off street at the plaza. thus making
a cul-de-sac of that street at that point; to
eliminate California street, and to change
the direction of street. so that it will
balance Massachusetts, avenue entering the
plaza on the north sde By the plan of
the architects it would be necessary to con-
denim two fronts on E street. one plot of
ground on each side between LIST and I'd
streets. and also to condemn property on
California street. The houses on E street
that would have to be condemned, it is
pointed out are of considerable size and
value and the cost of condemning them
would be quite large
Plan Of Engineer Department.
The engineer department has drafted a
plan whereby E street is continued to the
plaza in the same direction as at present
and to widen California street on the south
side. The widening of California street, it
Is stated. would necessitate the condemning
of only short row of small houses.
1t Is estimated that the cost Of condemn
Ing property<so as to arrange the streets
according to the plan of the architects
would be about s15OOOO. while according to
the plan OF the engineer department the
at about $4,000
Commissioner Biddle states that there Is
no d1Sa agreement between the architects and
District officials relative to the arrange
ment OF streets about the plaza and that
the plans thus far are tentative and no
denn1te decision has been made with re-
spect to the arrangement of the streets. At
the conference to be held between the ar
SiheCStS VI Tic STATION ana the D1StrlCt OIL
Gals the plans will be discussed, and after
careful consideration the engineer depart
ment will adopt plan for the arrangement
OF the streets about the plaza. The ques-
ton as to the manner in which the streets
shall be arranged, 1t is pointed out, rests
with the District officials.
Another Suggestion.
The Northeast Citizens Association yes
terday presented a plan for arranging the
streets about the station so as to continue
F street to the plaza. 1t is estimated that
by the adoption of the associations plan
1t would cost 100000 for the condemnation
of land.
According to the plans prepared by the
engineer department, it is stated, by round
Ing off the corners of California street and
1st street traffic on F street may be brought
to the plaza almost on direct line.
The District is now engaged in looking
up the titles to the property about the
plaza, and steps are being taken to pur-
chase the land necessary to be condemned
on account Of the work. 1t is stated that
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
owns about rs per cent of the land within
the plaza, and it is said the Commissioners
have an understanding with the railroad
company as to the purchase of some of the
parcels Of land needed in the construction
of this feature of the terminal station.