Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-02
OPEN CUT TUNNEL
PLAN ADVOCATED BY RAILROAD
TERMINAL ENGINEER.

A proposition to build the 1st street tun-
mel between and c streets northeast IN
connection with the railroad terminal work
by the open-cut method instead of by the
boring process was submitted to the Dis
trict engineer department late this after
non by Robert Farnham. assistant engineer
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. in
charge of the CONSTRUCTION work on the
tunnel project. -
The formal presentation of the proposed
change in plan for the LIST street tunnel
with respect to fta construction between
and c streets northeast was. preceded to-
day by the communication received by the
Commissioners from Senator Cullom of the
committee on the site for the proposed new
Senate Office building.
On behalf of this committee Senator Gull
lom requested that the Commissioners give
favorable consideration to the open-cut
proposition when it was submitted by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company The Sen
ate committee issisteIested in the matter
owing to the belief that better foundations
can be secured for the Senate office build
ing, to be erected on the square bounded
by LIST. North Capitol, and street north
east.
1t is understood that the request of Sena-
tor Cullom was made after conferences
on the matter participated In by the MEM
bers Of the Senate committee and Chief
Engineer Brown Of the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company. :
The proposition 10 the SOH-
missioners today is not the first that has
been made to them for a change In the
method of construction In the 1st street
tunnel from the underground boring pro-
cess to the open-cut plan
Several months ago the contractors asked
for permission to make an open cut through
a part of the United States Capitol grounds.
Such vigorous opposition was manifest at
the time to such despoliation of the beauti-
full Capitol grounds that the proposition
was abandoned and the contractors pro-
ceeded to build the tunnel by means of the
boring process. The former proposition,
however related to the construction OF the
outhern portion of the tunnel between r
street south and c street north.
1t Is understood that one reason for des1r-
ing the change in the plan of building the
tunnel is that it can be done cheaper than
by the boring process. Another reason ad-
vanced is that since the line of the tunnel Is
so close to the building line of the proposed
new Senate office structure IT Is
thought more substantial foundations can
be secured for the building If the work is
done in open cut. One reason for building
the tunnel by the open-cut method through
the site of the House of Representatives
office building was to secure more supstan-
tial foundations.
The proposition of the railroad company
will be given careful consideration by the
District officials but at this time they de-
clined to indicate whether or not they Will
consent to the proposed change. 1t is
stated, however, that some of the strongest
objections to the proposition to build the
southern portion of the tunnel by the open
cut method do not apply in the case of the
proposition PRESENTED today. The former
proposition involved the temporary de-
struction of the eastern edge of the Capitol
grounds, including number Of trees.