The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-12
OPINION AGAINST
MODIFIED PLANS
Commissioners Oppose New
Railroad Track Scheme.
SAY CITIZENS ARE WRONG
Rearrangement in Maryland and Viz
ginia Avenues of Little Prac-
teal Value.

Tt required only twenty-four hours for
the District officials to decide that the
modified plan for the arrangement of
tracks on Maryland and Virginia ave-
nues southwest, submitted by the South
Washington Citizens Association. pos
sessed no merit whatsoever.
a speedy report by Engineer of High
ways 9. B. Hunt, approved by Assistant
Engineer Commissioner MORROW, was pre-
scented TO Engineer Commissioner Bid
die yesterday sfternoon, as noted in The
Times, and led to the following recon-
mendasion by Colonel Biddle:
Respectfully forwarded to the Com
Inissioners, inviting attention to the
within report. and with the further
statement that the proposed change
would affect somewhat seriously the use
of the freight stations, as authorized
by the acts of Congress, which the rail-
road companies have probably taken
steps to procure, and have prepared, to
certain extent. for their use.
Legislation Needed.
Further it is necessary that there
should be further legislation to author
ize such change which legislation
cannot be recommended certainly I'M
til after consultation with the rail-
road company TO the practicability
of the plan.
.sThese changes were considered at
the time of the passage of the bill.
and the course adopted st that time
was considered the most practicable.
There Is no reason, however. why this
communication should not be forward
ed to the railroad company with a re-
quest for its views thereon at an early
date, and l move this be DONE
THE proposed treatment at Tenth
street is more advantageous than the
adopted plan, while the proposed treat
ment at Four-and-a-haif street is to
an almost equal degree less advan-
tageous; the combined advantages OF
disadvantages of the treatment of the
two streets under either plan being SC
small as to be not determinative or OF
considerable weight.
AT Seventh street instead of crossing
a valley OF So feet the proposal is to
climb q hill of feet.
The rates Of grade along the street
would be substantially the same and
the advantages OF the proposed plan
over the adopted one would not be ap-
pFeciable.
.'On the other hand. under the pro
posed plan. the District would have 10
maintain the bridge over the railroad. a
material consideration which IS also APP
plicabIe to the proposed treatment OF
Sixth and Ninth streets.
Wouldn't Save Money.
This office is convinced that, instead
OF saving money to the taxpayers, ths
proposed plan will be far more costly
than the one adopted.
1t does not attach great weight Il
the objectionable features of an over
head bridge ut Seventh street rather
than that the street should go under
the tracks. The whole trend of modern
practice in the elimination of grad
crossings is, other things being equal
to carry the street under the tracks. a.
in the approved plan
THE advantageous treatment of Mint
street in the proposed plan is gained b,
creating a far more Objectionable treat
ment OF Sixth street. and the objection
20 the adopted plan are thought to b.
oVerstated- 1t is not considered that tn
possibilities of final treatment Of reser
walton 1l3 in proposed plan are essen
TALLY superior to those In the OF
adopted"