Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-11
GRADES AND STREETS
NO CHANGE In SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON PROBABLE
Hearing Before the Commissioners To-
day Regarding Plans-Citizens'
Association Represented.

There seems to be little chance for a
change in the adopted plans for grades ana
railroad tracks in Southwest Washington.
Citizens from this section of the city were
given hearing by the District Commits
sioners today, and the plan proposed by
some of them was discussed at length. Al
the conclusion Of the hearing the Commis-
sioners did not appear to be particularly
impressed with the ACCESSIBILITY of the pro-
posed change, and Commissioner Macfar-
land explained that even if the Commission
ers did determine to recommend change
the new plans would have to be submitted
to Congress and passed by that body. This.
said the Commissioner. would take nearly
all of next year, and long delay would re-
suit
In the course of the hearing it developed
that the citizens of Southwest Washington
are divided; some wanted viaduct and
some wanted a depression: some wanted
the tracks to go over the street and some
wanted the tracks to go under the street;
some wanted 9th street preserved and 9th
street sacrificed, and some wanted 9th street
preserved and 9th street sacrificed. Com
missioner Mcfarland made the significant
comment that the advocates of the pro-
posed change would have made stronger
case If the association had presented a uni
form front
MI. Johnson's Views
Mr.. r. Fl. johnson. chairman of the COM
mittee on streets and alleys of the South
Washington Citizens Association, was the
first speaker. He was in favor of preserv-
ing 9th street, and thought the plan pro-
posed by some of the citizens would result
in the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der. He was followed by Mr. Joseph Will
liams who declared that the greatest nui-
sance in South Washington is the sparks,
fire and SCOT which come from the engines
pulling heavy trains up grade. He said
that the plans should provide for rail-
road bed without grade from the river to
I'd street. Colonel Biddie, Engineer Com
missioner, told Mr.. Williams that it would
be impossible to build the new road without
a grade.
ANY engineer who tells me he can't build
that road without a grade is a bad en-
gineer.' announced Mr.. Williams while the
rest of the members smiled. And l have
been building railroads for thirty years
too, and L know what l am talking about,
he concluded. No one disputed this. not
even Colonel Biddle, and Mr.. Williams re-
sumed his seat.
DR.. Thompson of the 9th street side was
the next speaker. He said that 9th street
is the meridian of the southwestern section
of the city, which he declared is contained
within 1st and 18th streets Mr.. w. A.
Wimsatt, for thirty years in the lumber
business the river front, spoke for the
retention of 9th street saying that % per
cent of the heavy hauling is done west of
9th street, and that the commercial inter-
ests are nearer 9th street
Opposes Destruction of 9Th Street.
DR.. D. H. Hazen opposed the destruction.
or partial destruction, of 9th street. He
said 9th street is the backbone of that sec
ton of Washington, and that while he
would agree 70 the old plan-bad enough in
itself-he did not want anything worse.
After all the speakers had been heard Mr..
Macfarland stated that the Commissioners
would be glad to receive written communi-
cations from the citizens of Southwest
Washington relative to the proposed change.
1t is the desire of the Commissioners. he
said, to do the greatest good, not only to
the southwest, but to the community as d
whole.
Among those favoring the preservation
of 9th street We're DIR. d. H. Hazen. Charles
Parker, Albert Herman. Mr.. Bailey, Mr..
Fletcher John Miller, Mr.. Fitzgerald, Mr..
Yerkes, Charles Schaefer. Mr. Gwynn, NJ.
f. Thompson and David Murphy.
Advocating the best treatment of 9th
NJ. Hazen, H. P. West Thomas Riley, w.
A. Wimsatt, T. p Stephenson, A. II. Ste
phenson, John Barnes. r. NJ. Stelk. John
Quinn, William Yerkes, Charles II. john
son, Frank \. Johnson, r. II. Johnson,
Frank E. Anderson and w. A. II. Church.
Others present were Jas. f. Scaggs, Frank
B. Gilmore, NJ. c. Hayden and B. F. Ander-
son.