Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-10
WANT PLANS MODIFIED.
Suggestions Made Regarding
the Terminal Project.
APPLIES TO GRADES
DEPRESSED PART OF SYSTEM IN
THE SOUTHWEST.
Citizens Association Presents Scheme
Which is Under Serious Con-
sideration-Protest Filed.

Important notifications in the plans of
the railroad terminal project in southwest
Washington between Sd and 18th streets,
proposed by the South Washington Cit-
zens' Association, are now under serious
consideration by the District Commissioners
and the officials of the District engineer
department. The citizens proposed plan,
in substance, provides for the continuance
eastwardly from 18th street southwest of
the depressed part of the system to point
east of 18th street, so that there will be
scarcely any change In the present grade of
7th, Sth, 9th and 10th streets southwest.
The citizens protest against any material
change in the grade of 7th street, and they
declare that under present plans the park
commission project cannot be carried out,
IN so far as it treats of the parks in the
vicinity of 18th street and Virginia avenue
southwest. The citizens also claim that
their plan will save the District thousands
of dollars, that 1t avoids the necessary OF
an unsightly bridge at 18th and Virginia
avenue and is otherwise desirable.
The Scheme Explained.
In their explanation of their plan the
citizens make the following statement:
Under the existing plans 18th street at
Virginia avenue is lowered about eight feet.
avenue ia the most important thorough
fare in the city, and is the main street OF
the southwest. Ninertenths of the traVel
and traffic of the southwest section is over
18th street Practically all of the business
of the water front is done west Of tn
street and it is estimated that 2o0o0 people
daily use nth street, in addition to the
vehicular traffic.
..It has been said by the engineer office
that 9th street is to be made grand oou-
levard This can never be done, as the To-
cation and situation of the street IS such
that it will not be greatly used by the
public Besides, the railroad company now
has one of it's freight stations at 9th street
and Virginia avenue, and the act OF Fep-
ruary - 1901, allows the railroad company
to close and use the north SIDE OF VlrsiIlia
avenue between Az and It'll streets. II the
railroad company continues its freight pusl-
ness at 9th and Virginia avenue, it is APP
parent that 9th street will be given over 10
the use of heavy drays and wagons goihs
to and from the freight station. and that
ordinary traffic will be diverted to anotnef
street.
..The citizens recognize that the plans
now being carried out will fix the railroad
tracks for many years 10 come, anu ~
avoid an irreparable INJURY TO our secloh
and to the city we advocate the plan SUD-
mitted This is not an eleventh hour pan
In March, 1902 this plan was submitted 10
the Engineer Commissioner, ana advocalec
bv Mr. TiloS. w. Smith, then PRESIDENT u
forth then president of the Business Mems
Association; Messrs. William A. H. Church
and r. H. Johnson, representing the Soutii
Washington Citizens Association, ana cltl-
zens and property owners OF the south"es'
section.
In Line With Park Commission.
.Our proposition makes it possible for
the execution of the plans of the park coiii-
mission. Reservation 113, between fth ana
9th streets and the four smaller reserVa-
lions confronting reservation 1l3, form Il
nart of the park commissions scheme IN
The permanent park system. onless the
present railroad plans are modilieo, as
suggested by the citizens, the park coEi-
mission plan cannot be carried out In 50
far as it treats of tie parks in the vicinity
of It'll street and Virginia avenue as .a1
railroad tracks and viaduct on reserVati'h
1l3 will interfere with the arrangement.
The citizens then mention some OF the az
vantages which they claim Will result lE",a
the adoption of their pan:
First, it will save thousands of dollars
to the taxpayers of the District. NO
changes will be made in the grade of Sfh
and 10th streets At It'll street there VIII
be a slight elevation, which can be takea
care of without damage to private property.
Ar 9th street the street can be carried ever
by bridge, or that street might he low
cred. At AZ street slight depression IS
made but not enough to damage any OF
the private property. The property most
affected by change of street grade accord
ing to our plan, belongs to the railroad
company, and it is our understanding thaL
the railroad company valves any claim
for damages by reason of the change IN
street grades.
Second, our plan obviates the necess ty
of an unsightly bridge at 18th street ana
Virginia avenue. What an inarustc ana
ugly object to have in the very center and
most important part of our secuoh! sure
ly, from an eSthetic point or Vle" TINS ie9-
fIUra Of nr1,. In, &c of
to the city as well as to our section. BE
Sides it should be remembered that 6
large part of Maryland and Virginia ave
nues southwest has been given over 10 the
railroad company and simple justice de-
rnands that the remainder of our streets
and avenues should be free as possible
from all Objectionable features.
Third. The treatment of 9th street can
be carried out as laid down in the park
commission plan. The present plan pro-.
vides for the lowering of 9th street nearly
twenty feet, and the fixing of an eight per
cent. grade, grade that no loaded wagon
can take, and which makes the street
useless for vehicular traffic.
Reservation to Be Beautifed.
"Fourth. Under our plan reservation 113
can be laid out and beautified and made
an ornament to the city, and more espe-
cially to the southwest section. This reser-
walton and its surroundings is identical In
location to that of Mt. vernon Square
The citizens further state that the pres
ent plans worked out in order that the
railroad company could reach its station
site on the Mall, as was provided in the
act of February 49, 1901. But now that
change has been made by an act of Feb
ruary 1903, and the station located else
where. the citizens. submit that the plan
should be modified so as to obtain the best
results for the future of the city and
the welfare of it's people. The citizens de-
clare that the execution of the present
plans will bring about condition most in
furious in its effects.
The Commissioners are now considering
the suggestions of the citizens association,
and while they decline to express any opln-
ion as to the advisability of adopting their
suggestions, yet they are understood to
consider that the suggestions are not With
ont merit. sI2-~
Condemned Murderer Wants Baptism.
James Linkous. sentenced to hang for
wife murder February H. was brought
from the Pulaski jail and confined in the
jail at East Radford Va. Lnkous desires
baptism and wished to be near his spiritual
adt-iea NJ ctfU prnt IN