Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-04
REPLIES TO CITIZENS
Colonel Biddle's Plan for Rail-
road Crossings.
STREET GRADES ALSO
CONDITIONS IN SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON REVIEWED.
Suggestion Made That Public Hear
ing Be Given to Those
Interested.
STREET GRADES ALSO

Commissioner John Biddle has answered
the application made by the citizens OF
South Washington relative to the plan pro-
posed for grades and railroad crossings in
that section of the city. Col. Bidde makes
the following statements and recommends
tions:
The general condition as directed by
Congress is for the railroad tracks from
18th and 9th streets to be below the level
of the streets, the streets crossing with
overhead bridges. AT 9th street the grade
of the railroad is about the same that
of the street. The original plan contem-
plated taking this street across by an over
head bridge, but the present plan author
lied by the last Congress is for the street
to go under the railroad not changing the
railroad elevation.
AT Sth street there is no crossing
From 9TH street to Az street inclusive,
the railroad is to be carried over the streets.
necessitating a cut at 7th and 9th streets
of several feet. Four half street is
to be left at about grade.
The Citizens View.
The plan proposed by the citizens of
South Washington is for the tracks to come
to the grade of the street at 9th street in
stead of 9th street. This would require
overhead bridges for the streets all the way
to 9th street. inclusive; AZ street being
carried underneath the railroad.
There would be no difficulties in the
| changing of the street grades in one plan
] or the other excepting in the case of 9th
and 9th streets
At 9TH street the proposed plan would
mean raising the street about six feet in
stead of lowering it about eight feet. as by
the adopted plan
In AZ street the proposed plan would
make cut of four feet instead of a cut of
one foot
From 18th TO 11th street the difference
would be very unimportant and at 10th
street, the proposed plan would effect a
saving OF cost in the raising of the grade
of that street.
At 9th and 9th streets. however the
changes are very important. The approved
plan for 9th street carries the railroad
across that street at about the present
grade with the street under. On account of
the depth of the cut the grades of the street
under the railroad would be very steep. so
much SO as to probably preclude the use of
1t by heavy teams. Ninth street southwest
stops at the Mall. The cross streets c and
D, can, however, on account of the general
situation at that point. be so arranged that
the general grade of these streets will not
be much changed, and they can be used
The proposed plan brings the railroad so
far below the surface Of the street that the
change of grade for an overhead bridge
would be trifiing.
Plan as Approved.
The approved plan carries the railroad
along the south side of the reservation be-
tween 7th and 9th streets, above the level
of the ground, while the proposed plan
would carry it below that level so that the
park would certainly be benefited.
The approved plan for 9th street carried
the railroad well above the grade of the
street, so that the street is carried un-
der with but a slight cut and with good
grades.
There will be several overhead bridges
across this street, there will be freight
yard between AZ and 9th streets and a
small freight yard between 9th and 7th
streets The street, however, will be left
open, and it is thought will become a con-
siderable thoroughfare, as it is one of the
few streets leading through the Mall which
has no car tracks. There is. of course, no
traffic to any great extent along this
street at present on account of the railroad
tracks along the street, but when these
are removed, as they will be under the
approved plans, 1t is believed that con-
siderable traffic Will develop.
Would Require Bridge.
In the plan proposed by the citizens the
railroad would cross the street at grade
and a long overhead bridge would be neces-
sary on account of the freight yards. The
squares on each side of 9th street between
C street and Maryland avenue on the north
and ID ana SCnOOl streets on lne south
would have an embankment in front of
them, necessary in order to rise to the level
of this bridge. On each side of this en-
bankment, however, there would be a mar
row roadway of about eighteen feet to give
access to these squares. In one of them
east of 9Th street and south of the railroad,
is large school, and to the north a church
There is no question that 9th street would
be practically rendered almost useless for
any teaming even for light wagons by
this treatment.
To recapitulate it is really a question as
to which street should be preserved-6th
9th. When the railroad plans were adopted
about five years ago, 1t was evidently
thought by the Commissioners that 9th
street was the more important, the plan
for its preservation was recommended. AS
far as the park is concerned, the proposed
plan is evidently more advantageous.
Recommended Hearing.
This question being one of great interest
to the citizens of Southwest Washington, l
move that they be given hearing on the
subject, and that they be requested to
bring together such absolute data as would
assist the Commissioners to pass upon this
point 1t is especially desired that the prop
erty owners around 9th street be represent
ed, as they apparently were not at the pre-
vious hearing, and it is thought that they
were not aware of the disadvantages to
which 9Th street would be put in case of
the change
The managers of the Capital Traction
and the Washington Railway and Electric
Con pany should be notified of this hearing.
While it will not affect them to any great
extent, 1t will to some degree. The Penn
sylvania railroad authorities have inform
ed me that either plan will be satisfactory
to them, if they receive due notice OF the
change, before they are obliged to begin
the work.
This change will, however. in my opinion,
have to be authorized by Congress, as 1t in
wolves an original change in the plans. A
limited number of blue prints showing the
grades could be furnished to any organiza-
tton Of citizens desiring to examine them.