Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
ITS PLANS COMPLETED
EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS BE-
GUN BY ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
Washington, Alexandria and Mount
Vernon Company TO Spend Nearly
Half Million Dollars

The plans for the further improvement OF
the Washington. Alexandria and Mount
Vernon railroad lines between this city and
Alexandria to Mount Vernon have been
completed ard the work on the improve
ments started. For several weeks past
the railway company has had force OF
hands employed in building temporary
trestle from the bridge over the Columbia
pike, near Arlington junction, In a direct
line across the swamp at Alexander Island
to the Virginia end of Tire new Highway
bridge and this trestle Will be used by the
dinky trains IN making the high emhank-
ment over the swamp. and the stream
which flows through the swamp Will be
bridged
Mcmillan & McDermott the contractors
for the building OF the emba kment, are
prepared to start work M once and have
brought a steam shovel to Four Nile run.
and will tomorrow begin the cutting down
OF the high Hill to the west OF the railway
tracks In order to obtain material for the
fill. train loaded with the dump cars
used in hauling material for the building
of railway embankments arrived at Four
Mile run yesterday. and the work Of put
ting the cars in order for the work has
been started. large force of men is en-
ployed in laying the extra tracks for the
work trains
Will Be Double-Tracked
Tine embankment across the swamp will
be nearly three-fourths OF a nile long and
Will be eleven feet high. A doublc-track
railway Is to be placed on 1t. and many
thousand feet OF earth viii have TO BE- dug
and moved to make the fl. This ill will
eliminate the ugly long trestle just north
of Arlington Junction and viii give con-
plete double track from Washington 10
Spring Park. just west OF Alexandra.
Having do3ble track over the Potomac
river Will very greatly facilitate the move
meut of cars. as In case the draw Is open
cars cen begin moving in both directions
as soon as IL is closed. instead OF ore ear
waiting for the other to cross. and consd-
cradle tine Will thus be saved and annoy
ing delays done away with.
The company is asking for permission
from the city council OF Alexandria 20 build
from Spring Park ont Cameron street 10 the
present track ON Cameron street ~ Payne.
and If they are permitted To do SO. all
southboGnd trains viii run down King
street. and trains for Washington viii run
by way of Columbus and Cameron streets
This will be a great help to movement OF
cars in Alexandria, and will also aid IN
shortening the running time between the
two cities. On the lower end OF the line,
from Alexandria to Mount Vernon, the
| company is also engaged, having begun to
reduce the grade at Mount Vernon. which
requires the moving of about $4,000 yards
of earth and raising the bridge over Little
Hunting creek, in order TO make IL unnec-
eSSd1y 10 open TIE draw at ms point ms
has occasioned great many delays and
by reason of the bridge being at the foot
OF a steep grade made it a very dangerous
point for a draw bridge.
Reducing Grade at Mount Vernon.
The work OF reducing the grade at Mount
Vernon starts at point about n mile north
of the station and gradual rise is made
In order to Go away with the steep grade.
The trestle over Little Hunting creek will
be raised eighteen feet and at Mount Yer
non the track will be lowered about four
feet. This work when completed WI make
the grade easy to climb and Will save time
ana wear on the cars. The work is being
done with trains running over the track,
and no. stoppage of traffic will occur
Among other improvements to be made
TO the plant of the Mount Vernon Railway
Company is the eularging OF the car barn
and ma chine shop at Four-AIie run. Both
| buildings are to be enlarged to about twice
their present opacity and are TO be fitted
with new machinery for the quick repair
of disabled cars.
The company has recently acquired about
fifty acres of land in the vicinity of Four
Mile run. and il is stated that this Will
be used for a picnic ground and pleasure
park. and that more car equipment Will be
provided for taking care of increasing traf-
fic. 1t is also stated that the railway COM
pany Will run the park as a temperance
resort. The improvements being made by
the company Will, 1t is stated, cost nearly
a half million of dollars.