Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-28

by the necessity of an extra stop to change
from electric to steam locomotives at the
border of the District, which would be
seriously Objectionable in view of the high
speed service which we propose to establish
between Washington and the north. As
the tracks leading to the union station both
from the north and south do not run
through important residential sections OF
the city, we hope that the Comm ssioners
Will at least wait to see whether the use
of steam locomotives burning semi-bitu-
minous coal shall be seriously Objectionable
before proceeding further in this matter.
and l hope that may be allowed to add
that We think the Commissioners and the
public should give us credit for providing
this magnificent station for the capital of
the nation at cost far greater than we
would have been justified in mourning IL
we had dealt with the matter from purely
business standpoint, and that they will not
seek to impose any further burdens than
have already been voluntarily assumed for
the credit Of the country by the railroads
concerned"
Reply Of the B. and o.
The reply of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road showing its reasons for not taking
kindly to the request of the Commissioners
for the substitution is as follows:
1.-The suggestion that electric motors be
substituted for steam locomotives within
the District of Columbia was made before
the G1OuSo committee curing the idSI SEE
sion of Congress, and this company at that
time examined carefully into the practi-
cability of the question. The officers of
the company were convinced by the fnves-
tigation then made that, under the condi-
tions existing in the District of Columbia,
especially in the union station and the ia
cilities connected Herewith, the substltu-
ton of electric motors for steam locomo-
tives would be entirely impracticabie In the
present state of development of electric
traction, and would also be unsafe. The
officers of the company are stu or the
same opinion, and cannot, therefore, UNI
dertake to comply with the request of the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
contained in yours of the 10th instant"
Mr.. Macfarland's Comment.
Commissioner mcfarland. upon whose
motion the Commissioners made the re-
quest in question, said today:
Il regret very much that our request has
not been granted by the Pennsylvania and
the Baltimore and Ohio, and still more that
they do not indicate any definite intention
to install electric motors in the District or
Columbia at any future time. As they
control so much of the railroad traffic with
in the District of Columbia 1t means deli
mite postponement of this very desirable
action unless Congress should require 1t or
them by law. I shall ask the Commission
ers to bring the matter to the attention or
Congress at the coming session. 1t has
never been fully considered or passed upon
tages to the city of Washington, where
what is left of the smoke nuisance now Ia
largely due to the steam railroads. to the
travelling public and to the railroads them
selves, are SO obvious that the change ought
to be made at the earliest possible day.
Difficulties Can Be Removed.
Whatever practical difficulties are in the
way can be removed by the railroads as
they remove even greater difficulties In
other cases. Where there is a win there Ia
a way As to President Cassatt's reference
to what his railroad has done to improve
our terminal facilities including the union
station no one appreciates it all more
than I, and L have special regard for
what M Cassatt did personally. in Coop
Grafton WITH our p3ans. partfccIsrly In ref
erence to the location and the character Of
the union station, SO as to make it fit in
with the general scheme for the beautifica-
ton of Washington. But, on the other
hand, the most generous cooperation mas
been given the railroads and by act or
Congress between three and four millions
OF dollars, If not more. Will be paid py the
national government and the District gov
eminent toward the railroad terminal work
To abolish the grade crossings. to free the
mall from the servitude of the Pennsyl-
yanIa railroad station and tracks, to pre-
serve Massachusetts, avenue and the proper
perspective of the Capitol and the Library
with the union station, and to have the lat
ter a suitable and beautiful building, have
cost us thought and effort and money. and
we have right to suggest that the. work
be crowned by the abolition of the locomo-
tive smoke nuisance, which spolls the
beauty Of the city, the comfort of the pub
lie, and will spoil the union station ITSELF"