The Washington herald., 1906-11-08
BUYS ENTIRE SQUARE
Pennsylvania R. R. to Build
New Freight Station.
LOCATED ON SIXTH STREET
VIII Be Opposite Structure Now in
Use and Probably Completed About
the Same Time New Union station
Is Ready for Occupaney-Expres
Depot just North of Site.

Papers are being drawn which will con-
vey TO the Pennsylvania Railway Com
pany the last parcel Of property In square
4S3. bounded by Four-and-a-half, Sixth. c.
and D streets southwest. On this square
the company will build an auxiliary
freight station. similar to that already
built on the square opposite, south of the
railroad tracks.
In square 1872, lying just north Of the
one now acquired. the Adams Express
Company will build It's warehouse and
depot for South Washington. The prop
erty in square 492 Is also being acquired,
the purchases being pretty well com
pleted
The land in these two squares Is part
Of that legislated to the company by
the bills granting It the right to change
the location of tracks. build tunnels, and
eliminate grade crossings In South Wash
ington. The company was authorized to
acquire the ground by purchase or con-
demnation proceedings. The real estate
agent OF the company has been working
quietly about two years TO buy the prop
erty in the two squares. perfect the titles
and place it on record in the name Of the
company. Square 4g3 is now completed.
OF will be within a few days when the
deed 10 the final purchase is recorded.
Purchased at Private Sale.
This land has all been purchased at
private sale. In the case Of a few own
ers who held out sor higher prices than
the company was willing to give, con-
demnatiOn proceedings were begun, but
the owners yielded, and settlements were
made without resort to sale through court
The price paid for the property has not
been made public. but IL is understood 10
have been in the neighbOrhOOd of three
dollars square foot with allowances
made in some instances for the value Of
Improvements.
Tearing Down Buildings.
Several weeks ago nearly all the houses
and other buildings on the square were
sold for the material, and they are be-
ing torn down TO make room for building
operations. The freight station to be
erected VIII be similar to the one al
ready built, both as to size and general
design. The Adams Express Building
which will occupy the adjoining square,
will be a large structure containing space
for handling cars, storing freight. and ac-
cOmmodatlng the wagons Of the company
It VIII be two stories high. and, Ike the
other buildings. viii be Of brick. and fitted
Up into an up-to-date express terminal
station.
Here will be handled all the express
matter coming into and leaving the city
over the Pennsylvania lines and those Of
the Southern railroads. except a small
part which viii be handled at the
Union Station composed of money pack
ages. light matter, and valuable articles
sent in a class By themselves. The ex-
press ears viii enter the building much
as they do the freight station. on the
south side Of the tracks. their loads VIII
be discharged within and distributed by
the system Of swift handling which the
company has worked out at all the large
1 centers of traffic in the country.
Will Concentrate Business.
When completed the freight and express
warehouses viii be clustered close to-
gether at Four-and-a-Haf street and
Virginia avenue, and will be easy Of ac-
cess from the car line on that thorough
fare for persons desiring 30 visit them
The buildings and railway tracks will be
above grade on the side next 10 the rail
road, and viii have road-ways on one side
leading up 20 the railway level.
In time It Is expected that a series Of
cCal dumps. possibly a cold storage plant
and several warehouses, will be built in
the same neighborhood, probably TO the
west of the squares named. A passenger
station Will also be built to accommodate
way passengers in South Washington,
though the locality Of the building has not
yet been determined.
It is understood that building operations
for the new freight and express stations
vii! be pushed rapidly forward, SO as TO
bring them 10 completion about the time
the Union Station is finished, so that the
several units Of the new terminal can go
! into operation about the same time.