Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-24
UNDER CAPITOL HILL
First Passenger Train Run
Through New Tunnel Today.
LOCAL OFFICIALS PRESENT
Observation Car Carries Chosen Party
Through the Tubes.
WORK BEGUN TWO YEARS AGO
Virginia Avenue Elevated and the
Tunnel Important Auxi1iaries
to New Union Station.
LOCAL OFFICIALS PRESENT
WORK BEGUN TWO YEARS AGO

The three District Commissioners and a
number OF other officials Of the District. as
guests of the Pennsylvania railroad, made
an inspection of the new railway tunnel
under Capitol Hill leading into the union
station this morning in the first passenger
car to go through 1t. This trip was made
from the 9th street depot and occupied an
hour. a. - =,
The actual construction work on the tun-
mel was completed a month ago and the
immense tubes were turned over by the
contractors to the railroad company. but
the laying and ballasting Of the tracks.
which has been week of considerable diff
ficulty, was only completed a few hours
before this initial trip was made 1t was
the belief of the railroad officials that the
running of the first passenger train
through the tunnel was of enough impor-
lance to justify an informal pleasure trip
and this led to the event of today
Mr. Robert Farnham, jr.. Chief Engineer
Shands assistant. who has represented the
since ground was broken nearly two years
ago. had charge of the psrty. and had pro-
vded the observation parlor car New Jer-
sey' for the convenience Of the guests.
Elevated Road Also Inspected.
The train left the 9Th street depot at .
o'clock and the trip occupied an hour,
giving an opportunity to inspect the ele-
waited work on Virginia avenue now I'M
der construction.
The party consisted of Commissioners
Mcfarland West and Biddle; Capt. Jay j.
Morrow and Capt. VIM. Kelly. assistants
to Col. Biddle; c. E. Hunt, engineer of
highways: David McComb, superintendent
of sewers: Inspector Thomas of the sur
face division: D. E. Garges, f. E. Helm
w. A. Mcfarland. superintendent of water
department.; Walter Allen. electrical engi-
neer: Messrs A. Leftwich Sinclair, L. P.
Bradshaw and Gus A. Schuldt, having
charge of the grade damage cases in con-
nection with the changes of grade, and Mr..
Elliott Woods, the superintendent of the
Capitol buildings and grounds besides the
following gentlemen connected with the
Pennsylvania railroad: Mr.. John Cassell of
the board of directors, Mr.. James Craw-
ford. general agent: 8. C. Neal, solicitor:
W. n. Barnard superintendent; ]. J. Coon
cr, trainmaster, and c. E. Wann yardmas-
ter.
The observation car was placed in front
of the engine SO that the party could get
good view of the work and the arrange
ment of the tunnel and approaches The
car was run under the plaza In front of
the new station. where a. good view was
obtained of the underground situation and
the arrangement Of the tracks
Commissioner Mcfarland said afterward
that 1t showed that the tunnel was a great
success. the roadbed beng apparently per-
feet. and he congratulated Mr.. Farnham,
the Pennsylvania railroad engineer, most
heartily. -.r-ss
Electric Locomotives Suggested.
Mr.. Mcfarland said. however, that the
smoke of the locomotive which. drew the
passenger car emphasized the necessity of
electrfying the locomotives bringing trains
into the terminal at the earliest possible
moment. as he said to Mr.. Shand and Mr..
Carrothers, chief engineers of the Pennsyl-
Vania and Baltimore and Ohio railroads, at
the conference In the Commissioners office
on the train shed question last week.
All the party were interested in the details
of the terminal work and of the approa ches
Mr.. Woods, as the train ran under the
house office building, was especially pleased
to see how its foundations fitted into the
tunnel. The Commissioners, who, under
the law. have passed upon all the plans for
the railway terminal. were gratifed to see
how well they have worked out. The Penn
sylvania railroad officials expect to see
trains running into the new union station
next summer. and the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad will run In at an earlier date than
the Pennsylvania railroad