Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-22
SEEKS ENTRANCE INTO CITY
WABASH RAILWAY SAID TO
BAVE WASHINGTON IN VIEW.
Rumors Regarding Coalition With
Electric Companies Operating Lines
in Virginia-Other Plans.

That the Wabash railroad Is seeking an
entrance to this city and laying plans
which will ultimately secure it Is a rumor
by no means new. So often has it been re-
peated that, in spite of denials on the part
of persons who ought to know, it continues
to gain credence At first it was the Ches-
apeake and Ohio canal that was to be
turned into a roadbed for the new line and
when large proportion of the stock of the
old waterway was sold by the state of
Maryland year or so ago many persons
were sure that the end of the canal had
come. But the canal is still in operation
albeit business is dull. Today it is the
Great Falls and Old Dominion electric rail-
way that Is to give the Wabash an en-
trance to the Capital city.
The report that the new electric limo
through Virginia from the southern end Of
the Aqueduct bridge to Great Falls will
ultimately carry the trains of the Wabash
is not new, either. 1t was the first thing
that popped into the heads of many per.
sons interested in the railroad situation in
this vicinity. The bed and bridges of the
line are very substantially built, and 1t is
stated that it would take but little improve
ment to put them into condition for heavier
traffic.
Extension Of Old Dominion.
Officials of the Great Falls and Old Do
minion road admit that within few days
a survey is to be commenced prepare tory
to extending the electric road farther up
the Potomac, with view to entering Lees
burg, and later crossing the river and run
ming to Frederick, Md.
When the plans of the Gould lines in
western Maryland are considered, as well
as the actual work that has been done in
that section, it is not hard to conceive the
idea that this Is the route upon which off,
Gals of this railroad system have their eye
to afford an entrance to this city.
Lying between the Bluemont division Of
the Southern railroad on the south and
the Metropolitan division Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad on the north there is an
extensive and undeveloped country includ-
ing for the most part portions Of Loudoun
county, Va, and Montgomery county, Md.
Farmers through this section of the coun-
try and residents in the towns that dot it
would be only too glad to have railroad &C.
commodatons. The Potomac river runs
midway between Montgomery and Loudoun
counties, dividing Maryland from Virginia
and It's course is through beautiful, fer
tile country which would doubtless become
very popular and increase greatly in pros
perity as the result of the operation of
line of railroad
An Old-Time Project.
1t is interesting to note that it is this
route which was in the minds Of Washing
ton and other public men in the latter part
of the eighteenth century when they were
projecting a great travel and commerce
route to connect Chesapeake bay and the
Ohio river
The Chesapeake and Ohio canal, one Of
the oldest, if not the Oldest, canals Of any
length in this country, was a part Of their
scheme.
1t is said to be the present intention of
the Great Falls and Old Dominion line to
bridge the Potomac at some convenient
point above Great Falls perhaps where the
stream narrows near Whites Ferry, about
thirty six miles from this city, or farther
away than that.
Two propositions are understood to be
contemplated for a terminus at this end.
One is to utilize the Union station, while
the other Is to erect station at Rossyn,
the Virginia terminus of the Aqueduct
bridge. Rumor has often had 1t that rail-
road interests-it has not been definitely
stated which interests-have in mind the
use of Analostan Island, opposite George
town, for a big freight yard This would,
of course, be right in line with the reported
plans of the Wabash road. 1t Is believed,
however, that the road would meet with no
little opposition here. because such a use
of the island would convert one Of the
most attractive portions of the District into
an unsghty spot. Many advocates of the
city beautiful have urged that Analostan
Island be purchased by the government
and made a part of the great public park
scheme now being carried out.