Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-06
OF PUBLIC INTEREST
Matters Discussed by East
Washington Citizens.
QUESTION OF CHEAPER GAS
Elimination of Grade Crossings on
Steam Railroads.
NEED OF CR0Ss-T0WN RAILWAY
Removal of Prisons From Present
Location-Substanc Of Several
Reports and Resolutions.
NEED OF CROSS-TOWN RAILWAY

ISOLATION took special interest in the mat
ter of the elimination of grade. cross
| ngs, William w. Bride. chairman of the
| committee on steam railroads presenting
a long report 1t dealt with the ques
ton of eliminating the crossings at 9th
and X streets and at New Jersey ave-
| nue.. and embraced a part of the recon-
mendation of Admiral Holiday, made
in connection with an estimate for an
| appropriation of 100000 for the pur-
| chase of land and a change OF the rail-
road system leading to the navy yard.
1t reads:
The law requires that January /. 1908,
all railroad crossings shall be either un-
derground or overhead The bureau has
for several years advocated the purchase
of property in order to provide an en-
trance and proper facilities for the rail-
road business of the navy yard. Ihe
| Pennsylvania railroad now enters the yard
trance must be closed January 1 unless
the law is changed The navy yard ua-
thorities very much prefer the present
entrance. which has been so arranged
that where the Pennsylvania track enters
| the yard all the main branches leave II
very near the entrance gate to go to the
various parts of the yard. Should TINS
| entrance be closed the track must enter
at the southeastern part of the yard along
the water front, and in order to have eff
| cient railroad service 1t will be necessary
, to have additional space, as otherwise the
Pennsylvania locomotives must go all the
way to the northwestern section of the
yard to leave cars on the sidlngs. Should
the law be changed not only Will 1T be un.
necessary to make this appropriation of
1921 ,6l9, but the railroad bridge and tracks
appropriation authorized by the last Con-
gress can be turned into the Treasury
Thus the government will be the gamer
by the sum of 1891 $40 together with a
better system than it would have If the
purchase were made. Not only the navy
railroad is anxious for the entrance to
the navy yard to remain as it is
Regarding Railroads.:
The resolution recites what has been
done in the matter of getting appropria-
tons for the purpose of making the
change in the railroad service at the
yard. and mentions that an appropriation
Of $4,000 was made.
1t is also set out in the report that
Jesse c. Adkins, a former chairman of
the committee addressed a letter to the
Commissioners upon the questions in
volved. and received a response that 1t is
fully complied with before any payment
is made to the railroad company under
the terms of the act
Continuin, the report sets forth that in
round numbers twenty million dollars
will have been spent on the Union sta
ton and the elimination of grade cross
ings in the District. 1t is added:
THE Pennsylvania Railroad Company
is deeply interested in having the navy
yard secure legislation from Congress to
let these southeast grade crossings re-
main. as the railroad will then be able
to continue its hauling of large amount
of freight to and from the navy yard, and,
of more immediate Importance, receive
it's million and one-half dollars from the
United States Treasury without any de-
lay, and without giving one of the con-
siderations named in the act when this
money was appropriated-the elimination
s,,Ixy ,,a;f I,ay
Congress, 1.-THE District Commissioners
nor the citizens of the District, who en-
tered into an agreement with the railroad
company to make gift of this arg
amount Of money Toward the construc-
ton of the Union station and the elimi-
nation of grade crossings. will permit
the other party to the agreement, the
railroad company, to furnish only one of
the considerations and part of the other
for the payment of the money.
During the discussion of the report the
chairman of the committee was compli-
mented for his efforts, and the report
was adopted, with Instructions to the
secretary to send copies to certain Off
Gals.
Cross-Town Railway.
w. Mosby Williams. chairman of the
street railway committee, presentede a
esolution urging upon Congress the i'm
mediate enactment of legislation authori
ling and directing the Capital Traction
| Company to extend it's lines by construct
| ing double-track extension from 18th
| street northwest, southeasterly along
| Florida avenue to Sth street northeast,
and thence south along Sth street to its
| intersection with the companys tracks on
Pennsylvania avenue southeast and also
from the intersection of Sth and F
streets northeast westwa-dly along f
street to I'd or Sd streets east. and
thence by suitable route to the Union
station plaza.
MT. Williams explained that petitions
are being circulated requesting favorable
| action by Congress measure embody
ing the route proposed In the resolution.
| 1t was stated that a bill had been in
| troduced, but that it eliminated that part
| of the proposed line moth of F street.
This omission, Mr.. Weller characterized
as being fatal. The resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Williams called up the question of
| cheaper gas by presenting resolution
| which he stated was from the executive
committee and which recited the action
| taken by the association on the question
many years ago. and commenting the eff
| forts of the Commissioners Of the District
and the corporation counsel to prevent the
proposed increase of capitalization OF the
| company.
Gas Consumes Little Time.
1t was expected that the introduction
of the resolution bearing upon the gas
question would be followed by long dis
CUSTOM but members of the association
had little to say on the subject. Mr.. Will
liams pointed with pride to what had been
| done by the association.
| Mr.. Curriden said he would like to have
Mr.. Shields tell the association why the
list of stockholders was made public at
| this time, but the latter had no comments
to make.
Mr.. Weller said Mr.. Dodge had informed
him that gas was 81 per thousand feet
late in the CO., and that he then fought
the high price. The agitation of the Ques
| ton at that time resulted in a decrease
in the price.
The suggestion was made that the res
olution be referred to a committee. but
this was opposed by Mr. Potter who said
it was an easy matter to kill a measure
by reporting it to committee. The reso-
luton was adopted.
| Mr. Weller explained that the residents
of East Washington are greatly interested
in the work that is being done at the navy
yard and would like to see the scope of
the work broadened. The question had
been discussed by the executive commit
tee, and he had been instructed to offer
a resolution approving the action of the
Secretary of the Navy in recommending
an appropriation for the erection of a
foundry at the navy yard.
Saving to the Government.
Mr.. Weller pointed out that the estab-
lshment of such foundry would mean
wi, to hn y,a,f