Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-05

The influence of the steam railroad
terminal improvements in this city is re-
garded as widespread and of the most i'm
portant character. and likely to be felt
for a long time in the future. In fact,
SO far-reaching is it that it is impossible
even at this time to estimate with any
accuracy it's scope and to determine what
effect it has had already or will have on
the value of property and on the course
of changes in specified localities.
AS far as the grade crossings are con-
cerned they have been done away with in
two sections of the city for about year
now, and ii will be recognized that gen.
orally speaking, this is the most impor-
tant of all the changes brought about by
the great undertaking. In place of BIZ
sected city. so to speak. or at least sec
tons Of the city artficially separated by
the lines of steam railroad tracks laid
with reference, of course. to the interest
OF the corporation and not with any re-
gard to the business or the development
of the localities, there is now uninter-
rupted communication between the diff
ferent portions answering to the needs of
trade and of the inhabitants generally.
Trade of the River
This gain is a great one, as is generally
acknowledged, and it is one that is now
practically appreciated by the residents
Of the northeastern section OF the city
and of those in the southwest. In the
case of the former the locality was and
is one mainly of residences. while the
latter contains the only commercial ap-
proach to the river which the city has
south of Georgetown On this river front
Of the city are the Wharves. where come
the trade of the river and where is gath
cred the food supplies that reach the city
both from northern and southern points
by water.
The trade Of the river is by no means an
insignificant feature of the business of
the city and Is increasing each year. Now
there is unimpeded connection between
that part and all the rest of the city, an
advantage which is of the highest con-
sequence. Formerly. in addition to the
hindrances which the waits at the street
crossings occasioned. 9th street was
closed for use as a public thoroughfare
and was given over exclusively to rail-
road uses. The public was deprived of
that means of communication.
Streets Open to River.
Now, however in place of the gates and
the tracks. the surface of the streets is
carried along from one end Of the city
right down to the river front without in
terruption, and, in addition, a new ap-
proach has been provided in the opening
of 9th street south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. There are no delays. or waits. or
loss of time in passing from the center of
the city to the river front, the streets
now either pass over or under the railroad
tracks.
Such change in itself is valuable
one to the business community, as it
makes that section of the city an in
tegral part of the whole and restores it
to the place it was originally intended to
occupy. 1t has done more, Maryland
avenue and Virginia avenue, instead of
presenting a medley of tracks and
switches and lines of cars and all the
disorder and unsightly appearance of
switching yard. are now wide, spacious
streets, with nothing to indicate. at least
in the section west of 9th street the proX-
unity of railroad tracks.
More Ornamental Than Otherwise.
There are the double lines of granite
coping in the center, which are orna-
mental rather than otherwise and which
indicate the top of the retaining walls
of the sunken tracks. East of 9th street
where the grade requires the passing of
the streets beneath tracks the space
given up to railroad uses is neatly in
closed with an iron fence. and includes
only the tracks needed for the thro,ch