Evening star., 1909-08-22
END GRADE CROSSINGS
Commissioners to Keep Up
Fight in Congress.
NOT, MANY NOW OPEN
Navy Yard Switch Responsible for
Those Remaining.
PLANS TO GET RID OF THEM
Text of Bill That Failed Last Ses-
sion and Which Will Probably
Be Reintroduced.

In line with the improvements in va
rious parts OF the city for the elimina-
tion Of railroad grade crossings tho
Commissioners expect to resume their
efforts before the next session Of Con-
.;ress for the removal of the present
switch to the navy yard. which crosses
several streets In the southeast section
Of the city on grade.
The only remaining grade crossings
in tho city proper are those which re-
suit from the continuance Of this switch
and spurs from it to manufacturing
plants nearby, and efforts have been
made for several years to have the rail-
road entrance to the navy yard run
from the east OF the government gun
shop along the bank of the Anacostia
river. This will allow the removal of
the present tracks which cross and run
along several streets at grade
The plan Of the engineer department.
of the District government. approved by
the Commissioners. is to have the new
switch run from the main tracks of the
Pennsylvania railroad about 1000 feet
west Of the Pennsylvania avenue south
east bridge across the Anacostia river
and then run along tho water front on
what will be Water street to the navy
yard. Except. that the tracks Will run
along the street on the river bank there
will be no grade crossings.
The construction of this switch. it IS be-
lieved will result in the development of
the water front between the navy yard
and the Pennsylvania avenue bridge. in
Guiding the construction of wharves and
the erection of warehouses. While the
elimination OF the present grade cross
ings of the present switch. running from
South Cacitol street TO the navy yard at
18th stree. southeast, is the chief object
in the construction of the new tracks. the
development Of the water front of the
Anacostia river east of the navy yard
will, it is expected. be the chief ultimate
benefit.
The Bill That Failed.
A bill providing for the construction of
the new switch was introduced at the
last regular session of Congress and,
with a few minor amendments. was ap-
proved by the Commissioners. 1t never
became "a law and it is expected that the
passage of a similar bill at the next ses-
sion will be urged by the heads of the
local government.
The bill. the general provisions of which
met the approval Of the Commissioners,
provides:
THAT the Attorney General of the
United States be. and he is hereby. direct
ed to institute in the Supreme Court OF
the District Of Columbia a proceeding in
the name Of the United States to acquire
a strip Of land thirty-three feet In width
for railroad siding from the main line
of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
ington Railroad Company to the United
States navy yard, said strip OF land to
be located along the water front of the
Anacostia river from some point, to be
approved By the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia. between the bridge
over the Anacostia river at Pennsylvania
avenue southeast and 1000 feet westward
~ therefrOm. and to follow the bank OF
said river at such distance north of the
north bulkhead line of the Anacostia
river, approved June {. 1904. as NAV be
fixed by the Commissioners OF the District
of Columbia. within the limits of the
aforesaid bulkhead line and line 40
feet distant In normal direction there
from. as shown on plans on file in the
Office Of the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia
be in accordance with the provisions of
sections 4S4 to 49l, inclusive Of the
code OF law for the District of Column
bia. except as said sections are modified
by the provisions of this act: but in case
of any question of title arising I'm said
proceedings the money awarded by the
jury as compensat ton for land taken
shall be paid into the registry of the
Supreme Court OF the District of Column
bia. to be there held until title to said
Single-Track Siding.
Sec =. That the Secretary Of the
Navy be. and he is hereby. directed to
construct said strip of land a single
track siding to said navy yard, by con-
trac. with the Philadelphia. Baltimore
and Washington Railroad Company. or
otherwise, in his discretion. at "a cost not
10 exceed $4,000, said work TO be begun
, within two months after title to said strip
Of land shall have been acquired and TO
be completed within fifteen months there
after.
Section 4. That the expenditure OF
sum sufiicient 10 pay the expenses of such
condemnation proceedings and the
amounts awarded damages for and
II. respect of the and taken for said sid
ing Is hereby authorized: and the eS-
penditure Of further sum OF no: TO eA-
ceel $4,000 for th. construction OF said
siding and the services Of such employees
as the Secretary Of the Navy shall con-
slider necessary i'll connection with the
construction of said siding Is hereby au-
tho-iZed, TO be paid from said sum OF
100000.
Sec. i. That the location of said
siding. the grade thereof and the plans
of construction shall he approved by the
Commissioners of the D strict of Column
pia, and the said Com nissioncrs are also
authorized and empowered to make. from
time TO time. all needful regulations for
the movement of trains. cars and loco
motives over same
Sec. q. That the said Philadel-
plia Baltimore and Washington Rail
road Company Is hereby authorized to
maintain its present track connection
with the United States nav. yard by
means OF "A single track on X street and
Canal street southeast, either at pres
ent located or as the same may hereafter
be relocated in whole or in part, with
the approval OF the Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia, for period OF
two years from the date hereof; but
at the expiration of said two
years. or. in the event that the sid
ing authorized in section ; OF this act
shall be constructed within said two
years, at the expiration of sixty days
from the completion OF said siding said
r., lroad company snail. at its own
p.nsc remove said present track con-
ncction and restore the surface of the
streets over which same is laid, To the
approval of the said Commissioners
See. :. That an act approved May
- 1905. and all other acts or parts OF
acts Inconsistent herewith be, and the
same are. hereby repealed.
Sec. ). That Congress shall re-
serve the right to alter, amend or re-
peal this act.
CLUNG TO LIFE PRESERvERS.