Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-12
WADUCT IS FOUGHT
Property Owners Oppose Plan
to Span LIST Street.
F0RESEE LOSS TO REALTY
Representatives of Citizens Associa-
ton, Hayes School and Sibley
Hospital Heard.
F0RESEE LOSS TO REALTY

Opponents of the bill TO permit the run
ming OF q railroad track across LIST street
into the square bounded by l.. NJ, LIST and
North Capitol streets northeast today ap-
pealed to the subcommittee on public utii-
tiles Of the Senate District committee
from the decision of the Commissioners
The enemies of the project and repre-
sentatives of the corporation which de-
sires the privilege were heard at length
this morning
Those who are fighting the bill predict
great reduction in values of property
In the vicinity OF the square to which the
track is to be run, and more legislation
In the future extending the same privi
leges to other squares facing on North
Capitol street.
In behalf of the bill it was urged that.
with the growth OF the city, business
houses Of all kinds will be established
along North Capitol street, and that such
privileges are necessary to meet the grow
ing commercial needs Of the capital.
Those Heard by Committee. *
William Nick. Clayton. representing the
joint railway committees OF the local citi-
zens' associations; DIR. William II. Wild
er. head Of the Lucy Webb Hayes School
for Dcaconesses and OF sibiey Hospital:
DR.. E. ID. Thompson, president OF the
North Capitol and lexington Citizens
Association, and r. Cushing Daniel, real
estate agent, spoke against the bin.
Thomas ii. Pickford and James Il. e.
lison. representatives OF the Washington
Warehouse Company. urged it's passage.
The Commissioners have reported favor
ably on the biil.
Mr.. Clayton invited the attention Of the
committee to the Union station act oil
1901, which, he said, fixed the extent 10
which railway TRACKS are To pe laid IN the
various sections of the city. He pointed
To this bill puncturing that act. and
opening the door for further changes IN
that law.
property has been Developed, he con-
tended, upon the belief that The Union
station act was nnal improvements will
be damaged so far as their value is con-
cerncd by this legislation. he contended.
Back of this legislation is no support
declared Mr.. Clayton. Against IL ~ the
protest OF every organized body OF citi-
zens which has met since the bill Vas
introduced
Plea for viaduct.
MFR. Pickford said that the Washington
Warehouse Company, which he represent
ed, has seen the need for warehouses
near the heart of the city, and has spent
$4,000 i'm property in the square 10
which 1t il proposed to extend tracks.
The government is buying up property
low used for warehouses, he commended.
and the land in the vicinity OF North
Capitol and l. streets is most available
for new sites for warehouses
AS the city grows, lie commended, rail
way tracks must be extended TO meet
the commercial needs. THIS bill in q
recognition Of that condition.
Dr. Wilder of Sibley Hospital and the
Methodist School for DcaconesSes saw
much damage to come to those institu-
tons in the extension Of railroad tracks
to the square opposite North Capitol
street.
"What damage Will it do to your prop
erty?'' Senator Johnston asked.
What damage would IL do to your resi-
dence, If YOU had a home thereT was
the reply. Would the members Of this
friends to our hospital IL there was .
railroad in the square opposite?"
THE track win not come within $40
feet Of your building, Mr.. Pickford sug-
gested to DIR. Wilder.
Don't let the dust the gentlemen kick
up" retorted DR.. Wilder. blind you to
see only one track and one warehouse.
Anticipates Further Encroachments.
He contended there was nothing In the
bill to prevent the laying OF tracks all
over the square. and nothing to prevent
the Use OF tie warehouse TO which the
tracks run as a general market.
In direct reply to DIR. Wilder, Mr.. Eli |
son told the comrpittee that 1t was pro-
posed to lay only one track In the square
and that a car would be switched into
the warehouse once a week or possibly
once day. He could not see any dam
age to the hospital or school In that.
After the government has nXod
definite plan Tor beautiful Washington
and has worked to remove the overhead
telegraph and telephone wires" remarked
7. Gushing Daniel, II hate TO an old
fashioned overhead structure built over
Sfr