The Washington herald., 1911-04-17

automobile divisions, and the sidewalks
! beside these. This arrangement would
be an ideal one for traffic regulation, as
the several sections might be separated
by narrow parkings that would restrict
traffic within easily controlled bounds.
The street, while one of the widest in
| the country. might easily be widened II
| necessary by moving back the line Of
buildings on the south side. The time
| to do this is now. before the plans that
are now under consideration for new
buildings are carried too far
Should BE Carefully Planned.
The plan of the subway is favored by
W. Appleton Clark. jr.. as an ultimate
proposition. The time is not quite ripe,
in his opinion. Before any concerted
action is taken the matter should be
carefully planned out and arranged in
detail by committee composed of archi-
tects, engineers, and the public officials
A subway in the vicinity of Fifteenth,
Fourteenth, and G streets and New York
avenue is a matter of only a very short
time before 1t will become an impera-
tive necessity
THE course which this would naturally
take would be down New York avenue
from Fifteenth to Seventh streets. Then
the subway would be most needed up
Fourteenth street as far as Thomas
circle
80 far as the water level is concerned,
do not think" said Mr.. Clark, that
any insuperable obstacle would be offered
by this consideration. We have only to
,Iar - r..
done in New York City within recent
years. where the tunnels have gone under
the rivers.
THE division OF the Avenue into sec
tions does not appeal to me. This would
break up the Avenue as a parade course.
and that l regard as being one Of the
greatest features OF that magnificent
thoroughfare 1t is for that very reason
that l would most strongly favor the
clearing away of street car tracks and
ali other obstacles that now interfere
with this great privilege.
But the whole enterprise, by reason
Of its value and magnitude, ought to be
most carefully considered by those best
fitted by profession and experience to
settle upon plan"
Wants Part Right Now.
Commissioner Rudolph is hearty in his
Endorsement of the subway plan. and
wants to see one placed at Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets right away to clear
that particular section of the traffic that
Centers so closely to the White House.
But under no condition can be
brought to favor Mr.. Totten's plan of
breaking up the Avenue into sections"
said the Commissioner Il cannot in
that magnificent parade ground. There
is not. in my opinion. any pressing need.
so far as present conditions go, OF ex-
tending the subway plan up the Avenue.
1t will be years. perhaps a generation,
before the growth OF the city will make
this need imperative. But am sure that
the need will come, and even though no
steps are necessary to adopt the plan
and to begin work on it right away.
am sure that nothing ought to be done
in any way that will either prevent its
being done when the time comes or
will make il harder to do
Joseph I. Weller, chairman OF the
Chamber of Commerce committee on roads
and streets. favors the building of the
subway along the length of the Avenue
on the ground of identification alone.
"In my opinion, the amount of traffic at
present does not call for this, but from
an esthetic standpoint l favor the pro-
pOsal strongly and feel that such a work
would most completely harmonize the
MAGNIFICENT surroundings that will soon
be a feature of that beautiful thorough
fare.
II cannot indorse the sectional division
of the Avenue and the breaking up of the
street into seven sections. The broad ex-
panse of 100 feet in width that Pennsyl-
vania avenue offers makes 1t, an ideal
rarade ground which the State and Fed
cral functions make an inestimable value
to the city, and forms one of its chief
attractions on such occa asions.
Subway an Easy Task.
THE matter of the subway is small
one comparatively from an engineering
point of view. The south side of the
Avenue. which in past years used to be
frequently flooded. has been made all
right by the trunk lines of sewers that
drain this section.
The sectional system is all very we'll
adapted to the great European thor
oughfares, such as the Lindenstrasse.
Nevsk Prospect, and the Ringstrasse,
which are used as places of entertain
ment. alone. but Pennsylvania avenue is a
business street as we'll as parade
ground and a pleasure course.
Just now, added Mr.. Weller, "the
subway is much needed on Fifteenth and
streets. From Pennsylvania
avenue along Fifteenth street to New
York avenue, part way along New York
avenue from Fifteenth street, and all
the way up Fourteenth street, are, from
4 traffic and convenience point of view, J
the sections that stand most in need of
this modern method of making passage
along the streets safe and convenient |
70 pedestrians and in making automo- |