The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-29

removal OF the railroad tracks from
the street grades. There had also
been a demand for better depot faci-
Mites. which had become entirely in.
adequate. In many of the cities of
the II similar conditions mad de-
Veloped with the advance of popula-
tion and the increase in the number
oi trains. and whenever the munici-
paiities found II necessary to require
the railroad companies to remove
theiT tracks from grade. where they
hhd been put at large expense. BY
PUBIC authority, ii had been consid-
ered equitable and just for the public
70 snare with the railroad companies
the expense of changing the tracks
from grade and requiring them to he
constructed either under or above the
GRADE OF the streets. The custom In
an or the great cities Of the country
"here changes like this were required
vas tor the municipalities to pay one
nan OF the expense and the railroad
companies the other half. This is ex.
actiy what was done in Washington
Noc FL was appropriated to aid in tho
construction OF a. depot building. The
commissioners of the District or
coiunoia caused the engineer officer
OIL the District to estimate WHAT ~
COST would be of removing thas.
tracks from grade. and when ira,
amount was ascertained. the govern
ment' In accordance with the ,rovi.
s'ohS OF the union station bill! paiJ
one-half thereof, and the ranro.d
companies the other half.
senator Mcmillan. the chairman or
me committee on the District Of
uoiu'hnia' in reporting the union sta
uon bill to the Senate after estin,.,
ms the entire cost of tho nronoscd -,
proVeinents at $4,000, 900, used This
language: ms
~ THIS amount. the United states
ana the D;stric; OF Columbia contri.
ou'ed d million and d half dol.,s 10
sHe baltimore and Ohio as their share
- t"e elimination OF grade eros INKS
a-ohs mat line; and the Upi.Ad states
pass d million and q halt dollars to-
WARD the elimination of grade cross
!ngs along the line Of the B,iti,1nra
and Potomac"
Just md Equitable.
h cost of changing these ,rack.
rom grade was estimated at s6|.ooo.ooo
anu tue government raid SO. 0O1yg6 ae
ItS mar OF the cost OF the cnsnee
MHich II required. All cities. as staten
oboVe' nave shared thar expense when
.he puolic required such changes 10
DC made. ] considered the arrupe.
ment Just and equitable. and vn?ed
tof IL Tor that reason. but auy state
Hlent TO the effect that voted ,nonev
LOT the construction OF ;he demo-;
lung IN washington Is abs olItely
without truth. The change was ex-
ceedingly expensive. as, anon otner
Things, IL was necessary TO cur . nm.
ne! under the Capitol grounds witch
alone cost about $1,000, 900. But wbi,4
paid nothing FOR a demo,
Du'!di"s' and only its proper share of
me expense of changing the tracks
I'm s!Sce' the union station bill C.
f"tFeu 'ae railroad companies TO cree,
Il new union station. ,"ha railrr az
companies desired 20 erec. buiI.lu,z
surnc!ent Tor business purposes and
with sole reference TO handling their
passengers and freight; but the act a:
congress required them to erect a
depot building monumental in charac-
ter and of a style OF architecture IN
Keeping VITA the public building, O.
me city, on plans TO be approved by
the commissioners Of the Distrlc, a.
columbia. The result has bean aha,
we nave perhaps the finest depot
ouiidinS in the worid-one TINT VIII he
an ornament 10 the city and a comtor;
~ pleasure to all Of the people OF
the country who may have ,cs:Iou To-
VISIT Washington during the NEXT hun
dFed years. The people. too, have the
safety which comes from the removal
OF the railroad tracks from street
grace. ard tor all OF this .hs govern
meht paid only one-half ~ the cost
OF the removal of.the track from
srade.
MIR. Jones is also charging in his
speeches that | voted agalns: univer-
sal transfers OF passeng rs rs between
the different street Jar lines in me
city of Washington. He has not stated
what the provisions Of the oi!l we're
shins wnich voted. Neither has he
undertaken to show to the DLople
what was just in the premises. sup
pose did vote against universal trans
teTs between the street car liaes in
/ Washington. Who could say thai
voted wrong? Such a proposition
would be a business one in respect 20
which all parties should be a:.yl and
exact justice should bc ojnt. II MIR
Jones thinks the Virginia people ex.
peGt their Senator's 10 vote bllndly
against railroad companies &c is ms
taken. l believe tie Virginia people
expect their Senators to treat the
street railway companies in Washing
ton and the railroad compan..s and
all other people justly and fairly
was not elected to do Injustice or 10
do any violence to the rights OF rail-
road companies any more tran / was
elected 10 do injustice and violence 10
the rights OF merchants or anker
or m~echaDics. He ass ines too much,
in my Judgment. vhnn he thinks l."
P'eJuo!Se tHc pSppls -! virginia
against me by simply char sing tha
voted against universal transfers be-
tween the street car companies in
washington. In truth AMI in fact,
however. fellow-citizcns the state
ment that l voted against universal
transfers between the street car COM
panies in Washington is incorrect. I
haVc nj mad time 20 mdie an eXa u
Eai!tn Of the record. rat. speal;ngI
frnin memoir, / am sure -! revcr cast
q srch vo:e.
/ have an indistinct recollection that
spending the consideration of ii bill
proviclns for connecting the street
car lines with the new union station,
an amendment was offered providing
for universal transfers. The street