Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-14
NFL UENCE
NOW FOR CIVIC BEAUTY
Attractive Park Brought Into Existence at
Virginia and Maryland Avenues
Southwest One Evidence.

A marked change has taken place In
the appearance as we'll as in the i'm
provements along Maryland avenue. es-
pecially between 9Th and 9th streets
southwest, a change which. Of course,
dates from the completion of that sec
ton of the new railroad terminal. The
entire course of the railroad through the
southern portion of the city shows the in
fluence of the modern method of handling
such traffic over city streets. Instead of
having the tracks on the surface they
are now either below or above the street
level and the movement: of the daily life
of the city flows on without interruption
from such source and without danger OF
life and loss of property. The business of
the railroad also enjoys equal freedom,
as even the layman might conclude If he
stopped to watch one of the great pas
senger trains from the south after 1eav-
ing the bridge and. coming into Maryland
avenue, rush along with the same rate of
speed as if still out in the country.
But the portion of Maryland avenue
still in use by the railroad east of 18th
street is many feet below the surface of
the rest of that thoroughfare in an open
cut with sides supported by massive gran.
lite walls that rise above the surface OF
the street on DUH SlUeS d SOPli1S
a few feet high.
Track Energies at 9th Street.
BY the time 10th street is reached the
track rises. and presently energies about
at 9th street to the level of the street,
and then gradually comes up to the grade
of the overhead track that continues to
the point of separation, where one line
h. val
Hill to the Union station. while the other
passes east on Virginia avenue. and so
on beyond the Navy Yard and the East
ern branch to its junction with the other
line beyond the borders of the Dlstrict.
1t is quite evident that even the granite
wall is an improvement over the old
street conditions, when a medley OF trac IS
We're strewn over the wide surface OF
the avenues, and the streets and crossings
We're inadequately protected by gates that
were lifted and lowered to allow the
street or the railroad traffic to continue
it's interrupted course.
In the section between 9th and TIN
streets, and especially on the north side,
where the coming together of two such
broad thoroughfares as Virginia and
Maryland avenues has made an open
place, there is now an attractive park
such as is found in other sections of the
city where the street plan is similar
This stretch of grass and Shrubbery Is
bordered by the railroad embankment.
which is also covered with grass and
fringed with a hedge. In this way the line
of the railroad, always looked upon as
Disagreement. actually contributes to the
beauty of the scene.
influence Upon Buildings.
1t is apparent that the change in the
conditions of this section have had an in
fuence upon the buildings on the north
s;Io ~ UaN
kept up. and look as if they were the homes
of people who took pride in having their
homes not only comfortable but good to
look at. On the south side the railroad
line comes up close to the borders of the
roadway of the street, and there is not
much change to be noted since the rail-
road improvements were completed some
five years ago. However. west of 9th
street on that side the section is more of
a residence place than that which lies to
the east.
The passenger station for the use of the
Southern lines just east of 7th street
nestIes against the railroad embankment,
which is disguised with grass and shrub
berry and hedge, as we'll as beautified,
marks the limit Of what might be termed
attractive surroundings. For here is the
section where the great freight terminal
of the Pennsylvania company Is located,
and which takes in wide stretch on
both sides of Virginia avenue from 7th
to A. street.
Shut OF by Granite Wall.
On the south side all of the space pro-
vided for such purpoes is now in use,
and is shut off by a high granite wall
that extends along the line Of roadway.
On the north the ground, which COM
pletes long oblong. remains as it was
acquired from private owners except the
buildings have been removed. While
near I'd street. where the Union station
lines make its turn, there Is another
stretch of unOccupied land which was
cleared of buildings when the railroad
construction was going on.
The change in the section east of Az
street is perhaps not as marked along
the line of the railroad as in the west
ern section, but it is quite evident the
general locality has improved since the
surface tracks have been removed. This
is quite apparent when New Jersey ave-
nue. is reached. and one comes upon Gar
field Park that is pulling up the whole
neighbOrhood and causing it to bloom