The Washington times., 1912-02-25
A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSIT PLAN.

Washington is at the point of outgrowing all the
garments of small city, and demanding the various
habments of metropolis. 1t has come upon one
of the most difficult stages in the growth of town.
To anticipate, visualize, and begin RIGHT NOW to
plan against future that must make great demands,
would be not only to the city, but to i'm
mensey in the expense of that service.
This is exactly what the District Commissioners
plainly have in mind, in preparing comprehensive
plan for reorganization of the street system pro-
vision of great downtown terminal, and beginning
a system of subways which may be extended just as
fast as the increasing demands of the community
may make expedent.
The plan which is in mind Of the ctys engineer
ing and civic authorities is outlined in another place
in this paper for the first time. 1t has been, as yet,
formulated into no official recommendation; but as
a formal proposal it will presently be laid before
Congress with the Endorsement of the municipal ad-
ministrators.
Estimates, necessarily tentative and incomplete,
based on.the subway costs of New York, Boston, and
other cities, indicate that the work desired as be-
ginning here will cost probably $4,0OOOOO to $5,OOO,-
600. This includes an underground terminal in the
region Of Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets and New
York avenue with subway trunks leading out of it
a few blocks in each direction; these trunks to be
constructed with view to extending them in future
the necessities of traffic and business should die
tate.
There will hardly be serious dissent to the propo-
sition that Washington is certain to number a mil
lion inhabitants in another generation or little more
No city has more substantial assurance of an import
ant future Therefore the desrabiity of forehanded
policy in preparing for that future.
Traffic conditions in the region about the inter
sections of Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets with New
"
The physical situation Of streets carrying four car
tracks for considerable distances just where there is
most pressure of pedestrian and vehicle movement,
is menace to public safety The indirect routes
covered by so many Washington car lines make
service expensive, slow, and unsatisfactory.
1t is not difficult to appreciate that the improve
mens now being planned by the District authorities
would give vastly better service and convenience for
the whole city 1t is no more difficult to understand
that, when proposition of this sort is presented to
Congress, there will be violent opposition on the
part of short-sighted people Almost of necessity,
loan Of the public credit will have to be made in
some form, to finance such an undertaking. That is
the way the New York subways have been and are
being builded it is the way such a system should
be inaugurated in this town. but TO induce Congress
which persistcntly avoids intelligent attention to
Washington needs, to make such a move will be a
most difficult affair.
When the forthcoming report is laid before the
Senate it will mark the beginning of new era in
the development of Washington. 1t will open vista
into the future of the city; and whether there shall
be intelligent attention to these recommendations in
time to secure the development at the least expense
and in the most satisfactory FORM will depend on the
measure of serious thought the legislative authorities
prepared to give to the very large and important
task of buil0inp adPOuafp natiOnal Citv The
time will come when this will be recognized as one
of the most important businesses Congress has on its
hands