The Washington times., 1916-10-26
Tentative Arrangements Have
Been Completed for Route
of Tracks.
THROUGH SOUTH MARYLAND
Surveys Finished and Seven.
eighths Of Property Needed
Has Been Acquired.

completed under which Washington is
70 have a new railroad connection with
newport News. Va, by way of south
ern Maryland.
surveys for the railroad have been
finished and seven-eighths of the prop
erty needed for right Of way has been
purchased. Options have been obtained
ON the-balance Of the property required
Backed by powerful interests. the pro-
posed connection Is involved in the
project for the construction of the
Washington and Newport News short
line.
Engineers Must Approve.
AL that stands in the way of the
undertaking at this time is the neces-
sity OF obtaining the approval OF the
army engineers for the passage Of an
act Of Congress giving the promoters
OF the new railroad the right to bridge
the Potomac river from Ridgeville, in
Charles county, Maryland. to Metomkin
Point, Va. Hearings on the application
OF the organizers OF the new road for
this permission were held In Baltimore
by the army engineers early last week.
According to Charming M. Ward, Of
Richmond, Va, who is the engineer re-
sponsibleN for the surveys, the limo of
the road would be from Newport News,
va, across the York and Rappahan-
thence across the Potomac river to
Ridgeville, In Charles county, Mary
land; thence up through southern Mary
land to point near Giesboro Manor. at
the southeastern edge OF the District of
Columbia. Under arrangements already
entered into with the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad the new line would enter
SMashington over the Alexandria. or
Shepherds. branch Of the Baltimore
and Ohio. and by this means gain entry
into Baltimore over the Washington
baltimore branch Of the Baltimore and
Ohio.
Alexandria Branch Route.
The Alexandria Branch Of the Balti-
more and Ohio runs from Giesboro Point
opposite Alexandria. along the southern
bank OF Anacostia river to a point near
Hyattsville. whence II connects with the
Baltimore and Ohio into Washington.
1t Is proposed to erect q passenger depot
A. Anaeostia, although ultimately. and
by ARRANGEMENTS that may be entered
into with the Baltimore and Ohio. the
promoters OF the new line hope to OBJ
tain an entry into Union Station. Traffic
been arranged. whereby through freight
between Baltimore and points south Of
Washington will be handled to and from
Baltimore over the Baltimore and Ohio.
"
engineers the cost OF building the line
between Washington and Newport News
will approximate $14.0oo.00O.> Frank s..
Gsnnan; who was president Of the Nor
folk and Southern railroad at the time
that property. was controlled by the
Standard OIL, Is at present In New York
arranging details for the financing OF
the undertaking.
What interests are behind Mr.. GAN
nan has not been definitely disclosed.
The fact that he was the Standard OILS
representative in the Norfolk and South
some quarters that the Rockefellers are
Interested.
Seeks Connection.
It is an open secret in railroad circles
that the Western Maryland railway,
which is controlled by the Rockefellers.
has been seeking a physical connection
both with Washington and Norfolk. and
1t is this fact that gave rise to the
recent report that the Western Maryland
was planning connection with the
Washington and Old Dominion railway.
On the other hand. the fact that the
promoters Of the Washington and New.
port News short line were able to enter
into an arrangement with the Baltimore
and Ohio for the use of the Alexandria
branch of the latter road appears to con.
hrm the opinion that 1t is the Baltimore
and Ohio that Is primarily interested In
the project as a means Of getting a con,
neCtioH WIN newport NEWS as new
tidewater terminal for Its export Goa
trade.
From the standpoint Of the business in,
terests OF Washington, II is stated by
the undertaking would be OF vast bene
The new railway would pass through
territory In southern Maryland and Vir
trade development. At present the onl,
railroad running into southern Mary
land " the Popes Creek branch OF tn,
Pennsylvania: the service of whicl
with the bay boat traffic between
southern Maryland and Baltimore. Ii
consequence Of which practically all tn
trading of this section is with the mer
territory in Virginia through which tn
new line would pass. 1t is pointed ou
that at present there Is no railroad ac
commodation whatsoever east of tn
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Virgini
railroad.
Rich in Timber.
All this territory, while sparsel
settled and largely undeveloped. OWN
to the Limitation of railroad facilities
10 rich in timber. Pine and spruc
forests abound, and experts have est
mated that there Is sufficient spruc
alone to supply wood-pulp for all tn
and Baltimore. At present. except 70
thinning out along the Potomac rive
these forests are said to be practicall
untouched. Byron Newton, Assistar
Secretary OF the Treasury, who has eS
plored this territory thoroughly ha
referred to It as a hidden empire"
According to Mr. Ward and others II
terested In the project. II the army ell
gineers see fit to approve the applied
tion of the railroad for bridge permit
across the Potomac, actual constructio
OF the railroad. including the connectio
with Washington, will be started befol
the first OF the year, It being assume
that Congress would follow the recon
mendation of the army experts. A
rangements have already been mao
with the Virginia authorities, II
stated. which would insure no troub
over the obtaining OF bridge perm
across the Rappahanock and YoI
rivers.
1t is explained that the arrangement
entered into with the Baltimore ar
Ohio for. the use of the Alexandr
branch of that road. will make II ui
necessary for the promoters OF the ne
railroad to obtain any rights OF way
franchises through the District Of C,
lumbia-