Evening star., 1922-11-17
CAR LINE CAUSES
BR|DGEPLAN M|XUP
War Department Denies Old
Dominion Company Use of
Reservation.
CHANGES MAY BE MADE
Sudden Hitch Develops in Build
ing of Terminal Facilities
at Rosslyn.
CHANGES MAY BE MADE

Railroad authorities and Army en-
gineers have been suddenly called on to
remedy serious block in the plans for
railroad transportation between the
District of Columbia and Virginia over
the new Georgetown bridge. resulting
from the refusal of the War Department
to permit the Washington and Old
Dominion Railway Company to erect
terminal station on the government res
ervation at the south or Virginia end
of the bridge.
Provision Of Act.
The act authorizing the construction
of the bridge provided that the Wash
ington and Old Dominion railway might
extend it's tracks over the bridge to
Georgetown.
The company relinquished that right.
however. on account OF the expense of
upon the War Department authorized
the Capital Traction Company to ex-
tend its tracks over the bridge from
N street and build loop on the gov
ernment reservation at Rosslyn. The
approved plan contemplated close
connections at the loop with the lines
of the Washington Virginia and the
Washington and Old Dominion rail-
ways. The first-named line already
has a small station at that point and
the Old Dominion planned to locate
its terminal there.
1t was arranged with the Army en-
gineers that until the Old Dominion's
new terminal was established, pre-
sumably next summer, the cars of
tina: line should continue to use the
old Aqueduct bridge to reach its pres
ent terminal at 56th and NJ streets.
Georgetown. That arrangement was
made with Maj. Tyler. United States
District engineer, several weeks ago
on the assumption that the new
Georgetown bridge would be opened
to general traffic by New Year day.
and that the Aqueduct bridge would
then be closed to all vehicular traffic
except the Old Dominion cars
Plans May Be Changed.
The present action of the War De-
partment in refusing to permit the Old
Dominion Company to build a new
terminal on the government reservation
at Rosslyn may require a arrangement
Of present railroad plans. 1t is possible,
however. that Congress may authorize
the use Of the reservation or that the
Old Dominion Company may be able to
acquire land just outside the reserva-
tion on which to build its new terminal
Though the new Georgetown bridge may
be opened for general traffic by the first
of the year. the cars of the Capital
Traction Company will not be able to
operate over the bridge until the high
earth embankment at the Virginia ap-
proach has settled enough to justify the
construction of the track loop. That
will nof eYISf until nexf Sprip1 a.
earliest, according to the railroad
engineers.
Plans OF Rail Company.
. In its application the Old Dominion
Company said it planned to erect a
brick. concrete and steel building for
use as a terminal. 1ao by IS feet in
dimensions, between the loop to be
constructed by the Capital Traction
Company on the same reservation as
the terminus of its line across the
bridge, and to relocate its tracks ac-
cordingly.
The application of the company
was approved by Gen. Beach. chief
of engineers of the Army. He rec
commended that revocable license be
given the company to occupy a GER
taln lnQlcated portion of the reServa-
tion with terminal station, tracks
and appurtenances.
In denying the application the
Secretary of War, however, followed
the recommendation of Gen, Hull.
acting Judge advocate general of the
Army, who was asked for an opinion
on the subject. In his report the
judge advocate general reviewed the
provisions of the law authorizing
the construction of railroad tracks
on the bridge and the action of the
War Department in authorizing the
Capital Traction Company to Law
such tracks, instead of the Old Do
minion Company. which relinquiehed
its right to do SO.