Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-13
RAILROAD
TRACK EXTENSION
Church, Hospital and Other
Organizations Fear Loss in
Property Values.

Vigorous protest Is being made by
important B church. hospital. school
and civic organizations against the
passage by Congress of the bill
fathered by Senator Ball Of Delaware.
which passed the Senate and which.
1t is claimed, would result in opening
up North Capitol and 1st street
northeast. from Florida avenue to
the Union Station as coal yards. with
resultant depreciation to- adjacent
property and running church. hospital
and school institutions.
Practically every member OF the
House District committee has been
importuned to oppose the passage OF
this legislation. The protestants, who
include the Sibley Hospital authori-
ties, the Jesuits in charge of St. Alloy
sius Church and schools and Gonzaga
College and the Lucy Webb Hayes
National Training School for deacon
esses. missionaries and nurses, have
been assured that no action will be
taken by the House committee with
out full investigation and hearing.
Area Included in Plans.
The original Legislation provided for
allowing the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road to extend spur tracks from
square TO. which is bounded ON the
north by New York and Florida ave-
nues. on the west by LIST street. on the
south by N street, into the next square
to the south. The three squares south
of square i1o east of 1st street to
the railroad tracks. and south as far
as K street are in an industrial zone.
These three squares were set aside In
the Union station act. for freight
terminals, and epur~traclks have been-
run into them. from the railroad yard
.. fNt,
the east. Square 710 ID in the came
area
The squares between North Capitol
street and list street are not in an
Industrial. butsin a commercial zone.
The protesting Institutions. sibley
property. face these commercial
squares. The fear of the protestants
Is that the industrial zone may be ex-
tended to take in this commercial
zone. thereby bringing coal yards and
freight terminals to the very door Of
these Institutions.
The provisions in the original Ball
bill were not agreeable to the Dis
trict Commissioners, and the Ball bill
as amended and passed by the Senate
last week provides:
Bill N Passed BY Senate.
THAT the Commissioners of the
District are authorised in their dis
CIotion 10 grant " any 9tcdIh IdA-
tracks in the District permits to con-
struct overhead or underground sid
ings from the lines Of such railroad
into such squares as may be included
within any Industrial area now or
hereafter established"
The protestants fear that the zon-
ing commission might at some later
date make the commercial area be-
tween North Capitol and 1st streets
running south from New York ave-
nue. an industrial instead of CONNER
cial zone, which would make 1t pos
sible for the railroads to use 1t for
coal yards or freight terminals
At present the authority to grant per-
nit for the construction of overhead
or underground crossings is vested in
Congress. If the Ball bill was passed
this authority would be given to the
District Commissioners.
Confers With Congressmen.
Citizens Association conferred with
committee members on Capitol Hill
today regarding the proposed legisla-
ton.
Commissioners held the authority, under
the District zoning commission, for the
changing Of the uses Of property in the
of the railway, he declared, the land
between North Capitol and 1st streets
would have to be placed under the cIas-
siflcation Of industrial zone.
Dr. Spielman, pastor Of the North Cap
itol Street Methodist Church. MAIN
tanned today that acquisition of the con-
templated area would absolutely disrupt
to turn for substitute Of the present
church.