Evening star., 1926-03-26
Proposed Freight Terminal Bridge.

-
Tomorrow a hearing will be held
before a subcommittee Of the Senate
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce upon a bill, recently passed
by the House, providing for the erec-
tion of a bridge across the Potomac
above Little Falls, to serve the pur.
poses Of a projected freight terminal
Against this measure, passage of
which through the House greatly sur
prised the people of Washington and
the surrounding territory Of Maryland
and Virginia. who are vitality affected
by the proposed plan. there is a large
body of public opinion, which will be
expressed tomorrow at the hearing.
If there We're urgent need of addi-
and around Washington the fact
would be clearly demonstrated by the
demands of the railroads and the
business community. No such de-
mands have been voiced. The rail.
roads serving this section have pro-
vided themselves with adequate ter
minals for the handling of freight.
The truck hauling involved is reduced
to minimum. There is no congestion
in normal times, and in abnormal
conditions. such as those experienced
during the war, the congestion is
not such as to necessitate large per.
manent additions to the equipment
The railroads, Furthermore. are them
selves fully competent to determine
their own needs, and to date they
have not indicated any belief that
there is occasion for extensive addi.
tions to their plants.
The shippers of this locality have
not complained of lack Of facilities.
They have suffered, as have those of
all other regions of the country, when
unusual conditions have imposed diff
flculties. but they have not in this
instance advocated the sacrifice of n
considerable area of the suburban
territory, destined to become an at
tractive residential section, to meet a
need that when it develops can be
better met by the expansion of exist
ing terminals.
In this case it has been shown that
the railroads do not wish for a new
terminal, the shippers do not ask it
and the residents of the region which
it is proposed to bisect with rail lines
are strongly in opposition. Further
more, the dwellers within the Capital
look with concern upon the PROPOSE
ton to establish a freight yard at
the northwestern corner Of the Dis
trict, with the certain result, If the
yard Is used to any considerable de.
gree. Of developing a heavy, street.
destroying. noisy, disfguring and
troublesome truck traffic through the
heart of the city to and from the
business section.
One consideration that is certain to
be Of definite weight in this connec-
ton is the prospect of interference
by the projected bridge. which Is an
essential feature Of the terminal plan,
with the Governments project for
the development Of the water power
of the Potomac. Such structure of
a height to clear the waters impound.
ed by the dam at Little Falls would
have to be Of great length. If au-
thorized now, in advance of the be-
ginning Of the water-power works, it
would need to be thrown back far
from the present banks Of the river.
So far as known, this factor has not
been taken into account at all. The
House passed the bill without ascer-
| tanning the views of the Government s
engineers upon the possibility of in
reference with the power project.
Certainly the Senate subcommittee,
which is now considering the measure
must, regardless Of all other consid.
erations, refer the matter to the War
| Department, If, indeed, it does not
disapprove the proposition on it's face
as needless.
|
| Railu,avs will soon fra nSfor1,, Si