Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-02
VIRGINIA RAIL LINE
HALTS D. c. PAVING
Of SPAN APPROACH
Highway Bridge Road Plans
Are Blocked by Dispute
Over Railway.
BYPASS FOR '32 FETE
NOW PLANNED INSTEAD
Fill Across Park Lands Would Send
I'LL Across Park Lands Would Send
Visitors Around Rough Stretch.
J D. c. May Condemn Tracks.

The protracted legal and other COM
plications involving the Mount Vernon
Alexandria g. Washington Railway, OPP
Grating street cars between Washington
and Alexandria, have cost the District
It's chance of having a newly-paved
road from the Highway Bridge to Water
street for the early part of the BIZ
centennial year, Acting Engineer Com
missioner Donald A. Dawson said today.
1t had been planned to widen and re-
pave this road early this Winter, so it
would be ready for the Bicentennial
visitors from the start of the year
Owing TO the apparently interminable
legal complexities which have inter
vened, however, Maj. Dawson said it
was certain the work could not be
started until February !.
Even If the legal tangle between the
Treasury Department and r. L. May,
owner Of the line, is settled this month,
the Winter season will be so far ad-
vanced before the Highway Depart
ment could get TO work that the danger
Of freezing would prevent the under
taking of any paving.
Bypass Planned for 1882.
The present scheme calls for con-
struction Of a temporary fill across
park lands adjoining the North end of
the bridge, paved with old material, as
n bypass for the bicentennial traffic
around the ancient cobbled paving near
the bridge.
The District ordered the company to
move its tracks out of the area east of
Fourteenth street by April l, 1881 The
step was taken in order to allow the
Treasury Department to close the
streets in the Mall Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. Triangle and proceed with the Fed
eral building program. The company's
terminal is within this area, at Twelfth
and D streets.
Order TO Repave Issued.
The company, after failing to obtain
q cash payment from the Treasury in
exchange for giving up its tracks,
sought an injunction to restrain the
Treasury from interfering with its
tracks or terminal. In the Supreme
Court this injunction was denied, and
the case is now on appeal in the Court
of Appeals. The appeal bond was
filed November 10.
The road is under order from the
Public Utilities Commission to replace
its tracks by December l, 1881. No
effort has been made to comply with
by the Court OF Appeals, the District
Is without power to enforce it.
Mai Dawson said it had been esti-
mated that this job would cost $l36 900,
and II is uncertain whether, assuming
the case is decided in the companys
favor, the company will undertake this
expense in order to continue operation.
Should the decision go against the COM
pany, 1t would have to abandon its pres
ent terminal and go to one either on B
street south or on Constitution avenue,
Kirra the p1lhlin Utilities or,,ic
has three times declined to consider any
terminal north Of Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. 1t Is even more uncertain whether
the company would elect to continue
operation to the shortened terminal or
not. Assuming however, that the COM
pany would elect not to continue in
operation, any money the District might
spend in repaving the street with the
tracks in would be wasted.
May Halt Use as Dangerous.
Assuming on the other hand, that
the company elects to continue operat-
ing, then it is doubtful whether the
District can compel it TO spend the
$4,000 to replace its tracks. The Dis
trict would probably do the work at its
own expense, Maj. Dawson said, and
then sue for the value Of the track
work, with small hope of ever getting
satisfaction Of any Judgment.
The tracks and the surrounding paw
ing are at present in extremely poor
shape, and Maj. Dawson said that an
other alternative would be for the Pub
lie Utilities Commission to issue an
order forbidding the company to use
them on the ground that they were
dangerous to public safety He said
that the fish plates" used to hold the
tracks In place are loose and that many
OF the sections Of track are far too
short. It is considered somewhat doubt
ful, however, whether such an order
would be issued ct present.