Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-16
A Temporary" Terminal.

As a temporary expedient to get the
tracks out of the triangle area desired
by the Government for its new build
lngs. the purported offer OF terminal
for the Mount Vernon, Alexandria *
Washington Railway at Fourteenth
street and Constitution avenue may be
, a reasonable compromise. The Gov
eminent apparently fears that unless
there is such a compromise. enabling 1t
to get the tracks out Of the way,
threatened litigation will tie its hands
and postpone indefinitely the building
program between Twelfth and Four
tenth street.
But Washington has suffered in the
past from temporary makeshifts that
became all too permanent. There could
! not be a worse location for an inter-
urban street car terminal than at Four
teenth street and Constitution avenue
and the experts in charge of such mat
ters would have to comb Washington'S
streets and avenues very carefully to
pick a spot that would be more map
propriate. II the railway is given the
privilege of parking and switching its
cars in that location, 1t should be with
the distinct understanding that the
privilege is to last only until Congress
disposes of the obviously knotty problem
of the railroads rights.
The railroad is unwilling to accept
the site for terminal, however, until
there has been some opportunity for
the people of Alexandria to express
themselves on the location. The oppor-
tunity would be best afforded by a
public hearing before the Public Util-
ties Commission And more than one
good purpose would be served by such
a public hearing
1t would be enlightening to learn,
for instance, whether the Public utlll-
ties Commission, the District Commits
sioners or anybody else in the munich
pal government is under the impression
that the municipal government must
either find a terminal site satisfactory
| to the railroad and to its Alexandra
patrons, or must pay the railroad some
thing to get out of town. If there is
such an opinion, it would be of value
to the whole community to hear 1t
expressed and supported by argument
Thus far there seems to be an ex-
traordinary amount of confusion over
the Districts responsibility in matter
that lies between the railroad and the
Federal Government. Mr.. Roberts, the
special assistant to the corporation
counsel, who has been participating IN
the negotiations, seems to be OF the
opinion that it would be cheaper for
the District to pay the railroad to re-
move its tracks and to get out OF town
than to have the tracks remain as
obstacles to the proposed widening, re-
paving and other improvements OF
lower Fourteenth street. Capt White
hurst, whose job it is to estimate on the
cost of such jobs and to design the
new work, does not believe that the
presence of the street car tracks would
affect the Districts expenses one way
or another. Mr. Roberts is lawyer
and is familiar with the car company S
rights. Capt Whitehurst is an engi-
neer and certainly knows the costs OF
highway construction.
The difference Of opinion in this case
is important only in so far as it seems
to reflect the general nature of the
mystery as to how and why the Dis
trict can possibly become financially
involved in the Federal Government
difficulties with the railroad. Every
body would like TO find out.