Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-27
sTREEr.CAR TRAVEL.
A Large Number OF Street gatlvays
Projected.

W. W AAatSIidlil the Prosperity OF =
city are street railways. To say nothing Of their
convenience as q cheap mode Of transit T all
classes of people, and especially for the middle
and pccrer classes whose means viii not permit
them to indulge in the luxury of private travel
ing equipages, they bring those residing in the
suburbs into easy communicated with the cen
trRl and business portions OF the city, facilitate
the transaction OF business, enhance the value
OF property, give employ Inept ~ "A large nun Der
OF clerks, Conductors, drivers, lAbOrers, * =,
and finally bring people into closer social inter-
course, ana offer encouragement to tUreigu
capital which would otherwise shun the town as
holding out no special Inducements for speca A
live inv estmeHtS. Within snort time past,
under the stimulus OF the great work of i'm
prOyement being carried on by the board of
public works, " ashlngton has received an
impetus IL the direction OF street railway enter
prises which viii very soon MAKE our local
travelling facilities az least equal 10 those OF any
other city OF its size in the United States, and
commensurate with Its necessities as the capital
OF the nation.
TIE FIRST STREET RAILWAY IN WASHINGTON.
at the beginning OF the war in1 sol there was
not q single mii6 OF street railroad in the Dis
tTict of Columbia. The present Washing ton
ard Georgetown railroad, constructed in the
year lSO2, II product O. the war, and was built
10 meet the sudden and Imperative demand for
local travelling facilities. y few enterFTis ng
gentlemen, believing that another line wolld
receive paying share OF public Patronage con-
structed thu metropolitan, or street, road
Few years after, and have never had cause 10
regret their action. The Columbia, or New
York avenue, line was built about a year siuCe.
This too has proved a success, and, encouraged
by the favorable issue of these enterprises, some
of our tar seeing and public spirited citizens
have obtained from Congress charters for other
street railroads which, when completed, will
iBteEsect the city in almost every direction, thus
giving the citizens OF the district every facility
for iDtSI-cO mmunlcatlOn.
oCK STREET RAILWAY FUTURR.
1t may not be generally known, but such is
the fact that within lew months, at least four
a Of afr ha
in fun operation. Seven are at present projected,
and all OF them will without doubt be eventually
built. Adverse circumstances may delay the
construction O. two or three of these roads until
next year, bat, as is above stated, it is conf
IDENTIFY expected that most OF them will be in
operation before winter sets in.
EASTERN RxTEEElON OF THE METROPOLITAN
ROAD.
This road, which is now in process OF c0nstrac-
ton, extends fToIG the present terminus OF the
Metropolitan road, on North A street, Capitol
Hill inear Whitney's hOtel) along lat street east
TO East Capitol street; down East Capitol street
to 18th street east, and ahence along that street
To the nayy-yard bridge across the Eastern
Branch. The charter CT this road, or extension,
provides that tie line 81 all run down 9Th street
east; but, on account OF popular demand. it
will be built down 18th street, in the expectation
that Congress, when il meets, will ratify she
change OF route indicated. The work of con-
stTUcting the road is now being vigorously pros
ecuted by large force OF men The cross ties
and stringers are laid along East Capitol street
70 Lincoln Square; the space between the
tracks (Which are double) is paved with wood
to conform TO the paving OF the street; and
TIE ROAD is READY FOR THs RAILS
for the distance indicated. Mr.. 4. ". Thomp-
son, pres dent OF the Metropolitan road, hopes
TO be able 10 have the cars running over the
extension before Congress meets this winter.
Ibis is pet enterprise of the " II III folks who
own most OF the stock of the road, and they
cherish great expectations in regard TO the ben.
etits they are to derive from a street railroad
running through their midst. Already property
near the line OF tue road has increased from ten
to twenty per cent. in value, and whenever a
vould-be buyer OF real estate on the Hill eX-
presses surprise ~ the high figures at
which property is held, the owners proudly
point TO the new road and say, " But, sir, think
of the advantage of street cars which will carry
you to the central part OF the city, to the BOun-
dairy, or TO GeorgetOwn" UnquestiOnsbly the
new road will do wonders for Capitol Hill.
THE NEW JERSEY AVENUE AND h STREET ROAD.
Another charter obtained from Congress
gives the Metropolitan company the privilege
of building a double track road from the juno
ton of New Jersey avenue and ID street, along
New Jersey avenue to Massachusetts, avenue;
along thar avenue to II street north, aud thence
connecting with the New lOrk avenue and 9th
street roads. This road will supply a want long
felt by people Ia the northern section of the city,
since 1t will afford them direct line to the Bal
umOTe depot, the Capitol, and the Navy-yard
without going by the circuitOus route OF 9Th
street and the Avenue. 1t is the purpose Of the
Metropolitan company 10 begin work on this
road at once, and get 1t IL operation at the
THE FUUE-ASD-A-HALF STREET ROAD
The same company have charter, granted in
1850, for double track road 10 run from the |
City hall, where 1t VIII connect east and west |
W.T.. the Metropolitan road, TO the Arsenal gate |
by way o. I = street. The board OF directors |
have authorized Dir. j. ". Thompson, the presi-
dent, to proceed RItl the construction OF the |
road, and il is the intsltiOn TO have the cars |
running some time this fSl! II possible.
THE NINTH STREET ROAD.
a good portion Of the construction OF the sch |
street (wes) double track railway, the charter
Tor which Is held by the Metropolitan company, !
i already completed. The cross ties aud !
stringers have been laid simultaneously with the |
grading and paving of the street, from south |
street at the southwest corner Of the new Cen |
ter market, to VI street. The timber for the
entire road is placed along 9Th street to the
Bcundary-its northern terminus-and the
work OF laying the rails which are tram rails
laid flush with the pavement, so as not to inter
iere with travel, has already commenced in the
vicinity of the market. This road will connect
with the street road and turn table will be
placed at the intersection OF f and 9th streets,
n order that certain cars NAV run without
change to Georgetown aud the Navy Yard. IL
Is presumed that some arrangement will be
made To transfer passengers from the 9th street
road at the Boundary to the cars OF the Silver
spring road. IL is also desirable that this road
should eventually be extended fro its southern
terminus along b street 10 the depot OF the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad. The entire
road will be built as fact as 9Th street is graded
and paved. There seems no reason why this
iOaQ shOulu not make Ssn street. one OF The naest
business streets in the city.
THE CONNECTICUT AVENUE RAILWAY.
The Connecticut Avenue and Park Rally way
Company Is a distinct corporation. The charter
OF the company OF which Mr.. j. ". Thompson
Is president gives them the privill &c of building
a double track road from Il n street and Penn.
sylyania avenue to the boundary. or kalOrama
heights, by way OF Connecticut avenue. SO
much Oi the work OF building this road is already
done that IL IL confidently expected that the
cToss-ties and stringers will be laid 10 the bOun
dairy by the end OF the present week. The road
is now paved with concrete Game as the avenue
on which 1t runs and ready for the rails, with
but slight exceptions, far north as the street
circle. This road will make Come ctCns with
the street line, whose track il viii use several
squares north OF Pennsylvania avenue, carrying
passengers 10 the navy yard; AMI also with the
Union, or street rOat, running TO the convent
IN Georgetown. 1t is the intention OF the COM
pHny TO have this road completed and the cars
running Just as soon as Connecticut avenue Is
graded and paved. Many people residing on
kslOrama heights and on Connecticut avenue
have long desired a street Railway such as they
will soon possess, and own the principal part OF
the stock OF the road. The charter OF the COM
pany gives them the privilege of extending their
road 10 Mount Pleasant, and this will ultimately
be done.