National Republican., 1883-11-20

order TO accomplish this connection the right
was given. under certain conditions, to uso
portions of the Metropolitan track. This APP
plication met with bitter opposition before
congress, and was referred to conference COM
mittees which finally agreed to report favor
ably and one day ii became law.
Then the scene was shifted to the courts.
Equity proceedings were instituted "Ex parte
the Capitol, North Street, and South Wash
ing Railroad company, S,640." After petitions
and counter petitions, decree was granted
for the use Of tracks June IL, 1883, with the
following terms:
G) One hundred and eighty-nine dollars
yearly rent to be paid by the Belt road in
quarterly installments from June 12, 1888
(2) Half the cost of repairs to be paid by
each road using the common track.
(3) Right Of use to be denied when decree
is non-complied with.
(i) Belt road to keep track unobstructed,
and provide automatic switches at intersec-
tions.
(5) Roads to divide taxes upon that portion
OF the route used in common.
In addition to track thus rented from the
Metropolitan, the Belt pays an annual charge
of 5000 to the Washington and Georgetown
for the use of its rails near the capitol.
The Capitol, North o and South Washing
ton railway has therefore two lines in use;
the Belt, on which eighteen cars are kept
running and the line from Boundary to tho
wharf on which there are fourteen cars Two
cars run to the bureau of engraving
and printing, and six or seven additional
ones are kept in reserve, making
| ing about forty in all. The road owns one
hundred and fifty horses aud has upon its pay
roll from sixty-fve TO seventy employees.
There are two brick stables, one at Third and
| b streets southwest and the other near the
north terminus of the Eleventh street line.
The Belt circuit is something over FIVE miles
and the north and south line round trip about
seven miles. The road has consequently over
twelve miles of double track
The corporation has a clear record upon the
| subject of special taxes, no suit ever having
been entered against it upon that account,
although paving is constantly being done
along some portion of the route which is set
tied for almost upon demand. This has been
| the policy of the road and has been power
| tul argument in its favor when it has had
occasion to seek new privileges.
The district tax ledgers show the following
property accredited to the road: Lots and
| g. square 30i, and lot 8, square 577, all OF
which is assessed at $22,476, and upon which
a tax of 1887. Ia is paid annually in addition
to the personal tax. From January, 1876, to
July. 1877, the road paid license tax upon
twenty cars aggregating $3.50, alter which
no further tax of that kind was paid.
With regard to dividends the Belt line, as
il is familiarly termed, began payment in
1873, and has since paid from fifty to eighty
cents semi-annually. 1t is claimed that the
property is upon a sound basis, that its re-
ceipts show steady increase, and that its
future is bright.
However this may be, there are many ele-
ments in its favor. Its tracks pass within
easy reach of large amount Of ground avail
able for small buildings, and within the past
few month large number of commodiou:
dwellings have been erected all along the line
| NhAV bon AhAWn Do nnak. IL Ng.r
tion of visitors to the various public buildingi
and grounds situated upon the route and an
ever increasing tide of travel to the wharf
and suburbs. The result of this enterprise
has vindicated the judgment of its projectors
and proved once more how valueless and
faulty are often the opinions Of shrewd finan.
ciers, who, in this case, live to witness the
success of project which they had decried
and for which they had predicted igno
minious and disastrous failure.