Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-09
STREET RAILROADS IN THE DIS.
TRICT.

Senate Yesterday.
| THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WHICH THE DIS.
TRIcr COMMITTEE Is DIRECTED TO oBTAfN.
In the Senate yesterday the CHIEF clerk read
the resolution submitted By Mr.. Van Wyck,
January 6, 1885, as amended, as follows:
Rsso,ed That the committee on the District Of Co.
be directed to obtain from the officers Of
IN the District Of Colombia sworn statement OF he
shf 81 q
gross and net earnings the amount of their operating
'9s s s
mics have annual reports required by tie
to send for persons papers and administer oatha
Mr.. Plumb offer the following as q substi-
tute for that resolution:
Columbia be directed 70 obtain from the proper officers
%b ias M MsTePotsn street railway the
CURED g be annually transmitted TO Congress, and
in the District q Columbia and also why said
railway companies have not made the annual reports
Said committees shall also inquire whether the rails
laid and used by said companies are of the most
has been Only sppIoyed BY the Secretary Of the
what msy n be- or 10
early rspacement by those which are Of such
oaths ''' pe' 'on' ANu papers anu '''"i'n'''e'
desire to say simply that found In my
Metropolitan railway company and find that
section ~ OF that charter requires them to
annually transmit to Congress a full report OF
the affairs, business, and Condition of the said
company for the year terminating December
oist preceding such report, and such report
snail be signed and sworn to by the president
and treasurer of the company, or by majority
OF Inc directors. The law specifies thirty-one
u emne subjects OF which that report shall
MAKE specific mention, and upon which it
shall give specific Information to Congress, in
Guiding the items mentioned in the original
resolution and others that may be just as neces-
sary to the determination OF the matters in
issue as heretofore specified. I therefore offer
my substitute calling on the committee to
ascertain all the facts required by section % OF
the charter to be furnished by the company in
addition to that which is specified in the latter
ject find in section 3 of this charter the re-
quirement that the railroad shall be con-
structed "in the most approved manner
most approved pattern, to be determined by
the Secretary of the Interior, laid upon an even
surface with the pavement of The streets"
am advised, as l stated TO the Sem
ate yesterday, that there is better
pattern of rails than those now In use, and one
struct the streets at all, and that the rails now
In use on at least one of these railroads in the
District OF Columbia were laid down without
the approval OF the Secretary OF the Interior. /
think this is subject which ought 10 be gone
into by the committee at some length, mas
much as 1t has come up, and my resolution will
cover the ground more fully than the one which
was before the Senate yesterday.
Mr. Van Wyck-I am in favor of any PROPOSE
amining the dereiictions OF these railroads and
the wrongs they have done to the people of this
District and are continuing to do, and therefore
1t Is thatl very cheerfully accept the substi-
tute.
MIR. Vest.-The other day, in conversation
with very eminent citizen of this city on this
subject, obtained some Information which was
new to me, but have no doubt OF its correct
ness This gentleman stated that by applica.
ton to the different carriage manufactures and
repair shops in this city il was ascertained that
they had Appropriated the amount OF damage
done to vehicles in this city by the rails that
are now in use TO be in the neighbOrhOOd Of
100000. These rails would not be tolerated
III any European city. They are a nuisance,
and they have absolutely obstructed some OF
gentleman here knows from experience, in the
capital of the nation. The street on which one
railway runs from Pennsylvania avenue to New
York avenue, 18th street, is nuisance. The
street railway companies have been permitted
to lay their tracks there and put down rails,
so as to be an obstruction TO vehicles and
Tor myself prefer to drive around that square
rather that go up that street at any line.
Any senator by calling at the National Metro
poiitan bank, us l happened to do the other
day, can see the model there OF a street rail
used now in some of the principal cities in
Europe, in Paris believe and in Belfast, as
happen to recollect, and in others, where the
rail is perfectly level |ith the pavement, con-
stituting no obstruction, and wheie there is no
possibility OF damage 10 any vehicle in driving.
There is no excuse, no paiiatiOn, apology
for the sort of rail that IS In use in this city
Even i'll the lar west, in the city where reside.
Kansas City, we are getting rid of these things
| as last as possible. We have now introduced
in that city and have in operation some three
and a halt miles Of cable railway and charter
with the stock subscribed for another cable
railway OF miles, and it is only q question OF
| very few years when horse-car railroads will
60 out OF use entirely in that city. / am very
glad this resolution has been offered on this oc-
casion. 1asT IT el=-- ~ . = a.
Mr.. Ingalls.-Mr. President, did not listen
to the reading OF the resolution, or rather was
unable TO hear 1t in cOnseq .ence OF the con-
fusion, and am therefore unable to say whether
as to approved rails. it does not, 1t should do
SO because there is no city in this country If
| there is l.. the world, where the modern meth
DDS Of car propulsion either by cable system or
by electricity would be mrre applicable than
here. The condition Of the streets, the coudi-
ton Of the pavements, the slight grades all
render the application Of these modern systems
glad TO have this resolution Of instruction broad
enough to cover the question whether it is not
time for the abrogatiOn Of these Anticipated
methods Of propulsion and the substitution of
the cable or electric system. | suggest to my
colleague who offered this resolution that it be
made comprehensive enough TO cover the point
have suggested.
Mr. Plumb.-That Is entirely satisfactory to
me. l think that would be a very proper sub-
ject of inqu While this question is up I'M
doubleday we ought to discuss the relation OF
the street railways to the convenience of the
District as things now are, in all its aspects
The President pro temperatures the Senator
from Kansas propose an amendment?
Mr. Piumb.-1 simply suggest that nv col
league prepare IL. I think he could perhaps
prepare In better shape the form of it.
The President pro tempOre-The chair Is of
the opinion thai there no reference liz Tie
re5olu..On as it now stands TO motive power OF
electric power. A pause.] AT the suggestion
of the Senator from Kansas the chair will pro-
coed with the business Oh the calendar, letting
this resolution lie over Informally.
After an interval OF few moments the
amended Resolution was reported as follows and
agreed to as amended:
Rssotued, That the committee the Disrrt of Co
lulnba be directed obtain from the proper officers
OF the metropolitan street railway &c oruation
which By section - OF the charter Of said Railway is
required 70 be annually transmit ted to oukress, aud
similar Information from all Ut.IeI street railway in
the district Of Columbia: aud also Why Said railway
companies have not made the annual rep TT, re-
Quired by the laws incorp Oratiug said panies
said committee shall also inquire whether The rails
laid aud used by such paIes of the most ap-
proved pattern and whether the o, said rails has
been dny approved by the Secretary Of the INTERIOR
and II said ia Is are not OF The most approved pattern
what measures may be neceSSar to their earIy
replacement by which Of such approved pai-
tern: and also inquire u the proprety of sub
of horsepower upon said railroads. And said cou,-
mittee snail ha e power to send for persons and
papers and administer oaths
RoBBERIEs REPORrED-Ben1. Bowie. 900 q
street northwest, reports stolen $l5; Mrs. c.
Goodman, 623 7th street, reports stolen two
sacks OF Hour, worth 81 80 L. j. Eaton, Hanil-
ton road, reports stolen $3 worth Of meat.
On ROLLER SKATEs-Quite a large crowd
gathered at the Washington rink to witness the
second Of the series of two mile races between
Messrs. Olds, Pugsly, Hill, Barbour, Crist and
Snow. The contestants took their places in the
order named. At the word 60 Hill took the
lead, knocking down one of the posts that mark
the course, SO as to foul Olds, who was next.