Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-03
THE STREET RAILROADS.
How They Were Affected by Action Of
Congress at the Last Session.

Congress at the Last Session.
TIE ONLY THING DONE WAS TO ALLOW THE Csc
OF ANY MOTIVE POWER IN PLACE OF HORSES
EXCEPT ELECTRICITY FROM OVERHEAD WIRES
WHAT THE COMPANY ARE DOING ABOUT II.
There was but little legislation in regard to
street railways in the District at the last session
Of Congress. number of bills we're intro
duced asking for the extension of lines now in
operation, but Congress failed to make them
laws. The only piece of legislation affecting
street railways was the adoption of a clause
authorizing the roads to make use of any mo-
tive power that might be considered advisable
excepting, of course, electricity by means of
overhead wires
THE PROPOSED CABLE on SEVENTH STREET.
As has been stated in The STAR the Washing
ton and Georgetown railroad company have
decided to avail themselves of this privilege by
substituting cable power on the 9TH street line
OF that road IN place of the horses now in use.
The work of putting down the cables will be
begun at once.
THE POSITION OF THE OTHER COMPANIES
on the question Of motive power seems to be
one of expectancy. They are not exactly salts
fed with the motors of various kinds that have
provements as will, III their opinion. make them
decidedly superior to the present methods OF
street car transportation.
THE METROPOLITAN COMPANY
The directors of the Metropolitan street rail-
way company have had q committee looking up
this matter for some time. One of the directors
of the road said to STAR reporter this MORN
ing that new devices and improvements on old
devices were coming out so rapidly that the en-
tire method of transportation for streetrailways
might be said to be In a transition state. The
company, he said. was not in favor of the cable
road. as it was thought superior motor might
be found. II such did not prove to be the
case the company did not propose to lag be-
hind. but would keep up with the procession
and furnish as rapid and convenient transporta-
ton as any line in the city. The attention of
the directors he said. had been called to a
motor which seemed to be promising, and it
was the intention to make q change from the
horse power now employed as soon practic-
able.
PROPOSED EXTENSIONS WHICH CONGRESS FAILED
TO ACT on.
While no bills authorizing the extension of
street railways passed at the last session of Con-
gress, number were introduced. Perhaps the
most important was the bill authorizing the
metropolitan road to extend lateral branches
for their line on East Capitol street. both north
and south. At present the northeast and south
east sections of the city lack the railroad facil
ties which the rapid growth in population de-
mands, and the bill was designed to meet this
necessity. Congress was also asked to grant
an important extension to the lexington Elec-
trlc road. IL was proposed to extend the road
from New York avenue down 9Th street to +
street and thence to the Treasury department.
There were some extensions asked for by the
Washington and Georgetown road, but they
shared the same fate with the others. and Con-
direction.
THE PROPOSED CABLE on SEVENTH STREET.
The board of directors of the Washington
and Georgetown railroad company at a meeting
this morning at the Office of the company, held
i'll relation TO the substitution of "a cable road
for the horse line on 9TH street. selected Messrs
Henry Hurt, Z. C.. Glover, W. II. Riley, and
Geo. A. McIlhenny as an executive committee,
who will have full control of the work of the
cable road. After the adjournment of the di-
rectors the executive committee held a meet
ing which lasted considerable time The re-
suit of the meeting could not be ascertained,
as President Hurt stated that no information
would be given to the press at present.
MIR. Geo. I. Dunlap, director of the road.
was seen by STAR reporter. to whom he stated
that the substitution of a cable road on Seventh
street was only beginning. and added: 'As we
have right to change the entire road to this
or any other system, having been granted the
power by Congress in bill passed some time
ago, it Is quite likely that the cable system will
be adopted for the Avenue branch probably not
great while after the completion of the Sew
enth street branch. Not one minute of time
will be lost in pushing tins work ahead. No;
no engineer has been selected, but l am quite
sure know who it will be- ali engineer well up
in cable railroadng. No surveys will be made
until an engineer has been finally selected
Meetings will be held day and night until every
detail las been settled