The critic., 1890-12-22
LOCAL TALKS.



Secretary Pugh Y. NJ. G. A.-Wc are
leaving our proposed new building with
the Lord We have been in this building
since 1881, and since then our progress has
been such that we have outgrown in mem
bership and accommodations the dimen-
sions OF the building. We greatly need n
new and more spacious structure, but the
strngency Of the money market Just now
Is such that we do not care to draw public
attention to our necessities. During next
year We expect TO formulate some plan by
which the erection of new building will
be brought to n definite and practical
issue
Maurice Quinnn, Hack Inspector--Thc
all-night cars have taken a great many
fares from the cabbics. Lots of
swells that used to be regular patrons of
the cabs now shine In resplondcnt evening
costume ON the seat of an owl car and
spend the difference in cigarettes. There
IL delightful air of democracy pcrvading
these midnight liners. You may see u
tailor-madc dude and brogan-shoed,
tlannel-Shrtcd hod-carrier hob.nobbing
together in unconscious sltimber, both lln-
der the influence of an opiate that in
crCasos the skull dimensions in the morn
ing. | know a certain newspaper man
who frequently boards car going east,
ard, curling himself up in the car, sleeps
until he has travelled the route over sew
eral times. He is well known to the con-
ductors, and they always wake him at the
right end of the line and collect the fares
in a lump. The journalist says that the
dull rumbling sound of the wheels, the
Clink of the hoofs on the rough stones,
all form lullaby, sweet to his ears as a
mothers cradle song. Some of his friends
state that he courts Morpheus under diff
ferent circumstances, but that's another
story, as Kipling says.
Captain Llisk--ln my report | recon-
mended that the number of hours in
which lamps should be lighted during the
year ought to be increased from 1900 to
5000. 1have personally appeared before
the Congressional Committee In regard to
the matter, and upon which will have a
report completed in few days. The re-
port of Professor Rowland of Johns Hop
kins University and other members of the
committee, in reference to the number
and condition of overhead and under
ground wires In the District, will not be
ready until the meeting of Congress next
December.
ID. +. Longstreet-Thed demand for rapid
transit in Washington is the occasion of
my visit here. You, of course, have one
cable line in operation, but / learned that
there were other rapidly growing portions
of the city, where speedy transportation
was needed. just came from Detroit and
Saginaw, Mich, where made careful
study of the Rae system of electric rail
ways in operation in both cities. The OBJ
ject of my visit East is to examine care
fully all the electric systems in operation
in the larger cities and determine on the
best system to be introduced in Denver,
where i am connected with the street
railway corporations. Washington GER
tainly ought to have an improved electric
line, and, in my opinion, it is very foolish
for the Washington and Georgetown Com
pany to put in cable line on the Avenue.
1t will not only be very expensive un-
dcrtaking, but will break the Avenue up
for a long period. Electricity is bound to
surplant the cable system. Since coming
here ! Lave learned that they are experi-
menting with a new scheme here which is
novel ard ingenious. 1t is proposed to
Use slIt and conduit similar to the cable
line and dispense with the overhead wires.
They claim that they can transfer the
power by the means of friction gears upon
the ctr, which connect with the slot be-
meath.
Colonel James A. Gray of Atlanta-I
have been in New York the past month
organizing some phosphate companies to
oIeratc IN Florida. j have found it i'm
possible to make these trips without stop
ping over in Washington--the prettiest
city on the continent 1t is improving
right along, too, as drive over the city
to-day thoroughly convinced me.