Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-03
CAN'T STOP THE WORK
The Duquesne Traction Company's
Line May Take Another Route
If THE SUPREME COURT STEPS IN.
Sudden Hearing in the Case to be Held in
Harrisburg To-Day.
TROUBLE GETTIKG INTO WILLIAMSBURG

Attorneys d. T. Watson, Charles b. Nc
Kee and George G. Wilson LETT last night
for Harrisburg, to argue the injunction suit
of the Pittsburg Traction Company against
the Duquesne Traction Company, which
will come up before the Supreme Court to-
day. 1t was stated yesterday, among the
lawyers who are familiar with the workings
of such cases, that the decision of the Su-
preme Court will probably be in favor of
the Duquesne Company. and if it is not, it
does not matter. The Duquesne Company
is still pursuing the even tenor of its way,
and the work of constructing the line is going
on day and night.
1t was not expected that the case would
come up before the Supreme Court so soon,
and the attorneys were somewhat surprised
yesterday when they received kilograms or
dering them to be present to argue the case
at Harrisburg to-day. They lost no time
getting ready. and left last night on the $40
train. Mr.. Wilson, the attorney for the
Pittsburg Company, was very glum and
would say little about the case
ONLY A MATTER OF FORM.
The other attorneys were hopeful of sue
cess, and said there was no question about
the result. Mr.. Watson, who has been sue
company by the Pittsburg Company, said it was
only matter of form to go to Harrisburg. The
decision of the Supreme Court will be that the
lower court is sustained and the Pittsburg
Company has no case against the Duquesne
line In speaking of the matter. Vice Presi-
dent George Rice, of the Duquesne Company,
said yesterday:
The case is coming up sooner than we ex-
pected. but there is no question about the re-
suit The Supreme Court go. through the list
earlier than 1t supposed. and has called the case
f0r Trr nV,- will lNaA lnTaA
and it goes without saying that the Duquesne
Company will be successful. The Attorney
General of the State, and the Pittsbu-g courts
have decided we have the right to put down
what is done. the work of building the road
will go on uninterruptedly. If We cannot 60
route to East Liberty we will find another out
let, There is no question about the necessity
of another line to the East End. The people
want it, and we propose to give it to them. We
will have our cars running to Williamsburg by
fall and will make better time than the cable
cars"
MAY TAKE ANOTHER ROUTE.
1t is authoritatively stated that in the event
of the Supreme Court reversing the decision of
the lower court and Attorney General Kirk
patrick and issue an injunction restraining the
Duquesne Company from operating on Craig
street and Ellsworth avenue, the electric COM
pany py will abandon that route and go to
Williamsburg via Barton street. without run
ming on Craig street at all. The suit of the
Pittsburg Company is to keep its formidable
rival of Craig street. The route of the Du-
quesne Company is now out Forbes street to
Craig, then through its own property to ELS
worth avenue. If it is shut out of Craig street it
will run out Forbes street. across the high
bridge over the junction Railroad to Barton
street. From Barton street the line will be con-
structed to Howe street, which paral-
lels Fifth avenue, and is the first
street below that thoroIghfare and
runs from Aiken avenue to Festival street.
The line will then run along Howe street
to Eenniston avenue, and thence to Fifth ave-
nue. and Williamsburg. This route is as short,
but not as straight as via Craig street and Ellis
worth avenue, aud on account of not much
traffic on the streets the electric cars would
make better time. When Vice President Rice
was asked about the new route he said:
MIR. RIcE's POINTED TALK.
1--WE have a charter covering the route you
speak of, and of course if the injunction suit
was decided against us we would run our cars
that way. 1t really does not matter to us what
is done, but. as 1 said before, there is no
question about the decision. 1t is as easy to 60
over one route as it is over the other. When
we said we were going to build an electric road
to Williamsburg we meant it. and are determined
to carry out our promise. The construction of
our line at this end has progressed as far as
Soho, and we are pushing 1t as fast as we can.
We are waiting in some places for the city TO
put down water pipes, SO it will not become
necessary to tear up our tracks after we get
them down. This interferes with us to some ex-
tent"
There has been some difficulty arranging
for the entry of the new electric road into
Williamsburg owing to the refusal of the Penn
sylvania Railroad to allow the road to cross its
tracks at Penn avenue at grade. The Duquesne
Company have the right of way into Wilkins
burg, but could not overcome the objections of
the railroad company. Now there Is project
on foot for grading down Penn avenue so as to
make a tunnel under the railroad tracks with
clear height of 20 feet, so that load of hay
can pass through. 1t is believed an amicable
division of the expense between the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad and the Duquesne Company will
be consummated.