Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-12

ment will meet the trouble The charters
which are issued to street railways in this city
of late years arc drawn with moro care and con-
tain better provisions for the public than any
charters issued in the country. These late
charters contain provisions providing that tho
companies shall run their cars on schedules
to be approved by the Commissioners,
on the facilities furnished The old charters
as the ono under which tho Metropolitan line
runs have no such provision and it seems to
me a, good method of reaching the lnck of
facilities question woald be to pass general
bill extending some such provision to All tns
roads Rapid transit. however, will. in a large
measute. do away with such complaints, a. 1t
has on the 18th street line"
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
Senator Faulkner was very much surprised
when a STAR reporter informed him of the
action Of the House. He had not the slightest
overhead wire scheme. "The Senate" said he,
"has SO frequently and 80 forcibly indicated its
opinion on overhead wires that the District
committee has always insisted on cable or
storage battery motors. The views expressed
in the House today which had it that indie
pendent motors are still experimental are d.
rectly contradicted By the operation OF the
lexington road on q street; that such motors
are very expensive is beyond question. but
they are cheaper than the cable system, and II
L am correct in my estimate OF the SENATE
1t will certainly not concur III the
action Of the House on this matter.
Aside from any other phase of the
question, it would hardly be fair to allow over
head wires on business thoro1ghfars like
street and prohibit .leir use on the avenue and
G street and all other streets where they would.
beyond question, have been asked for but Tor
the very decided sentiment in the Senate. The
overhead wire system is now recognized as the
cheapest motive power that can be used for
street railway purposes. and every railroad that
doubtedly do so.'
very pleasant for the railroad companies"
remarked Senator Higgins. ''Is the action OF
the House explained by the interest the ALI,
ance takes in corporations: l had supposed
that the companies had been given all the time
they actually needed to change their motors.
When the matter comes up in committee II VIII
be fully discussed. For the present 1t Is
enough to say that there arc very serious OBJ
jections to a trolley system in this CITY,"
81 have not heard the matter discussed,
said Senator Wolcott. land consequently do
not know what arguments have been advanced,
against tho establishment of the trolley system
here"
Senator Vance has not been at the Capitol
for several days. He is at his home, on Massa-
chusetts avenue, kept there by lndispositlon
He has always been opposed to the use OF over
there was opportunity, talked and voted on the
adverse side Of any propositions like the pres.
ent one.
STREET MERCHANTS GENERALLY OBJECT.
MIR. Julius Lansburgh, proprietor Of the
large furniture establishment on street near
the corner of 18th street, said: IF that
amendment becomes law l want to get away
from street right away. Business will be
n ST for I
upon the class Of trade that goes shopping in
carriages. An electric line run by the trolley
wire system will keep these people away. They
will go to other places where they are in less
danger. The Inauguration of that system on
F street will depreciate the value of business
properties"
Mr.. W. Ii. Houghton of the Houghton Manu.
featuring Company. between 18th and 18th,
said; Really. l have no particular opinion or
choice in the matter. II the trolley system is
the practicable one under the circumstances,
and if it meets the approval Of the people,
then would favor it,
Mr.. W. II. Veerhoff, whose art store is on
the north side of I stree between 10Th and 18th,
said: what does the House mean by proposing
such scheme? A trolley line along F street
would seriously interfere with business and
would affect business property. Why, the
street is not wide enough as it is, and line Of
poles would deiace it still more. / think the
merchants would oppose the bare mention of
establishing such system"
Mr.. NJ. ". Beveridge. whose large store adj
joins Mr.. Veerhoffs s, said: Il would rather
have the slow horse-car service than to see a
trolley line in operation on street. We have
too many poles i'll the streets now. While the
citizens are advocating taking dowrfthe tele-
graph poles it would seem rather inconsistent
to string another row OF poles on a narrow
business street"
MI. Kennedy Of Geo. E. Kennedy & Son.
grocers, said: Il am surprised at such propo-
sition. The trolley system is good enough for
a suburban road or outlying street, but 1t does
not seem the thing to put into operation on a
crowded and narrow business tEoroughfare l
believe It would soon become very objection
able
Upon being questioned Mr.. r. Go!dschnid
Of No. l0079 + street said with the greatest
earnestress: 1T would be disgraceful act 1t
would mean the ruin Of f street. At present
street promises to be great business street.
but II such thing were permitted business on
the street would be killed. The street is too
narrow for such thing, and l hope that THE
STAR will do all it can to prevent the thing
being done. l would much r,:ther see the cars
continued to be moved by horses than run by
any such system. II the company wants longer
time, give it to them, but no overhead wires
ever"
The junior partner of the we'll known Boston
House firm, Mr.. Lothrop. said: Il don't want
to see it done. In the first place it would dis
inquire tue street, ana I'D tnt second 1t would in
the event OF fire be the means of returding
the efforts of-the fremen to an alarming extent,
Electric wires are unsafe and unsishtiv, and |.
for one. wish that there wasn't wire to be
seen in Washington"
Mr.. w. d Moses of ". B. Moses 4 Son. l1th
and streets, said: Il am opposed to it. There
Is no need for it. and / would like to see +
street without q single wire on it between 9th
ard 18th streets, telegraph or electric
MIR. Ewd. z. Merit. the druggist. l1th and +
streets, said: II am III favor OF the system be-
cause believe that it il the best there is. II a
better system could be devised would be in
favor OF the new system
Mr.. NJ. W. Gait was decidedly opposed To the
overhead wire system He looked upon il as
out OF date and that the storage cars were more
modern and superior in every way. He was
sorry that the House had taken step back
ward In this respect.
President J. G. yelling, who is a resident
along the road, said that he was empLaticaIly
opposed to the use of overhead w1es.
Mr.. George W. Brown, whose house is on tho
line of the road. said that if The storage system
was not practicable that he would no: object TO
the overhead wire, although lie would rat Ter
not see wires IN front o: his house.
Father Lee, I ne pastor Of st. Matthew'S Cath
Ole Church, 18th and II streets expressed sur
prise that the House had authorized overhead
wires. He supposed that the danger from thes.
wires was recognized and he was opposed 10
adding to the perils to human life.
News Prom AilcEany County, Nd.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star