Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-25
RAILROAD HEARINGS.
The Commissioners Listen to Objections to
Proposed street Railroads

The Commissioners Listen to Objections to
Proposed street Railroads
There was another largely attended hearing
in the board room this afternoon. The sub
ject up for consideration was Senate bill 1450
to incorporate the Zoo Street Railway Com
pany. After reading the proposed route
Commissioner Douglass called for the objec-
tors.
Mr. VI. F. Morris was the first to speak. He
said no represented all. OF the residents
on street and 18th street and in their name
he objected to the use Of those streets for rail-
road purposes. The ground Of objection was
two-fold. In the first place, so far these
two streets are concerned there asno necessity
for the road. and in the second place the use OF
those streets for railroad purposes would be
extremely detrimental to private interests.
Tho proposed use OF 10Th street was also obiec-
tionable.
That street wes already overtaxed and even
IL another street railroad was allowed to run
over the tracks of the Washington and George
town railroad il would ovcrburden the street
and make it simply impossible. While it was
generally acknowledged that street railroads
materially improved business property they
were damaging to private property. He pre-
sented n petition signed by every resident and
property owner on that part of I street fscted.
Mr.. Henry E. Pellew followed in behalf of
u
petition setting forth that the road was not
needed, was not demanded by public necessity,
and 1t was thought to be a scheme to boom
suburban property.
The street was narrow and the building of o
railroad along 1T would necessitate its widening
the destruction of the beautiful trees and the
connscatlon OF the parking. The existing roads
on l4th street and Connecticut avenue and the
herdic and carette coaches on 18th, 10th and
18th streets furnished ample transportation ia
cilities.
Mr.. James Lown followed much in the same
line and objected strenuously to the bill. Con-
Guiding, lie said that it was time for the COM
mIssioners to declare some policy with relation
to these roads and the destruction of the city's
streets. People were loath to build dwellings,
these days on streets not occupied by railroads.
tor fear that hereafter some railroad would
creep In. The time had arrived for Congress
to take hand in this great question, which SO
seriously threatened the city.
b MIR. Morris stated that Congress had already
declared Its intention in that regard, Us far as
the roadways and sidewalks in front Of United
States property. He referred to the law of
1872, which provided: e that all
railroads are hereby prohibited on the street
and N street fronts of Farragut, Scott and
Franklin Squares, and no further street rail-
roads shall be laid down in the city Of Wash
ington without consent of Congress"
Messrs. G. E. Hamilton, Miles Fuller, Ad-
miral Rowe, u s. A. (retired), Arthur Il. Brice
D. r. Deals anu henry tiurt. representing the
Washington and Georgetown railroad, also
protested against the proposed road. MIR.
Hurt. in behalf OF the Washington and George
town Railroad Company, protested against the
use of the tracks of the Washington and
Georgetown railroad on 18th street. If an
other railroad was allowed to ruin over
these tracks it would seriously interfere
with the running of the cable roads. The cars
were TO run minute and a half apart, and, if
there was any delay on account of having to
wait for other cars to get out OF the way, the
whole running schedule OF the road would be
destroyed
MIR. Watson Boyle in behalf Of the incorpora-
tors, spoke at length on the needs Of the read.
He denied that the bill was a scheme of real
estate SPECTATORS. and read the names Of the
who he said were wei known and
business men of Washington. As far
as the public demand for railroad was con-
cerned, he read from an article in The STAR.
printed some time ago, showing the needs of
railroad facilities to the Geological Park.
THE GREAT FALLS ELECTRIC ROAD.
There being no other business with reference
to this road the Commissioners took up for
consideration Senate bill s04, to incorporate the
Washington ard Great Falls Electric Railway
Company.
As is customary Commissioner Douglass
read the route of the road and called for thu
obJectors- There were none and Mr.. George
5. Chase, on behalf of the incorporators, ex-
planned the bill and the alleged public necessity
for its construction.
A similar bill was favorably reported BY the
Commissioners to the last Congress with some
amendments and favorably reported to both
houses of Congress by their committees with
certain recommendations. The bill under con-
sideration was one which embodied all the
features recommended by the Commissioners
and the committees of Congress.
Captain kossell thought that inasmuch as the
proposed railways route was concerned before
the Commissioners reported upon it the views
Of Colonel Eliot should be known as far as it
related TO the occupancy of the Conduit road
Dir. W. L. Iyrer also spoke in favor of the
Dill II the road was constructed, no said, il:
would be great public benefit. The road
would be widened from thirty to forty feet,
and its unsavory reputation as a drive for a
bad class would be purified. He presented
of ali property between the
District reservoir and Cabin Johns bridge. |
who were In favor of the road
Mr.. s. De T. Jennings, representing the
Chautarqua, said the road. if constructed, would
be great benefit to that association. The |
railroad facilities of tie Baltzley Bros were
found totally inadequate to move the people |
last year and they were heartily in favor of the
OF the road.
Mr.. j. C. Hearst, representing the property
owners, spoke IN favor of the road.