Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24
CAPT. THOS. LAY.

in warm weather did the able-bodied men have
to get out OF the cars and help pick the heavy
vehicles out of q mud hole and make q fresh
start. All this is now a thing Of the past, and
1t was through the efforts Of the association
that the change was effected.
THE ASSOCIATIONS START.
The untiring efforts Of Mr.. Arthur L. Keene,
secretary Of the association, to secure rapid
transit brought the railroad question to the
front and it was discussed at every meeting.
The miserable street car service had exas-
perated the secretary Of the association long
before the association was thought of, and after
a consultation with Mr.. N. f. Robinson office
was published in The STAR calling for mass
meeting OF the citizens. Nearly everybody in
the county took The STAR. and consequently
there was large attendance at the meeting
Later call for another meeting was issued and
on April ~. 1891, the association held its first
meeting. Mr.. j. L. Norris was elected presi-
dent and Mr.. Arthur l.. Keene, secretary. For
some months the association prospered, but
an electric or cable road seemed as far off as
ever, and some Of the members became dis
heartened. The result was that no meetings
were held for several months and the associa-
ton was a thing Of the past.
But all this time MIR. keene was busily en-
gagged in looking into the question Of the rail-
road and Senator Mcmillan came to his assist
ance by introducing in the Senate a resolution
mssioners the following letter giving history
Of the railroad question SO far as Brightwood
avenue was concerned:
MR.. KEENEs LETTER.
charter was granted about twenty years ago
to the Silver Spring Company, allowing them
TO build and equip a street railway from
Boundary street, Washington. to the District
line, along TIN street extended or Brightwood
avenue.
One mile Of the track was completed and soon
thereafter sold to the Metropolitan.
Last october two years ago a new charter was
granted to another company. called the Bright
wood Railway Company, allowing 1t to build
and operate road over the same route as
granted the Silver Spring, with the privilege of
using the one mile of track from the Boundary
street or Florida avenue to John Cammacx's or
Rock Creek Church road. In addition to the
one mile mentioned above the Brightwood COM
pany built little over a mile more. extending
to Brightwood, and sold out soon thereafter to
the Judson Pneumatic Of New York, leaving
about mile and half unbuilt from Bright
wood to the District line
The Judson company tore up the first mile
OF track and replaced it with track somewhat
similar to the cable system. but containing
cylinder instead Of a cable, after having kept
the avenue torn up and its use rs vehicle
roadway practically impaired for nearly
year.
While reconstructing the first mile OF track
the company built a power house and three
cars and used the track as a trial ground on
which to test the practicability OF its patent
They were not successful. and aba ndoned their
tests and sold the power house and fixtures to
some private presumably individual.
Inc silver Spring company operated the
mile 1t built fo- short while from Boundary
street to the Rock Creek Church road.